fhm_editor

I once saw in a Japanese magazine that a "practical" photog has

painted black the red dot and the LEICA M6 lettering. I am going to

do the same thing when my M6 turns into user condition.

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You will often attract attention as you bring your camera to eye

level. People nowadays are very aware of photographers. The

difference between Leica and the SLR, is that people think Leica is

just a P&S, and the SLRs are for pro photogs who wants to make a buck

out of someone's misfortune. Does it matter? Yes. People tend to be

more comfortable in front of a non-pro-like cameras.

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I once brought a test roll to an one-hour lab. My M6 is hanging

around my neck when I was picking up the photos. The lab owner asked

me if I have taken the pictures with that camera.

Yes.

Is it a plastic lens, or a glass lens?

Plastic. What do you think about my pictures?

The backgrounds are out of focus, very blurry. Not nice. You should

buy a camera with a glass lens. Costs a few hundred bucks, it won't

give you these blurry pictures. They can zoom too.

(I was testing the bokeh of my 35 Summicron).

It gives you an idea of who is running the local hour lab.

Dear Forum:

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Very often, I scratch my head pondering which 50mm M lens to buy. There are many choices, and I slowly evaluate the cost-benefit of each alternatives. Perhaps the forum can help, of course it will.

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I have been a 50mm user for all my 3-years photographic journey with the Canon EOS. It is my favorite focal length. But surprisingly, it is not the first lens with my M6. You have guessed it, I got the 35summicron pre-asph. This turns out to be a good choice, as I begin to appreciate the 35mm, which I once considered as a cheap P&S focal length for mindless shooting. Secondly, it gives me time to think about which 50 to get.

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The 50summicron is obviously a very sensible choice, as it is lightweight, sharp, and budgetable. No regrets if bought, I can tell without actually bought it.

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The Noctilux is the tempting evil that kills many braincells of mine. The first thing to notice is that Leica did not put a Leica premium on the price, which is comparable to the sub-par-performance Canon EOS equivalent. I have never used an f/1 lens before and I dream that it might give me new excitment for my favorite focal length. There is also a good chance that the f/1 is not that exciting, while the size and weight corrupt the purpose of using Leica in the first place.

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Summilux is something in between but overpriced IMHO.

Surprise, I like the Elmar too. Whatelse are to like about it other than its collapsed size? I am sure that I won't complain about its sharpness for not being good enough for my amateur-level photographs.

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I like the discussions in this forum. Many thanks.

Dear Forum:

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In the not very near future, I wish to have a high-mag body for my 90 Summicron. Not that my M6 0.72 misfocuses, but it is a good treat for my eyes. Additionally, I have a 35 summicron and a Sekonic L308B.

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Which is high-mag body to get? M3 or 0.85? I understand that they both have their own goods and bads, one is not strictly superior to the other. Just like to hear more from many experts here.

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I never touched an M3 before. How exactly do you load film? Is double stroke inconvenient?

I know that M3 rangefinder design is different from M2/M4-/M6. The light paths of the M2/M4/M6 are diagonal while the M3's is horizontal. Why did they change the design, if the M3 rangefinder has won so many praise as the best of all M?

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I do not intend to start a war between M3 and M6 users, as it frequently happens. M3 and M6 are one family.

Thank you for all who responded (so far).

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Actually,

http://homepage1.nifty.com/RLFC/Information/informationmenu.html

contains information about the strap I was specifically looking for -

Artisan & Artist leather strap for Leica (made in Japan). Thanks John.

The webpage, however, is in Japanese. I am going to check out whether

it is available to order to N.A.

I equipped my M6 with the original Leica strap. The plastic locks make unpleasant marks on the black chrome body.

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I wonder how people deal with the strap problem. BTW, where can I buy leather strap for Leica?

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In the long run, my M6 is going to wear all around, so the strap marks won't happen as much then..., I am interested in knowing how a black chrome body wears down? Please describe.

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Thanks in advance

Jackson Loi

Dear Bo:

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There is no duties for any CAMERAS and LENSES if they are bought

within North America. I buy most of my cameras and lenses from the

States and ship them to Toronto (Canon EOS system, Hasselblad). No

duties.

Photo accessories such as film, filter, bags, etc. are another story.

I once bought some cheap film and filters from the States and boom,

haha, the duty surcharge is more than 50%. This will make sure that I

will buy these items in my home and native land...

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Jackson Loi

Antonio:

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I was also infected by the virus last month and bought a M6TTL with

35 Summicron and 90mm Summicron, both pre-asph. Before, I was using a

similar 35mm format set up as you, but in Canon EOS system (EOS-1N,

17-35L, 50USM, 70-210). And I bought the Leica for exactly the

reasons you stated: weight and stealth. I should tell you what I

think so far.

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The little M6 obviously is very light and silent. No other camera

system will do better in these respects. The punch line is that if

street and travel photography are your main interests, then the Leica

is your best tool available.

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I originally opt for the 50 Summicron when I was buying the M6,

because I have used the 50mm for 4 years and I still prefer the

normal perspective more than the wider 35mm. The 35 Summicron,

however, is inevitably the most useful and valuable lens for Leica.

This is because that it has more depth of field than the 50mm, which

is critical when it comes to zone focusing. The lens is extremely

sharp, as sharp as my Canon 50/1.4USM (This is not an insult, Leica

fans, as the Canon is really really sharp. It is however the creamy

out of focus area that makes the 35 Summicron distinctive. Try

panning with this lens and you shall see magic. The blur is so nice...

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The 90mm Summicron is also a very sharp lens, although I bought it at

a used price higher than average. This lens serves well as a second

lens, but I should have bought a 50 Summicron before this lens. Many

people may think that the 50 is redundant once you have a 35, but

their perspectives are actually quite far apart. I see them both as

my main lenses. The 90 Summicron focuses slower and often produces

out of focus images due to my inexperience, but I am positive that it

will become easier.

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I knew very well at the time of purchase that the Leica will perform

very well. I have never doubted the performance of any camera or

lenses (except cheap P&S), but rather I have doubts on my ability to

fully utilize them. RF focusing is actually easier than I thought (I

used AF all the time in EOS, but manual focuses my Hasselblad). The

correct exposure, however, is not as easily obtained as I have

expected. I used the 2% fine spotmeter most of the time, and incident

meter in tricky situations. I thought that I have mastered exposure

techniques. The centerweighted meter is a large spotmeter that needs

some time to get familiar with.

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After playing around for one week, I shot a concert with the 90 with

terrible overexposed, defocused photographs. One day after the

concert, I brought my M6 to my birthplace - Hong Kong, and I have

fumbled many great opportunities in 2 weeks' time. However, there are

a few photographs that are very good. I knew that I am in the phase

of trial and error. I came back to Canada and photographed my

girlfriend's University graduation. The Leica served as a family P&S

and delivers amazing results. Still, some exposure and focusing

problems persist. It takes time to get used to, and much patience is

needed. I feel like a beginner who makes horrible photographs.

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Last night, I compared the images I took with Leica and Canon. I was

amazed to find that a few of the Leica photographs that I took in the

past month are among the best batch of my 7 year photo life. There

must be some kind of synergy between me and the Leica. I am very

happy that I bought a camera that suits me very well.

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I do have some further suggestion for your proposed purchase. That

is, I disagree with Paul's suggestion to buy the Voigtlander to

experience the RF world (my apology to Paul). This is because it does

not make economic sense (I am an economist). If you happen to like

the RF, you would definitely opt for the Leica (trust me you would),

in which you will have to sell the Cosina equipment. New Cosina

depreciates much faster than used Leica. So, why not try out with

used Leica and so you can keep it if you like it. If you do not like

RF, then resell the Leica and you will lose less than the depreciated

value of Voigtlander.

Another suggestion is that you should keep your Nikon. Leica cannot

do everything for you, unless you are determined to give up

telephoto, macro, flash, multiple exposure. I did not sell my Canon

and Hasselblad, not until I find them sitting at home most of the

time. Unfortunately, for the past month, they are sitting at home

most of the time.

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Cheers,

Jackson Loi

University of Toronto

Economics Department

I wonder if there are any differences in optical and built quality between lenses that were made in Canada and Germany. For example, the 35mm Summicron and 90mm Summicron.

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I see a price premium on German lenses and wonder if it means higher quality.

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Thanks in advance.

Jackson