yip2

Why must film leaders be cut 10-12 cm in the older rangefinders

say a Leica I ? Any insights much appreciated

Sharpness may not be a requirement for a "good" pic.

Overall we are over obsessed with biting sharpness.

<p>

My eyes are still good, thankfully, still don't need glasses at age

45.

<p>

However if they ever deteriorate until I cannot use a rangefinder

properly, the next best thing is to make a visual estimate

of the distance of the subject and calibrate the focussing ring

accordingly. This can be surprising accurate with practice. If you

want better accuracy Leica makes a pair of binoculars that has a

laser rangefinder !

<p>

If it gets very bad I suppose it will have to be autofocus cameras

from there or use wide angle lenses only which are

characterisrically sharp at any distance.

<p>

There is also some digotal software that makes pics appear

sharper in the market if you care for that kind of stuff.

<p>

If it gets worst than that, I suppose you could hardly see a pic by

then so off to learn some braille !

Using the new generation leica M lenses, I find it hard to believe

it is possible to improve them any more. There are fast, small,

and sharp. Any possible improvement will be marginal, hardly

noticeable except to the most discerning eye with a loupe.

<p>

The only way to make a quantum leap in pic quality is for leica to

be able to make a medium format rangefinder camera that is not

much bigger than a M or at least the smallest in the market.

<p>

Yip, who is ever hopeful for a MF Leica !

Am not born of this Earth and so never will die.

Always was and will always be.

My mind has no beginning and no end.

But my heart is a childs heart.

Wondrous beauty everywhere........

Unfortunately my hopeless scanner would not do justice.

Hey, I am a retro guy and you want me to digitalise my sacred O

images !! Oscar would confiscate the camera.

<p>

Trust me, think of an excellent 50mm pic taken by your M6, the

Leica 0 can do it just as finely, the updated lens is a gem.

<p>

If you guesstimate the distance & light levels, well............... not

forgetting to cap the lens when you advance the frame,to take

out the cap when you click and to cap it when you finally rewind

the whole roll !

<p>

And don't forget to wind a whole frame at a time....this camera

can take partial frames, half frames, qtr frames you name it !

<p>

Framing the pic is the most difficult, the margin of error can be

great using the crosshairs ! I have learnt to visualise the plane

of the film, and the position of the lens and point the contraption

like a shield......better rate of success that way !

<p>

It is so different but so fun !

Well, have been eyeing the Leica O for some months because:-

<p>

1. the good things I heard about the lens.

2.. like that niffty retro brown leather case

3. its a leica, old but new

4. like knobs for winding, rewinding

5. Always wanted to cut film leaders

6. is a camera where you "feel" to take pics, not by using precise

measuring tools.

7. was designed before I was born....curious to know the state of

the technology then.

8. want to be a bit out of control, too much control my pics look

the same. This camera can impose itself on the pic.

9. want to use something old but don't want a worn camera.

10. It is light and with a collapsible lens, so very compact.

11. It is a Leica, will hold value well and a joy to use.

12. Love mechanical cameras.

13. has no lightmeter, viewfinder, rangefinder......basic and

troublefree as you can get.....absolutely batteryless.

<p>

The results:-

<p>

Good, they were good, the colours were sweet and true, lens is

sharp but soft.

The framing had a 80% success rate and will improve with

practice. The 5 speeds are handholdable.

The trigger is firm but no shake.

You can set up for each shot at a reasonable speed.

You can cup the lens with the palm of hands when you wind for

the next shot if you want to be a bit faster.

I can feel my head buzzing with mental activity guesstimating

distances, exposure and framing.........very involving/stimulating.

If you want a challenge, this is it, stirring stuff.

Its a beautiful work of artthat is totally usable.

Your face is not hidden by the camera, you can look at the

subject with both eyes..............very cool.

Using the O will make using the M feel so advance !

There is a case for a case !

It depends on the intended use on the day of the shoot.

If it is a serious shoot where I need to bring a few lenses then

everything goes into a Billingham bag, a small one or a large

one.

<p>

If it is just a casual walk with one lens, then just the case.

<p>

I don't like nicks and scratches and dust, so always try to protect

the body.

<p>

Wished they would sell a classic brown case like that of the

Leica O, for the M6.

It is under warranty but I am not patient sometimes and take

calculated risks.

It is a light grease so I hope it would not end up everywhere.

Only a tiny tiny dab......I am silly but not that silly !

The system isn't closed, air does get in an out of the lens as it is

not waterproof.

The only solid lubricant I know of is graphite, don't think I want to

put pencil dust in my lens.

I bought this new M 35mm f2 lens about 10 months ago.

Used it on and off, lovely smooth feel.

But lately I find the focussing ring "sticky".

At certain parts of the revolution one has to turn harder.

Looking at it focussing, I can see the brassy threads going in

and out. Ever a DIY fella, I put a dab of Penn (a fishing reel

brand) light grease on the brassy threads, gave it a few

revolutions and the stickiness went away, problems seems

solved .

<p>

Will it come back to haunt me, oil in the lens, oil on the aperture

rings, oil all over the body..........stop your hysterical laughter pls !

After several watches, I think automatic manual watches makes

sense in the long term. Changing batteries is a hassle.

<p>

My watches with comments.

<p>

1. Rolex GMT master ( very lasting, needs expensive servicing)

2. Timex Ironman (lasts about 2 years, it has a hard life)

3. Omega Seamaster Titane (useless piece of junk)

4. Seiko Divers watch, 1000m ! ( fantastic tough watch)

5. Swiss Army, I forgot the model. (useless piece of junk).

The reason why I bought a M6 was to have a simple manual

camera.

<p>

Cameras with too many buttons cause me to have to reread their

operating instructions, if I don't take pics after a lapse. Soon one

realises all the buttons ain't necessary. They profess to give you

more control in the creation of a pic but actually all you need is a

brain and a decent manual camera ! The M6 is so easy to use,

just one look and you know how to go about it, self explanatory.

<p>

I the M becomes more electronic I might go the other way further

and buy a Leica O for more brain stimulation/challenge.

<p>

It is fun to use a simple manual camera and outperform

friends with gizmo cameras.

Come to think of it I am quite manual.

<p>

My car is manual. I prefer using my bicycle whenever possible ,

no kidding. Like to walk too.

<p>

My gardening tools are manual.

<p>

I refuse to carry a handphone or a pager.

<p>

I cut my own hair using a pair of scissors.

<p>

When I chipped my teeth I filed it back with a diamond file !

Some posters wrote:-

<p>

"Leica does make a 50/3.5 multi-coated Anastigmat collapsible

lens, for their special edition 0-series camera. This is a superb

lens, optically probably their best 50 ever."

<p>

Any truth in above ?

Things can exists side by side.

<p>

The digital watch did not wipe out the mechanical watch.

The ball pen did not wipe out the fountain pen.

TV did not wipe out radios.

The camera did not wipe out oil paintings.

Computers screens did not replace paper.

Quality, workmanship and fine things will always have a place.

All went well for many rolls.

Then one day after what I considered some memorable shots

I found the flim had not advanced at all despite the counter

counting down to 36 . This was discovered only after trying to

rewind the film and that somehow did not feel as normal !

<p>

I think after a period of normality, we get complacent and do not

do proper checks or load badly in the first place. As with most

things we take things for granted until given a wake up call !

Have seen fungus on the body of a FM2T, F3 and a Rollei TLR.

Fungus certainly can get into a body.

Seems to love the black coating.

If a lens has fungus it would be wise isolate it.

It is amazing what they can thrive on.

<p>

When I was starting out in photography I didn't realise the

dangers and speed of fungus. Destroyed my F3 and some

lenses which I stored unprotected in a drawer.

<p>

After learning my lesson, I store all my equipment in an airtight

case packed with silica gel (making sure they have not turned

pink). Have not had a problem since.

I don't find it difficult to focus at nite but my eyes are not your

eyes.

<p>

If it is a matter of not enough light then look for a bright area

elsewhere approx the same distant to the subject you want to

take. Focus on the brighter area then point back to your subject.

<p>

Or if it is dark everywhere your last resort will be to make a

mental estimate of the distance to the subject and adjust your

focus ring to the approx distance. You can practise on bright

days ie estimate the distance mentally, then focus using the

rangefinder, then see how good your estimate actually was.

I had one.

Didn't give good readings.

Disposed of it promptly.

For a collector of Leica cameras it makes sense as the Original

Leica O is hard to come by. Since the current production is a

limited edition, prices will ultimately rise once it cannot be easily

found.

<p>

For the curious on how cameras that era felt, pay and satisfy that

curiousity ! But after a few rolls , the curiousity satisfied and the

bank account much reduced , then what ? To the next curiousity

! ?

It is also promoted as a surprising camera, because the user

has to "guess" a lot. Speeds are limited, aperture is limited,

lens is fixed, you aim it like a gun, no ASA settings, no light

meter, surprisingly high failure rates more likely :-)

But if you make it your only camera, perhaps you will master its

characteristics.......works of art comes from Diana Toy cameras

too.

<p>

But it is Leica quality, Leica smoothness, and precision.......even

having to cut the film leader is a meditative ritual.

<p>

For the older folks who have trouble focussing, well this camera

solves it............you just take a guess at the distance, turn a lever

to transmit that guess to the the lens and hope.......

<p>

You know what I really, really like about this camera.......the

featherly weight , the simplicity , mechanically nothing much to

go wrong and the BEAUTIFUL leather case that comes with

it......honest.

<p>

That said, I haven't got one........yet.

Torn between starvation, and that newish M6 ttl Ti !!!!!!

<p>

Decisions, decisions....

There is a blue liquid that mechanics use to prevent screws from

working loose. Put a tiny tiny dab.

You can unscrew again if you want to, just that it makes the

threads a bit "sticky" so parts don't work loose by themselves.

Sometimes I am not fast enough with the M6 having to adjust

shutter, aperture and focus in sucession (perhaps not in that

order) and do wish for some automation.

<p>

Does that mean that the M6AE would not have a mechanical

shutter anymore or a hybrid shutter as in the Nikon FM3A ?

And so still be battery independent if so called upon ?

I regard pics as a chronicle of my life, times and beauty.

That means pretty much everything.

It is really true that until one takes a pic of something, one does

not truly see. I am amazed that each time i look at the same

photo I see something new, with a loupe, the many details/info

are staggering.

But the photos that are most treasured are mostly family.

I do wish the M6ttl has a self timer though, I seem to lack pics of

myself !

The ASA speed is set on a dial, which is a hit or miss thing.

Sometimes you may not have set it properly.

The only way to be sure is to attach the Leica flash on it.

The readout from the flash LCD tells you precisely.

It is hard to be a 4x5 user in Singapore.

The film on sale here is nearly non existent.

I thought of mail ordering film through the web but the mail

system nowadays might be hazardous, either anthrax or death

rays !

<p>

Can only find maybe 3 places that can dev and print colour and

b+w. Not pleased with the results (discounting my errors) and

am still too beginner to do it myself ! Somehow the famous

photographers that I know who develop their own prints seem to

be bald ! And I (with still a fair head of hair) unscientifically

attribute it to the noxious chemicals used, tell me its not true.

<p>

Can anybody recommend a good place to dev and print colour

transparencies, reasonably priced or otherwise ? Similarly for

B& W. Must be in Singapore of course. If non exists in

Singapore, the next nearest country pls....sob, sniffle, choke...

Would be mosty grateful.

Finally, I took my first LF pic ! Used a Fuji quickload.

Think I did it right !

Don't know how it turned out, still need to send for dev and

printing.

<p>

I have a 4 x 5 Shen Hao.

<p>

I can see the image on the focussing screen which has various

markings, The focussing screen is bigger in area than the

negative size. Question is which are the markings that

corresponds to what I will capture on the negative.

None of the markings seems to correspond exactly to the

negative size ! Use the one that best fits ?