xavier_dalfort

Neil:

<p>

Just celebrating my 6th year with a 24mm R. Just bought an ex-demo

from ebay and sold the previous (estimated age of 15 years) today (La

Maison Du Leica, Paris). Yipe, Yipe.

<p>

Yes, it's E60. In other comprehensible world 60mm. Sold by Leica and

B+W.

<p>

Got a UV and a 81B by B+W since ages. Although they look thick, they

don't show on pix. However, I would not try a polarizing, just an

opinion.

<p>

The filters fit well with the shade on since the extra 2mm are

accepted.

<p>

It's difficult to find second hand filters, try B+W they are much

cheaper than OEM. It's a opinion from a French, worth what it worths.

<p>

Have you seen the thead of a 28mm? Weird, eh?

Xavier.

Honnestly, Giles, As long as my R7 is in working order, I don't think

that the Group difficulties is bothering me.

<p>

Look, Those Guys have carried on selling a camera while their

competitors have come up with Hexar RF and Bessa T/R.

<p>

Then the world of photography is spinning down, ask your retailer how

many films were sold this year... And the coming of the digital does

not explain all (when you discover your Nikon is worth 10% after a

year, few will invest again).

<p>

Yeah, Tamron will come up with Leica "RetroM" in 20 years of time...

And you know what? most probably I'll be alive to see it, Arf, Arf,

Arf.

X.

Gents

<p>

I was reading the stern comments about the R6 exposure compensation.

<p>

Look, the answers are pretty strange such as "because it was cheaper to use the R7's".

<p>

Yes, I have a R7, it's a good product. It took me some years to learn all the possibilities and their application.

<p>

For example, X'mas was spent in Portugal, blue sky, houses painted white, Provia 100 Slide Film.

The electronics (M6 as well) measures the reflectance (as the Sattellites do since 20 years). A white wall reflects a lot of light.

<p>

Yes Exposure Compensation, +1/2 or +1, you know it. And the results? Nice, the shades are full of details, the sky remains blue.

<p>

Leica has industrial products and it means the re-use of solutions whenever it's possible. It's a cost issue, not to mention the "bugs", the defects.

<p>

Let me add a Ethno-differential comment: A pal of me, Rodrigue is from a French territory, his ethnic origin is african, what do you thing the R7 does of that? Answer is exposure compensation -1/2ev. And the portraitsof him and his daughter are full of life.

<p>

Cheers.

X.

Nothing is wrong with using filters as long as they don't change the

atmosphere.

<p>

For example, I'm using a polarizer on the 35mm and the 50mm (both R,

sorry...) and it enhances a lovely scenery some film can capture

<p>

But I'm too lazy to use blue or strange filter. The photography is a

support to my memory, no need to take acids to get the mood of a pix.

<p>

Hand held meter? Leica has asked Minolta to integrate their light

measure into a R7. So?

<p>

Buying used? Don't shop in Paris, they are careless....

X.

Hi Travis:

<p>

Your question is joining a thought I had some times ago.

<p>

In my case, most of the things will disappear and it's better this

way. Who cares about Portugal or France in 2002?

<p>

There are too many photos for the public eye to keep a memory so

don't expect to be famous.

May be your family will appreciate to have a memory, may be.

<p>

Today, the best photos I take are those sent on the List of my Club,

the memory of the month, forgotten 3 weeks later. It paints a smile

on the face of the people. Leica? Nah, just a Olympus Camedia, out of

production Digital Camera.

<p>

Mee Leica R7 is used in an egocentric way, my pleasure to have sharp

well balanced, colored slides. friends are surprised when I show

them, very seldom to tell you.

<p>

No one cares and this is Ze Best!!!

Yours in a Buddha way.

Xavier

Claudiu:

<p>

Congratulation. In a recent reading, in "Chasseur d'Image" the

Hexanon was rated as good as the leica previous generation.

<p>

So it's a good bargain overall.

<p>

Enjoy. X.

Stefan:

<p>

About leica numbers, please you can refer to the www.cameraquest.com

site.

<p>

Somewhere in the page classic camera profile is a list of all M and R

serial number and dates of batchs. For instance, I have found there

that the R7 I bought in 96 had been produced in 94.

<p>

It's fun.

Enjoy. X.

Hey Guys, that's a thread! It's a very "eerie" one, let me add...

<p>

Arf-Arf-Arf in my beard.

<p>

Season's greeting.

X.

Antonio:

<p>

I went on your page and liked all of them. Your lady model is very

cute (photo "and now?" or 405254), er if you could convey to her the

opinion...

<p>

Back to the tech. I'm a R user so my opinion counts for nothing.

<p>

Just the usual, look for the dents, ask for the service history (as

for a car...).

Ebay? Yes usually less expensive but you have collectors with $$$$

and you can expect them to raise methodically the auction.

<p>

Try the monthly magazine of your country. Here, it is possible to

find very good deals in "Chasseur d'Images" from people short of a

few ����, selling their gear. However, I would rate better those

deals than "Ex-demo" deals.

<p>

Time to break the piggy bank?

<p>

What about a Konica? For the type of photo you show us, it's a

serious alternative.

<p>

Ciao.

Xavier.

Matthew:

<p>

As an Amateur, I tend to pay for the films and don't expect to make

money out of it.

<p>

So? My hit rate is far much better since I take less pictures but

each of them is thought over.

A little plus for this enjoyable hobby, it takes some thinking,

looking at, dicovering.

<p>

That is mostly claimed by most of those having a M6, "the extension

of the eye". Er I have a R system but it does not change the problem.

<p>

Those "pro" would shoot far less if they were using 6x6 or 6x4.5 but

they would deliver far better photos. My not so humble opinion, that

is.

Xavier

Well, why not the Voigtlander Bessa R?

<p>

They have a great bargain at Jessops (www.jessops.co.uk, me think)

<p>

Same functionality as the 70's RF and quite modern too.

<p>

For more information, look at the RF articles on

http://www.cameraquest.com

<p>

Enjoy.

Hi,

<p>

Er, my 0.02� here. Got the version 2 of the 50/1.4

<p>

A superb lens, so easy to focus and very bright colors. The

performances of the first version are going to be as good as the

newest for everyday's life, just use it a F2.8 and above if you seek

perfection...

<p>

An example: http://xavierf.b.free.fr/Leica_R7_temp/NeOr01.jpg

<p>

from my X'mas in New Orleans a couple of years ago.

<p>

Given the comments by the other Forum-ers (not sure of the term), it

might be a very good deal.

<p>

Enjoy.

<p>

A French from France

XAvier

Hi Dennis:

<p>

Among the strange facts, it seems that few M6 owners are collecting

Leica M6 mouse pads....

<p>

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1310047145

<p>

Why not?

Xavier.

These Cosina Voigtlander are really a "killer" for the range finder.

<p>

For a while I was with the CVUG and the listers complained always

about the "low" quality in which I disagree.

<p>

The Bessa R is a brillant "retro" design with an honorable use of

current technology (SLR type shutter, light evaluation).

<p>

The lens, if they retain the "old" names are really refreshing.

It's a brillant idea from Cosina to have put on the market

some "filed" and "forgotten" lens projects.

<p>

Yes, the patent have come into the public area (it's something like

30 years).

<p>

In France, those having a Leica M have also bought a Cosina because

they prefer to risk the "low priced" gear while complaining about the

lack of quality (sic).

<p>

I like the Bessa R!!!

Hey Luther:

<p>

Just because we like to have them, even if we don't use it everyday.

<p>

There was a time when I always had a camera in my bag/pocket, a Minox

35.

But now, most of the places forbid photography so I eventually gave

up.

<p>

Owning for plesaure (like recently bought a Rollei35SE) or for

discovery (a Digital Omympus). The pleasure of owning fine equipment

such as the R system and use it to create sharp and contrasty images

(most of them are useless thought..)

<p>

Just some interest into those mechanical/electronical devices.

<p>

Regards.

Xavier

Thanks for those inputs Guys.

<p>

We will see what it comes up with landscape and architecture.

Cheers.

X.

Hello:

<p>

I recently spend some ���� on Provia 100F and Velvia.

<p>

The latest, I have already used and liked it, exposure compensation is almost mastered. The precision of the light evaluation on the R7 is easing up the picture taking process!!

<p>

What comes up for the Provia 100F, any hint/tip you would like to share?

The Provia 100 F is an inversible or slide film, sold as "pro" film (it means large quantities at high price, ahem).

Ah, what about the latitude? My Dad shall probably use it in his SRT101 which light meter has not the subtelities of the R7.

<p>

TIA.

Xavier

Hi Dennis:

<p>

Ususally, any picture larger than 800x600 is hardly loadable.

800 dots for 36mm and 600dots for 24mm, it makes something like 635

dpi...

<p>

When you know that the first prices are offering 1200dpi at least!

<p>

Most of the cameras are offering 1280x960, about 1.1Million pixels.

The quality is acceptable, check the following taken with a Olympus

Camedia 830L:

http://xavierf.b.free.fr/Ete2001/PB140006.JPG

<p>

(long to load, eh?)

<p>

Try Jenoptik JS-21 (former Carl Zeiss Jena), a good for money item.

<p>

Owning a leica to send photos less than 1 Million pixels... Ah, this

is fustrating, arf-arf-arf.

<p>

For printing, send your files to Fuji lab Online, it will be cheaper

and of much better quality.

<p>

Regards.

X.

Well, my .02� here.

<p>

Using a R7 with 24mm, 35mm, 50mm since a few years and it gives a lot

of satisfaction.

<p>

Sharpness and Contrast? Yes, even in situations where I get a 1/10sec

to focus and trip the shutter.

<p>

Here is an example with the 35mm/f2, low light and 100ASA film:

http://xavierf.b.free.fr/Leica-Reflex/img3-014.jpg

<p>

I'm a google wearer and focusing is sometimes tricky however, I

always try to prepare or pre-focus, depending on the subject. DOF is

also a very important factor, the couple dof/speed needs to be

adjusted to some acceptable value (experimentation, of course)

<p>

One other thing is a sure hand as the R7 is really heavy.

<p>

Practice or keep the Contax, after all, if it gives you satisfaction,

carry on.

Regards. X.

An example of street photography with Minox

<p>

http://xavierf.b.free.fr/Pakistan/roj01.jpg

<p>

or near to my own country, France:

<p>

http://xavierf.b.free.fr/Ete2001/Minox/Vosges02.jpg

I'm a Minox User and since long.

<p>

I see here contribution of Martin Tai and Ray Moth, both long Minox

user pals.

<p>

Difficult situation? Well, for a while I had been in Pakistan where

photography is highly disregarded but most people would not mind

a "little photo" with a little camera.

<p>

Adjusting the distance is a matter of practice as some have a light

meter in their head for the M6... Beside, you have to adjust in

between 2 values, it's not that difficult.

<p>

For long exposure, leave the camera on a support (a minox tripod if

you are posh) and use the self timer.

<p>

At least, the Minox can be in a pocket and goes un-noticed

<p>

Try the http://www.minoxography.org for more info.

Xavier.

With all that thread, I wonder no more why used lens look so battered.

<p>

A camera is a well crafted item, don't mix up with a Caterpillar

scraper...

<p>

I own an Electronic R7, well crafted and it takes pictures. It is not

used everyday of course. All lens and body are protected to a

maximum. Did the same with a Pentax P30 but had to replace it for

another one, the lens mount showed wear and coupling begun to behave

strangely. The second Pentax ant its lens were sold effortless

because it was in mint++.

<p>

Hopefully, the camera shall last a long time and it's always a

pleasure to possess a camera in a nice condition.

Hello Stephan

<p>

I recently bought a 35mm/f2 with some sign of use.

<p>

I too thought there was oil on the blades. But in fact it was a shiny

scar left by the blades themselves.

<p>

To convince yourself, manipulate the blades in the light of a bright

midday sun. On the lens, the most visible wear is at 5.6.

<p>

May be the lens was stored in a vibrating environment such as the

floor mat of a car with no or little protection.

<p>

Regards.

Just a comment from France:

<p>

It seems that the Leica R has disppeared from the shelves of the

local trade too.

While 2 years ago you could find reasonably priced used lens with

reasonably wear, today, most offers are for old battered workhorses

or with prices 75% of the new.

<p>

Ebay? Yes, but good proposals are expensive too.

<p>

Regards.

Xavier

All have been said before, I guess.

<p>

Anyhow, I have recently invested in a Rollei and was not too pleased

with the metring system (although the model is a 35TE).

The Minox GTE has a better light eveluation (especially in low light

condition).

Plus the fact that Minox is a 35mm and Rollei a 40mm. Funnily it

makes a difference when composing a picture.

<p>

But both camera are pleasant to use, the Minox is a bit quicker

for "street" pictures.

Just my 0.02 Euros here!!