Tools for the trip

IMHO, London and Paris side streets and the interiors of many buildings call for either a 21 or 24 wide angle. The 24mm is a magnificent lens, and would give you the extra coverage needed beyond the 35 and 28.

There we go again! It is exactly attitudes and comments like Grant's which have driven the

likes of Dennis Couvillion, Marc Williams and other invaluable contributors away from this

forum, and which will, in the end, ruin it for everybody.

 

We are getting lower by the week.

You should look up Diego K. in Madrid, if you can. A real treat.

I thought Dennis quit because somebody was rating his gallery pix low. And Marc quit

because he couldn't handle Tim V's not all that harsh comments. No?

Andrew... more information on Diego K. in Madrid... you can

email me at brittphoto@aol.com My daughter lives in Madrid

and so we can really get around for sure.

Jim

Olivier, Jon: Chill out please. Grant is being a litlle mean-spirited here, and maybe too persistent, but he has a point. Jim knows his stuff, why is he asking us?

 

Of course the answer is he feels like it. Also maybe he wants me to feel jealous about his gear (it worked).

 

But let's not even MENTION the inexplicable acrimony, the scirocco, that passed over this forum a few weeks ago. I think we're just out of the woods with that.

 

Whatever Grant's idiosyncracies are, he's an incredible contributor to this forum. He's anything but a lurker.

Well Oliver - thats just how grant is. He has a fine photographic eye and his comments are

usually pretty much on the mark, though tactless. I personally think Jim's question is

quite appropriate and educational, especially for guys like me who don't have the ability of

Marc Williams, or Dennis Couvillion or grant.

<i>It is exactly attitudes and comments like Grant's which have driven the likes of ... Marc Williams </i><p>

 

Maybe that's why Marc posted on other forums, since leaving this one, that if you want to see some great photography of people, look at grant's work...

Brad, you may be right in the details, but what I mean is that I think they were fed up with

negative attitudes, attacks and the overall unpleasant tone this forum sometimes had. And

still has, apparently.

Jim: My wife and I will probably go to Paris next year. I'm also thinking of taking two M bodies. If I were to go with only what I have, I'd like to take the 90 Tele-Elmar; 50 Summicron (I might like to take the Summilux instead, for night shots, but the cron is smaller and lighter, and I can bring my 35mm Summilux ASPH for those shots. I might like to take my 28mm Summicron, but I may leave it home (no, what am I saying!) I'll bring it, and also one of my 21mm lenses, and the external finder for it.

 

Sounds like a lot of gear? Well, I'd like to bring the XPAN. Any opinions on whether this is a good idea? I think it is.

 

I'd also like to bring one Nikon with either my 28mm or 35mm PC lens, for those architectural shots. The 35mm is more compact, and often adequate. The question is whether it's really worth it, since it's a lot more bulk, and it takes extra time to line up the PC shots, thus slowing us down. I'm good at using it hand-held, though. Still, this one may not be a good idea.

 

That really is lot of gear, with four cameras. Chances are that I will talk myself out of some it. Will I be foolish enough to shlep a bag that heavy through Paris and south France? Probably not, but don't put it past me.

 

Nevertheless, these are my thoughts on the gear I would most like to have along on such a trip; even if not necessarily all at once. I don't know if that helps, but have a great trip, and post many pictures when you get back!

<p>Jeff Spirer & Grant,

 

<p>I realize you are both friends, and link to each other from your respective

photoblog sites:

 

<p><a href="http://s93887327.onlinehome.us/archive/2004_03_14_week.html">Grant's

site (self portrait)</a>

 

<p><a href="http://spirer.com/journal.htm">Jeff's photoblog</a>

 

<p>You both have a great eye.

 

<p>But Grant (or should I say grant?) in particular has a knee-jerk response to any

technical post. Perhaps he will feel rather dumb when he's 65 and looks back at his

contribution on photo.net. Perhaps he will add his last name to his identity here (Amos?).

And perhaps he will add his other email address that is on his photoblog site (<a

href="mailto:g4lamos@verizon.net">g4lamos@verizon.net</a>)

 

<p>Jeff, you are the moderator on the new Street & Documentary forum. Perhaps Jim Britt,

under the name "jim", should post things under grant's photos like "loser. should have

bought a nikon f3/p or hassey w/150mm sonnar. pathetic..."

 

<p>I like both forums. It really boils down to respect, guys.

You know what?... I borrowed the M7, it's not mine, my old 1969

M4 is... and I put in this post because I wanted some input,

maybe a couple of new ideas and that's a good thing, I got them.

Sure I have experience, but the truth is I was attracted to this

forum because of the passion for the kind of photography that

Leica users have done... they were the first and my idols, Capa

for sure although I could never go to war, missed them all, but

there was this passion... later on it was Nikon and I used them

well into the 80's but then found the incredible lenses for the R

system. I'm not trying to bait anyone or be one up on anyone, I'm

just entering the dialogue. I realize that equipment doesn�t make

great photographs, photographers do. I also know that when I

was starting out, the M3 was THE camera to have and I

sacrificed a lot to get one and learn to use it. Do you realize that

if you grew up in photography using a rangefinder camera you

always held the lens in the proper position for steadiness? If

you didn�t, you blocked the rangefinder. So when you got your

SLR you already knew how to steady the lens.

I was blessed to have as friends Fred Maroon and meet and

spend time with Ernst Haas and some other names I could

drop, but that�s not the point. The point is that we all learn from

each other, share information, be innocent in the give and take of

it all. I will share anything that I know with anyone, anytime. They

will never take a photograph I will take and I will never take a

photograph they will take. Maybe I don�t need any input. Maybe

someone doesn�t have to tell me about the multiple scanning of

my equipment, or the chance to try some Neopan 1600, but wait

a minute� I learned something. I looked at this forum as a

place where one could exchange ideal, maybe even ideals. Just

because you have experience doesn�t mean that you know

everything. Many times amateurs are more inventive that

"professionals"� I think my career is based on being a lucky

amateur.

oops meant exchange ideas.... etc.

Jim, Have a great trip. I went to college in England, and there's nothing like it. My wife spent a year in Madrid, and I can't wait to go there with her. Habla Espanol? Paris, now that's three for three!

<P>I really enjoyed your website when you put the link here almost two years ago. I respectfully envy the kind of opportunities you have had, you must be a great professional, and your pictures show it.

<P><I>PS. Please ignore all these ill-mannered people, their mothers and fathers obviously didn't bring them up properly. I don't care if someone is a great photographer (or a great anything), there is no substitute for good manners, and that's what's unfortunately lacking in some people's lives, they must have had truly awful parents. It's a pity their lack of manners (and success in real life) intruded in your thread.</I>

Jim, thanks again for bringing up this good question. What people don't seem to realize is that good questions provide answers to not just the ones who asked them, but to many others, such as myself! Best wishes!

I think Grant just tries to raise the level around here, and does a pretty good job of it. Not to be taken personally.

 

As to who made some people quit, I'm pretty sure he's posted on this thread. It's not Grant.

 

Have a good trip Jim. Great places.

</i></i>John LoPinto says <i>he has a point. Jim knows his stuff, why is he asking us? </i> What happens is that grant says what quite a few people are thinking. I get this when I meet up with people from photo.net - how do people have all this expensive equipment and always ask what to do?<p>

 

The question "what to take" gets asked regularly here and has really simple answers:<p>

 

1) If you're fairly novice, either take everything you think you could use and find out what works for you, or take one lens and one body and see what you can do; or

<p>

2) If you're experienced, take what works for you and makes your style work.<p>

 

Anything else seems disingenuous at best, and bragging about equipment at worst.

Now how can someone take a photo like <a href="http://www.jimbrittphoto.com/Motown2/Marvin_BW.jpg">this</a> and ask what equipment and film to take with them? It doesn't make sense.

Makes me wanna holler... ;)

Just 'cause you take a picture like that.... well the truth is, I was

looking for some films maybe I hadn't considered. 'course the

pic of Marvin was an old Nikon F2... you are all the rangefinder

wizards here, what the hell, ask and see what happens... truth is

I guess I shouldn't have asked, just go with my old sh***t.... HP5

and some chromes... thanks anyway... damn, this reminds me of

some pros I knew who wouldn't share. Truth is this is all

supposed to be fun and sharing. I know that I know a bunch of

stuff, but I'm 66 years old and just starting to shoot again with the

M's. Weird. What an interesting forum. A real laugher if you

don't take it too seriously. See 'ya.

Marvin Gaye was god. Ergo, Jim Britt is god's portraitist. Iconic stuff, Jim. We are not worthy, we are not worthy...<obsequious genuflection follows>

 

Nevertheless, I have a suggestion.

 

How about getting or borrowing a Cosina/Voigtlander 75/2.5 for the trip? It's small (arguably only a few mm longer than a 50 Summicron), and quite handy as a M camera telephoto. Shouldn't take up much space in the suitcase/duffel/backpack...

 

Europe is often darkish, given the weather and narrower streets in older towns, so it will be the slowest lens you'll carry, but hardly too slow.

Jim,

 

Try some Fuji Provia 400F. Very fine grain, pushes well.

 

Moderator, let's give Grant some involuntary time off from the forum. Whatever

contributions were made do not justify these kind of attacks. Let him vent his

superior attitude somewhere else.

 

Jim, have a great trip. I had no problem getting a hand search of 400 and above film

in Amsterdam and London.

 

Bob<div></div>

wasnt it bresson who trekked the world with a camera and 2 lenses...?

<br>

<br>

cmon guys...jim may not be bresson, but theirs your answer right there...

How about a more interesting question: Jim, did you get to talk with Marvin? What was he like? At least on LP, he seems like the most soulful person this side of Al Green.

Jeff Spirer wrote:

 

<p><i>The question "what to take" gets asked regularly here and has really simple

answers:

 

<br>1) If you're fairly novice, either take everything you think you could use and find out

what works for you, or take one lens and one body and see what you can

do; or

 

<br>2) If you're experienced, take what works for you and makes your style work.

 

<p>Anything else seems disingenuous at best, and bragging about equipment at

worst.</i>

 

<p>Guys, if you haven't read the description of this forum, it is as follows: "This forum is

for discussing Leica cameras and any associated equipment in the pursuit of great

photography."

 

<p>I mean, really, Jeff's same reduction argument can also be used on any W/NW post. I

don't agree with the following argument, but one could say any W/NW poster who asks for

advice on a photo is either:

<p>---------------

<p>1) an inexperienced photographer that should try every style out to discover his genre

or try just one style and work on it, or

 

<p>2) an experienced auteur that knows what he's good at and should stick to that. Why

even post?

 

<p>Anything else seems disingenuous at best, and bragging about your talent at

worst.

 

<p>---------------

 

<p>Again, I don't agree with the above. If followed, it limits growth (artistically or

technically). But, following your line of argument, Jeff, anyone that is pretty good at what

they do simply shouldn't ask any technical question because they should already know the

answer.

 

<p>Some people like to discuss equipment even though they are experts and maybe learn

something about how others do things. Some people like to discuss aesthetics even

though they have MFA's. Both types sometimes learn new things <i>even though they are

experts.</i>

 

<p>Jeff, come <b>on</b>.