sheridan

Patrick. Your situation is little different to many people's ...we all have our

photo up's and downs. Just changing to another brand of camera has little to

do with it. I'd stick to Leica ... the viewfinder alone is worth it. <p> Even being a

pro photographer is no different as they have their up's and downs.<p> We all

get tied in with life's obligations which can influence time and desire to take

better pictures.<p> Just a simple suggestion to involve yourself a bit more

...offer to take images for friends, even accomodating strangers and to give

them the results. You'll find they can be be excited by the prospect and should

offer to cover you for your basic costs at least. This exercise I've found can

increase your inspiration.

Many years ago I bought several B & W soft focus (WZ) filters ...39mm was

available. If you are lucky B & W might still make them.

One for Marc and Alex."Claudia's christening."50mm Summicron. <p>Hope

you had a great time in Japan Sandy.<div></div>

Lucien. Thanks for the release news on the new 90mm.<p>I think the

philosophy of design of this lens is somehow similar to the that of the rather

short lived 3 element 90mm Elmar.In handling very compact, in performance

very high and with the added capability of focusing close. (Extension tube

versus Viso)<p>Jay has a point when he talks of the already high assortment

of 90mm's on the market, and as a possible indication of this lens's sales

success you might look at sales of the faster Elmarit against the little Elmar.

However, I think looking past all of this, the intro of this new lens by Leica has

to be a demonstration of not only it's optical excellence but the ability of he

company to produce a lens that can do something different. I guess the R & D

outlay on this little lens is as much a marketing requirement to keep up

interest in Leica as a whole as to give the M user another a focal length that

has been going for decades.

The arches and enclosed space give the image good perspective. The white

paint provides nice diffused lighting. Your subject's expression is interestingly

enigmatic.

For reasons stated above I easily prefer Tri-X to T-Max. Also, the grainier

property of Tri-X can make a slightly blurred image apparently sharper by

featuring the sharpness of the grain in the photo.

"You take the picture we'll do the rest" has become a real burden for Kodak. In

the meantime Canon and ors. free from the responsibility of carrying the

technology of earlier years press ever onward with their affordable image

production hardware. A relative of mine Phil Georges is a renowned

computergraphics lecturer here in Australia. He is saying 30 million plus

pixels photo imaging is on the drawing boards. Meanwhile, with all this going

on, our beloved Leica is announcing the "new" 90mm Elmar with SOOKY type

attachment . Don't you just love it.

Thanks for your comments. Color both at scene and on transparency are as

at time of exposure. Monument sits on cliff overlooking the ocean.

Martin. If the shoulder stock assembly feels clumsy or heavy you might want to

give the lens a go with monopod.