leonid

Amazingly , minolta doesn't have any online manuals . However sekonic

does , so maybe that could be of some help .

If you don't need metering , get an m2 or m3 . Construction is

much better , and they're cheaper .

I love my 12mm lens . It's difficult to use , but when you get it

right , the pay off is nice .

Oddly enough , I can't comment on that since I have the 24 tse on a

d30 . It's about 38mm the way I use it . After over 5000 shots , I

have not noticed any distortion at all .

Better yet , a canon 24mm tilt/shift lens . It's simply superb ( and

even with a canon body , cheaper ) .

hudson news ( in ny ) carries it . One on 57th , another on 8th .

It's ten bucks .

P.s Ivor Matanle's Classic Cameras book covers old cameras

much more thoroughly .

Godfrey DiGiorgi has a useful comparison between the two with

pictures . Here's the link :

http://www.bayarea.net/~ramarren/photostuff/holhel/holhelcomp.htm

I guess if you stretch the definition of irony from here to the

moon , you might say that there are two types of human figures , one

moving and ( ironically !!!) the other not . And three do have

heads ... .

<p>

Seriously , here is my take on the photo .

Think of a lion . When it is in it's natural setting , it's very

difficult to photograph ( cos' it could kill you ). However the

one's at the zoo pose no such trouble . But photos taken in such a

controlled environment will never be as interesting and vibrant (

subject not slide film colours ) as those taken in the wild . Same

thing with people , don't photograph the timid caged beasts , go for

the wild and vicious ones outside .

I have been thinking about doing this for a while . I have met

quite a few people who tell me my stuff is marketable ( already

screwed up one sale because I lost my negatives : ( ) . My

problem is uncertainty in approaching an agent ( or gallery ) . Do

you make an appointment , or just come in ? Anyone know about

anything in the washington dc area ?

This is an advantage of learning with a rollei 35 . Since there is no

rangefinder , you learn to appreciate depth of field . Just set the

aperture at 8 or 16 , as it should make everything in focus from

10ft ( or so ) to infinity . Or you can get a 12(!)mm lens and not

even have to think about it .

A cheap nylon shoulder bag or coat pocket. It allows for quick

storage and removal ( and does not scream " I have a camera !" ).

A bit sad really . All of these cameras will never be put to use .

Like having a platinum toilet and $100 bill toilet paper .

I would say get the olympus .

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1- There's a huge used market , with good prices ( lot's of macro

equipment too ).

<p>

2- Without the winder , it is very small .

<p>

3- om4 has one of the best metering systems of any camera ( 8 spot

averaging ! )

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4 - You get much more for your dollar with the olympus than with

either contax or leica .

Researcher in molecular biology . Preparing to apply for an md/

phd ( if living in washington does not convince me to become a

lawyer first : ) .

Dropped my m2 with 12mm heliar finder ( no lens ) . Finder cracked ,

but no visible damage to the m2 ( it's already dented and the

rangefinder's vertically misaligned )

Hey Ivan , is it me , or does your link lead to my self portrait ?

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leonid

here's the link to a 12mm picture : <img src=" http://

www.photo.net/photo/513052 ">

<p>

www.photo.net/photo/513052

The 12mm is a pretty demanding lens .There is quite a bit of

light fall-off and distortion at the edges . It's not a point and shoot

lens , more like a large format camera , you really have to think

about what you're shooting to get decent results . The 15mm ,

otoh , has no such problems .

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<img src="http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=

513052">

I have lived in brooklyn for most of my life ( most time spent in

manhattan ) For a year or two , I have to live in washington dc . It

is very hard to get interesting shots here because it is quite a

touristy place .If you go past the union ... square ( oops wishful

thinking ) station , you realize that most of dc is not so ... err

nice , but much more photogenic ( crack houses and

socialist/communist protestors anyone ? ) . Still I can't wait to get

back to ny , hopefully never having to leave it again .

Assuming sp stands for street photography , I use an m2 with a 12 (

and 15mm ) heliar . When walking down the street , I hold the camera

( lens facing my thigh ) in my hand such that the viewfinder is

sticking out between middle and ring finger . I meter with my

sekonic , which is in my pocket . So long as you work quickly and

smoothly , people tend not to notice you .

<p>

By the way , my pcr refuses to work today and I too am quite

peeved ... pissed .