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Images that could only been taken with a Leica/RF and why?


patricks

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"anything can and does beat a leica...."

 

well, if you mean someone like Elliott Erwitt could take a better picture with a disposable camera than I could with a Leica, I agree.

But as far as what camera is best suited for normal and wide-angle street photography, I don't think there is a better camera than a Leica. When you refer to digital cameras, what are you referring specifically? An SLR? Or the point and shoot variety? I'd bet the new Leica CM may, under some circumstances, get a better shot street shot than an M, probably less frequently than an M. While some digital cameras may be very convenient in some shooting circumstances, overall it would be stretching it to say generally that digital point and shoots cameras surpass Leicas in suitability for street photography, if that is what you are suggesting.

 

"show me a photo that could only be made with a leica...and i'll give you all my cameras..."

 

Agree, totally...

 

Dennis

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"anything can and does beat a leica...."

 

Well, I guess you didn't mean that literally because if you did it's an exaggeration. Try making a 16x20 silver print from a Stylus Epic and see if it holds up in sharpness to one made with a Summicron. All else being equal, of course. And please don't tell me sharpness isn't something to strive for, at least some of the time.

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Grant, like many here, is a good photographer. His technique

doesn't rely on what camera he is sporting...at least from a

content POV. His current preference seems to be a digital

camera. So what?

 

As far as I'm concerned, there is very little I couldn't capture with

my Canon 1Ds, which is so fast in operation that few people

have enough time to react to the "big camera".

 

Yet there is a certain look that the Leica system promotes

...whether it's due to the camera is irrelevant to me...it's just a box

to fit lenses to. A pretty reliable box I might add, but just a box. I

prefer Leica glass over most others because I shoot in low light

a lot and the lenses perform better than most (as a system)

when used wide open. The box helps in those conditions

because it doesn't have mirror slap. And the lenses produce a

look I prefer over say Nikon (which I used for years in both film

and digital form). It's just a preference, nothing more.

 

IMO, it's not complicated. Camera to camera in the hands of a

skilled shooter (technique being equal), low light work is a bit

better quality with a M. For those who don't buy that, let them

shoot with what they're comfortable with. It has nothing to do with

a photographer's style, approach, content or technique...and

everything to do with a preference for a look and feel they

personally like.

 

BTW Grant, I'll tell you a photo I can't take with a bigger digital...

It is the last few shots after 10 hours of lugging around the SLRD

and I just can't hold the damned thing up one more minute.

Then I always put it away and finish the job with an M camera.

 

You can send your cameras to me on Monday. Hell, I'll pay the

shipping : -)

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Peter, I HAVE made 16x20 prints from the Leica, why else do you think I would bring it up?

 

"The old put downs about 'bricks' is just good ol boys round the BBQ slagging off at other people using other tools because it is a clubby

thing to do - C'mon!! get serious already :))"

 

You've got it in reverse. Nobody is putting your choice down, just defending their own. I don't care what anyone else uses. It's just personal preference, after all, right?

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The shot above is far from my best but illustrates a point.

 

I like Leica camera because they are portable and quiet.

 

There are times you need a quiet camera.

 

On a subway you're okay with the mirror up on an SLR. On the street the noise level tends to drown out the shutter.

 

There is less shake with an RF without the reflex mirror but still you have to hold the camera stead. On a train there still vibrations to worry about.

 

Whether people notice you or not is circumstances. If you shoot at eye level chances are they'll notice you. I shot this picture at waist level, pre-focused to about 7 feet.

 

This was shot with an M6 and (I think) a 35/2 ASP. The film is 800 ISO color. The image was slightly sharped and color balanced by Photoshop 7.

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You could get pix LIKE this one with a cam w/ shutter lag, if you're used to shooting with a camera with shutter lag.

 

Suppose you just turned around though and this guy was right on top of you already. Guess what? Shutter lag- you missed it.<div>006Cpf-14819384.jpg.45056f0428da6f6fa0a72b8abd90ce5a.jpg</div>

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