[Leica] A stands for....

[scott at adrenaline.com (Scott McLoughlin)]

Right on!  Before I knew better, I got an FM3a, but once I knew
better I turned my buddy onto a used FE2 from KEH and it's now
his main shooting machine. I like my FM3a, though.

Shooting AE with the 105/2.5 is great, because your're often metering
such a relatively small area, one typically get's great results right
out of the box. 

I've got the 45/2.8-P as well (snagged one cheaper from B&H because
the silver filter was broken).   I really LOVE that lens. I'm not 
experienced
enough to accurately describe in words what I like about it's "signature"
but it seems sharp and smooth at the same time. The size is great too. That
lens on the FM3a is about as compact as any lens I have on one of my M
bodies. I  was shooting the 45/2.8-P on my D70 just yesterday evening right
before sunset. The AF confirm dot helps manual focus with the crappy D70
VF.

Anyway, about once a month I have to admit I think of selling my Leica
kit and embracing my FM3a/AI lens kit. It's alwasy just a passing thought,
but it recurs. 

I've got the 28/2.8 AIS, 45/2.8-P, 105/2.5 and 135/2.8. Someday
I'd like to add a 20mm and an 85mm (maybe the f2 for its size), and
maybe a 35/1.4 for speed. No fast AIS lenses, but I still find it a great
carry around kit. Pretty nice VF, small body, ez to focus. I like the 
results
I get from each lens. Fit the whole thing and a big SB800 flash in a Domke
"little smaller" bag. The TTL flash with the SB800 works really great so
far for me. I got a stroboframe recently and loading it up with the FM3a,
105/2.5 @ f5.6 or so and the SB800 is a great picture taking machine.

Not too bad. Except for the body, I got all the lenses used (or 2nd'ed) and
the prices on used AIS lenses are just fantastic, and the stuff just 
seems very
well made and quite sturdy.  Just great bang for the buck.

Lately, betwen my M6's and my D70 and the little Rollei P&S, the FM3a kit
is kind of lonely much of the time. It's a real shame. My dad is coming 
down
tomorrow. Maybe I'll pack up the FM3a kit for a change and do a little 
grooving
on the 28/45/105 combo and some Delta 100.

Scott

Mark Rabiner wrote:

>I've been regressing lately in a way but in a way evolving.
>Been shooting a lot of flim. Xp2 for the most part.
>Taking a vacation from digital capturing.
>And taking a vacation from Leica for short while.
>Been grooving on Nikon AI. Not AF.
>
>Been loving carrying around my Nikon FE2 and shooting at "A" mode.
>With AI glass mostly gotten for a song mostly used.
>
>Like a 55 3.5 macro, a 105 2.5. Both amazing compact classics selling for
>the price of a Linhof lens cap. The 2.5 half the weight of the 105 macro and
>a real carry around compact lightweight nicely protected piece of cool glass
>which is getting me some really nice results. You could dwell on the Bokeh
>which is really kind of different and nice.
>
>And today I was shooting with a bought new 45 2.8 ai P lens which was
>designed and built by Cosina!
>P does not stand for pancake like I thought it did.
>It stands for CPU enabled so your digital camera knows what it is and can
>meter. 
>
>But with my FE2 it's a 45 not a 67.5mm lens as there is no crop circle
>factor down from 24x36!
>
>I think I'm going to shoot with it tomorrow too.
>Love how it shoots a lot closer than the first lens I ever shot with on an
>SLR. The 45mm 2.8 GN which only went to 3 feet. That was 1972.
>
>"A" might stand for "anarchy" in somebody's book but for me it stands for
>automatic shutter speed aperture priority and I've been grooving with it
>like I'd not predict I would this time round.
>Love how it's shoots at 126th of a second or whatever instead of 125th.
>Seems less arbitrary.
>More precise.
>
>All along I thought my next Leica body would be the new MP. Its a mouth
>watering everything I ever wanted in a Leica.
>
>But now its the M7 at the top of my list.
>
>"A" stands for Anabled.
>
>
>
>Mark Rabiner
>Photography
>Portland Oregon
>http://rabinergroup.com/
>
>
>
>
> 
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