Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/04/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 10:51 PM 4/22/2007, G Hopkinson wrote: >Yes, Marc ;-) However I'm pretty sure that Ric is shooting with a >modern M. Also he just wanted suggestions on how to use it. Same >technique for the old Leica types, nicht wahr? You may know Ric and know his gear but, if not, assumptions of this sort on this group are dangerous: someone might as well be asking about an UR-Leica with its Anastigmat lens as about an M8 with a CV lens. I doubt that DRAGNET ever ran in Australia but the tag-line on that show through its long life was, "just the facts, ma'am". And we do need to know the facts before giving advice. Leitz has made a LOT of polarizing filters over the years. Leica made some after it took over from Leitz. But here is the killer. Leitz made a swing-out polarizer in A36 (slip-on 36mm) mount, the POOLN, but this was moribund due to market laughter before World War II and was quietly done in with extreme prejudice in 1940. That was the only swing-out polarizer made by Leitz or Leica until this current model to my relatively certain knowledge. As recently as a decade back, Leica was marketing what they called "pol-filters" in the following sizes: linear: 42mm slip-on (for E39 lenses) circular: E (screw-in) 55, E60, E67, E77, and in Serie 5.5, 6, 7, and 8 None of these were swing-out. Every other polarizer made by Leitz or Leica to this point has been a simple slip-on or screw-in filter. These are used in a completely different manner than would be this current filter. And a bit depends on the type of camera being used. Using a polarizer on an SLR is different than using a polarizer on a rangefinder. Using a polarizer on a Leicaflex is different than using a polarizer on an R6. Using a polarizer on an M3 or a IIIc is different from using a polarizer on an M6. It all depends on the gear being used, and Ric hasn't shared this knowledge with us, though I wish he would do so, as our collective wisdom will serve him well. Let us presume that he has an R6. In that event, he needs the appropriate circular polarizer for his camera. He focuses the camera, turns the pola-screen to reach the desired effect, and clicks the shutter, and away we go: the camera will automatically adjust the exposure. Let us presume that he has an M3. In that event, he has to unscrew the polarizer and turn it to figure out the best effect he is seeking. (There are index marks on the edge of the filter so he can note which number is topmost.) He can then screw the filter back into the lens, set the appropriate index mark to the top, figure out the appropriate exposure either by the preferred and more accurate <he grins> sunny-16 rule or by the use of a light meter, and then adjusts for the effect of the polarizer, and this varies a bit from type to type. So, we do need to know the type of gear Ric is using before giving him advice, and it is dangerous to assume anything. Hoppy's advice was dead-on for someone using one of the current Leica polarizers with a late M camera but would be dead wrong for other cameras. Marc msmall@aya.yale.edu Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!