tim_franklin

I love my DS M3 (its a fairly late one, with the modern shutter speeds). As has been said

already though, there's not very much difference between the old and the new in real

terms - perhaps just noticeable with trannies, but as you have said it would be used with

B&W that's not really an issue. If you just use the next speed down from the one on your

meter, eg 1/100th for a metered 1/125th who cares really, just so long as the marked

speeds are reasonably accurate. A small degree of extra exposure won't hurt your negs;

rather the opposite perhaps.

Morning Colin,

Being a long-time subber to the mag, you'll know we get it earlier than the hoi-polloi! LOL

>NAZI justice

Now that's just well over the top Peter (and the kind of outburst that did get someone

banned earlier this year - and rightly so IMHO). The moderators seemed to believe that

you were both the same person, perhaps understandably given what you have said.

Multiple accounts are not allowed on that forum (I've already said this at the Leica

Customer Forum - its getting a bit schizophrenic this chat!)

If you care at all about this, and want to send a private message to "The Fat Controller"

explaining what the position was, then maybe he'd reinstate you both (or if you can't

access the forum, I'll do so on your behalf?). Your call. :-)

Yes, I just saw that Peter. The accusation is that you and a certain Piet (message below

yours) were the same person. Incidentally, "Piet's" message was almost identical to Kit's

one in this thread.

The photo you posted in your AP answer is still available, but only as a clickable link (I

suspect it was above size limitations on that front).

Its only for US new subbers anyway. Shame!

Great magazine anyway, and well worth the brass IMHO

AP has got round to looking at the DMR in the new issue (dated 12 November 2005), but

its a mixed blessing as the back only got a score of 79%.

While the reviewer generally liked the DMR, there were a couple of things that seemed to

get under his collar:

(i) he comments that there are no ISO settings for 3200, and also for 50 (though why this

last should matter is a mystery to me, as quite a few DSLRs only go down to 100, and

some only to 200)

(ii) He remarks that the drop from full resolution down to a 4.4 MP size is rather steep,

and could have been filled with something in the middle.

(iii) Again, somewhat bizarrely he laments that the largest SD card size is only 2 GB (when

CF cards are available up to 8 GB). Personally I wouldn't want to put all my files in one

basket so to speak.

(iv) The time taken to switch from film to digital was on the first attempt around two

minutes. Subsequent changes took only around 30 seconds. Praise for the company here.

(v) The time taken for the camera to do its housekeeping at switch on was disappointing

after experience with other makes, which are now near instantaneous. Even altering the

ISO setting made the camera pause.

(vi) getting to the real meat, the inconsistent white balance comes in for criticism. " It's a

shame that the Modul-R's white balancing is not more accurate - or even predictable. I

found that a custom white balance can't cope with low light levels and the overcast setting

adds far too much yellow, red and even green".

(viii) a quote from the review: "The real issue though is that of reflected light rebounding

between the mirror-like surface of the sensor and the exit surface of the lens. In past

conversations Leica has assured me that the current lens range will not need to be

adapted to meet the requirements of the digital age as they are well coated enough

already - even the rear elements. This may be the case, but that means the reflective

properties of the sensor need to be dealt with instead. Either way, I found flare to be a

problem with the sun so low in the sky. Not only do specular highlights repeat themselves

after taking on the magenta/red of the sensor's colour, but the sun is prone to appearing

as a double act with a pink version of itself". The lens used throughout was the 28-90mm/

2.8 - a couple of sample images are shown with ugly pinkish hotspots.

I'd be interested to hear from DMR users here whether they have encountered any of these

issues, especially the last one.

If I didn't already have a pre-Asph 50 'lux, then that would be tempting as a stand-alone

(especially as the price isn't ludicrously above the regular lens), but as it is ...............no.

Can't justify it.

>No 28mm frameline? No 75mm either? .............. It should be cheaper, not more

expensive. It's a strip-down model. No thank you.

As you wish. However that might be, some users prefer the one-at-a-time frame lines of

the M3, M2 and (nearly but not quite) M4. Earlier this year, I took a look at an M6 TTL

which had previously belonged to Ian Berry. He had the 75mm and 135mm frames

removed by Leica as unnecessary for his requirements.

>Any case causes you to loose the nice handling the camera was designed to have.

Agreed. They're also a PITA when it comes to reloading - and that's true whether its a

Leica, Rollei TLR or anything else.

<i>Words/No Words<br><br>Mostly pictures, but words allowed if you feel like it.

</i><br><br>Should be NW/W for No Words/Words then really? ;-)

Hi Juan,

I have an adapter for 1.5v silver cells in my Rollei 35 S, and its still going strong aftera

couple of years in there (the camera doesn't get regular use, mind). The adapter fits fine in

there, but is a tight squeeze in a Leicameter - think I mentioned as such in Carl's thread.

IMHO, the recalibrating for 1.5v cells would be the best bet. WeinCells are fine, but they

don't last long at all, which makes them poor value for money.

The more images I see from the DMR, the more impressed I am with the quality of the

thing. The portrait above is far from flattering as you say Marc, but by God, the skin looks

like skin, and that is just great.

OK. Sticking strictly to stuff I have at time of writing:

1. Uncommon Places: The Complete Works - Stephen Shore

2. Quiet Light - John Sexton

3. On Home Ground - Denis Thorpe

4. The English - Ian Berry

5. Prague Panoramic - Josef Sudek

6. Don McCullin - Don McCullin

If I'm allowed an extra "imaginary" book (because it doesn't exist, except in my head) - a

selection of photographs by Brian Tompkins.

Another vote for Jonathan Eastland's "Leica M Compendium" here; a thoroughly good read

IMHO. The author is also a very nice guy.

Osterloh's "Photo School" is more up-to-date, being much newer, but personally I prefer

Jonathan's style, in this book at least (and his pictures!).

The Bower "M" book, which I used to own, is very good, but perhaps somewhat less in-

depth than the other two.

On the other hand, if its a book specifically about the various items produced by Leitz and

Leica over the years, then Laney's "Collector's Guide" is hard to beat for a single volume

work, and having been recently updated, is far more complete than James Lager's

otherwise excellent trilogy.

1. Oh how we laughed as KP and the King of Spain slapped the Aussie attack all over south

London! :)

2. Can't remember a finer session than Sunday morning's, in which Freddie and Shrek

knocked down 8 wickets for 90 runs. :)

Seriously though, what a fabulous series. Both sides excelled (or mostly). The Aussies

maay be down, but certainly they won't be out.

Pocket Book 7th edition lists three versions!

11205, 11212 and 11253. I'm guessing the last is the ROM lens, which is otherwise

identical to the second (11212) version.

AFAIK, all versions have the same optical design (though there may be changes in coating

etc).

Well maybe Bob. It'd help though if your lens is designed to focus at 2mm from the rear

element.

Are you offering to redesign (free of charge, natch) all Leica's M glass to fit this criteria? ;o)

Good to hear Arthur. Peter isn't far from where I live, so maybe I'll give him a try next time

some work needs doing.

Just out of interest, has anybody compared standards/prices etc between Peter and

Malcolm Taylor?

Evening Thomas. Other dealers who have sold Voigtlander until Cap'n Bob took over the

francise might not agree with you on that.

Laney's "Collector's Guide" also indicates 1160 in total, with a breakdown as below.

1960 - 551

1961 - 274

1962 - 227

1963 - 108

Laney also mentions that approx 58 rigid mount Summicrons were produced in 1956 with

Compur shutters. Whether any were offered for sale is another matter.

Peter,

Apologies for taking a long while to get back on this. You asked why I'd only use the PC

lens with the adapter. Basically because there is no equivalent lens for rangefinders, and

also I prefer travelling light. The Nikon bodies I retain for now are quite elderly and add

substantial weight to the kit bag. I do plan to slowly shift my SLR allegience over to Leica

as funds allow.

The other focal lengths I already have in Leica mount, so the question becomes academic.