Absolutely new in Leica world

"Let's say 6 months each. What do you say?"

 

Olivier: Sounds good to me. I suggested a longer period because he said he photographs,

"only occasionally."

A friend and I were at a Mardi Gras event last month and I remarked that I had seen someone else (other than me) taking pictures there with a Leica. He said, "He's not a professional. Professionals can't afford a Leica."

 

While he's not necessarily correct, the fact is most professional photographers DO NOT use Leicas. So, if you really want a Leica, don't let the fact that you are only an occasional photographer stand in your way.

"He didn't say occasionally, he said occasional."

 

Yep, but same difference.

No, there's a distinction <u>and</u> a difference between someone who is an occasional

photographer, and one who is occasionally a professional photographer.

Aargg. Well Duh, yes there is a great distinction between a person who is an occasianal photographer and a person who is occasionally a professional. The problem is Mr.Prosek's word construction is a little stilted. Interchange the words occasional and occasionally exactly where used in his sentence and tell me if it makes a difference to you. You will see that it does not, or at least to me.

 

You rightly pointed out the question I was impliedly asking Mr. Prosek. Is he one or the other. An occasional photographer or occasianally a professional photographer.

<i>"As you can see from the answers, the LEICA Forum sometimes appears to be a Leica Hatesite, since you don't need to be a Leica owner or lover to utter your opinions on it."</i>

<p>That's a rather venomous way to put it, but I think it's a good thing because people who are looking to plunk down $$$$$ on a 35mm camera system should get a balanced and realistic view of what they're investing in. I don't think it's fair to anyone that they only hear the upside of a system that has so much myth and mystery surrounding it.

<p>But let's not even go there yet - I don't understand how anyone can make any recommendations without first finding out what kind of photography Zdenek intends to pursue, or what kind of budget Zdenek has for the initial purchase AND the inevitable maintenance and repairs.

First, thanks all for your knowledgeable answers.

As you recognize, English is not my mother tongue, so my spelling and constuctions can be strange. I am sorry for that.

 

"I am not a professional photographer, but only occasional" - reading this sentence now, I realize that the meaning is not too clear. So, I an not a professional photographer means that I am a professional in another area (organic chemistry). Occasional - that means that I shoot seldom, on occasion, occasionally. In other words, I am pure amateur of not very high level.

 

As to my experience with cameras, I have an experience with SLR Zenith E (Russian, then Soviet) with very poor measuring system.

 

I do not insist on Leica cameras at all, but I know that Leica is a measure or standard of quality among cameras. I use Leica as as a starting point in my decision process. (BTW, I saw used R8 and M6 for good price yesterday .) Anyway, I would prefer a manual focusing instrument with optional automatics.

 

I know about the quality of Nikons (F3 or FM3A are on my list of candidates, too), and your numerous recommendations are the evidence of it.

 

The quality, durability, reliability - these are what everyone needs, and so do I. I do not want to raise the sense that I have a lot of money - surely I have not. But when buying some things, my motto usually is "I am not so rich to afford to buy cheap things."

 

Ok, thank you again for your nice interest in my case. This forum is a great platform.

 

Have a nice day.

 

Regards,

 

Zdenek

"English is not my mother tongue, so my spelling and constuctions can be strange. I am sorry for that."

 

No worries Zdenek, I just wanted to make sure I was addressing your need correctly. I agree with your philosophy about quality. If you want auto focus as well, than pretty much none of the camera's touted here will have that. If you can afford it, Leica's are great. Maybe the shop will let you shoot a roll or two of film on each of the camera's you were looking at. The M6 is a great camera, but won't have apeture priority auto exposure only the M7 will. You could also look into the Hexars and the Contax G2, some people love em, some don't it has many more auto features on it than the M6. But the M6 is great in its simplicity. The R8 is much more sophisticated in that regard as to different metering modes etc. Good luck, let us how it turns out. One thing about buying a better camera, you can turn around and sell it if you really don't like it and not get hurt too badly.

but I wonder if it is still possible to buy a new Nikon F3 somewhere in Europe. I am located in Czech republic.

 

Thanks.

 

Regards,

 

Zdenek

Production of new F3s conked out between the middle and the end of the 1980s. I occasionally saw a few second-hand ones around here in Berlin, but I don't know who has what today. It would be a good camera to start off with. (I did have one myself, but then sold it to get into the Leica M cult.)

Check out the R9 first at a dealer. This is a big heavy camera with no built in motor drive. All the lens are big and heavy, except the 35 and 50 Summicrons. The system is expensive. The 50/1.4 is $1995 as opposed to $300 for most other brands. A great system yes, but not for everybody and probably, not the occasional user.

If you want an SLR, I would highly recommend the Nikon F3hp - like new examples can be had for $450 - 500. This is "system" camera - it has several viewfinders to choose from, many focusing screens, different backs, dept of field preview, motor drive --and-- MIRROR LOCK UP, which is nearly a thing of the past. Nikon has a vast array of lenses to choose from; they may not measure up to Leica glass, but they are excellent nonetheless, and they are much more affordable.

 

As far as Leica cameras, the MP is the way to go IMHO. Longtime Leica connoisseurs say it's the camera Leica should have built when they built the M6. I have an MP and am extremely pleased with it. I can't see how you could go wrong in choosing the MP.