film rules

<p>When it is that dark, you do not need to be constantly metering. Meter an average scene and leave the setting until the average changes. You can do this with any of these cameras just fine. You are over-thinking this.</p>

<p>Those are some nice looking feet!</p>

<p>Paul's film did a good job with the exposure (not Paul) because he had it developed at a lab and probably shot it at the rated ISO. His photos are merely an attempt to justify his camera fetish. Seriously Paul, this is the best you can do with a $3k+ camera? Please!</p>

<p>Average</p>

<p>The amount of energy expended here on the full-frame digital Leica is just incredible! From it one could get the impression that film developing and darkroom printing was next to impossible.</p>

<p>Does anyone know of a replacement for the magnifier in the Hasselblad waist level viewfinder that would reverse the viewed image so that it is normal? I am interested in avoiding the use of a prism finder.</p>

I'll revise my scenario #1 - get Kienzle to private label their A35 enlarger under the Leica trademark and sell it with a Leica enlarging lens. Add an introductory camera package for the M that includes the MP or M7 body and a 50 summicron, developing tank, beakers, 8x10 trays, private labeled VC paper, etc.

Next step possibility #1 - Develop, manufacture and sell a high-end enlarger and lens with a Heiland Splitgrade like controller, along with film and paper developing products and chemicals, and redesign the film body M to modern ergonomics. Give up on digital - digital sucks!

 

Next step possibility #2 - Get Panasonic to make a digital camera body with a decent rangefinder that takes M-mount lenses. Focus on lenses (no pun intended) for film M bodies and the new Panasonic digital rangefinder.

Yet another example of why digital sucks. Shoot film and forget about it.

I am not saying these are bad shots . . . I am criticizing the tendency of frequent posters here to overly praise

the quality of virtually every photo posted here. These folks either have no concept of what a "good" photo is

versus a decent snapshot (the later being something any trained monkey could create and which is not deserving of

praise), or are being too polite and diluting the value of any praise earned here.

 

Why should anyone be "surprised" by or "impressed" with the technical results obtained from the 1A. All it is,

is a light-tight box with a lens on it. Lenses were not a new discovery 80 years ago. And making a photo with

it is simply a matter of selecting an appropriate aperture and shutter speed, and focusing (just like with a

K1000). Big deal!

 

If you want to see truly GOOD shots, look at http://www.aphotoaday.org. The mostly teenagers and

twenty-somethings who post there would easily crank out better work product with a 1A and one eye covered because

they are good photographers regardless of camera. Or even search flickr for "disposable camera" and you will

come up with examples of shots that are, frankly, better than most of the photos posted in this forum (using a

similar or lesser lens to the 1A and with less or no aperture/shutter speed control).

 

You say "anyone can take great shots with a high dollar camera." Ha! Look at all the garbage posted here that

was taken with Leica M cameras. Apparently not.

Jeez Paul, do you really "love" these shots? We do people always say "great shots" or similar on this forum. Not to disparage these shots in particular but they really are nothing special and we all take plenty of them, including myself. The members of this forum are, I think, overly complementary about photos posted here. I think it leads to mediocrity.

 

Just say what you need - not every post has to open with "great shots," "love your shots," etc.

Olympus Stylus Epic/Mju - nuff said.

Mohir,

 

It is not an issue of wanting an M camera - I have owned several over the years and could easily afford a new or used one. The issue for me is what the better user and I think the ZI wins hands down. It is a better design in every way.

The Zeiss Ikon is definitely not an improved Voigtlander R; it is an improved M7.

If everyone had just listened to me years ago when I said "Digital Schmigital!"

 

Spend your money on a nice enlarger and lens, Heiland Splitgrade and a slot processor and get over this digital fad.

I just wanted to report that I had David Odess repair a Hasselblad lens recently

and his service was excellent. I would recommend him highly to anyone needing

Hasselblad service.

I posted recently about how much I loved my new Zeiss Ikon. Now that I have had

it for a couple months, I wanted to share a few observations that I have about

the camera design that I have not seen before in any other review.

 

First, the shutter speed dial is so intuitive and fast for exposure compensation

in AE mode. It is much better that the M7 design that requires adjustment of

the back dial. Once you get the hang of it, you do not even need to take the

camera away from your eye to set compensation. Perfect.

 

Second, the viewfinder, illuminator and rangefinder windows are all recessed

into the front of the camera body and this seems to prevent fingerprints and

smudging on those windows. On my Leica M bodies I was constantly wiping these

windows to keep them clean. Not so with the ZM body.

 

Third, the shutter button has just the right amount of travel. It is very

little, but enough to prevent one from accidentally tripping the shutter. Love it.

 

Fourth, divorcing the film advance lever from the shutter button seems to be an

ergonomic improvement over the Leica M design where the two are concentric. It

just feels more natural in the hand.

That ring cost about $100 to have made too!

There is no damage to the lens, by the way. The name plate ring pops right off and this custom filter ring was designed to fit perfectly inside the recessed annular groove that is left behind and to sit flush with the front on the camera when the lens is retracted.

I cannot believe it! That was my CM and that ring you just removed was a filter adaptor I had custom made by SK Grimes that was glued on. I sold it on eBay about a year ago. It was glued on with silicone. It prevents the built-in cover from closing but I just used a snap-on lens cap instead. Glue that sucker back in there and enjoy the only known CM in the world that takes filters!

Just wanted to let all the RFers out there know that I just picked up a new

Zeiss Ikon and the 28 Biogon. Wow! As a previous owner of two M6ttls and a new

MP, I think that Zeiss has Leica beat hands down. Why anyone would pay Leica

prices for an inferior camera while having the Zeiss alternative is beyond me.

The Zeiss Ikon is built and handles beautifully and the viewfinder is so much

better than Leica's that there is no comparing the two. The Biogon 28 also

performs wonderfully. Let the flaming begin!

I am in the market for a new Mamiya 7II kit with the 80/4. They are available

new through B&H Photo and there are at least a couple Asian sources on eBay that

are substantially less money. Does anyone have a

recommendation/suggestion/warning? Thanks in advance.

Adam, some details please! Yours is the first post on this prototype - focal length? maximum aperture? auto focus/manual focus? etc.

Contact Tony Rose at PopFlash. He got me a new TX-2 recently.

Hence, whenever these gearheads see a great photo, the first question is what camera/lens/film?