stefano_ferrando1

Really don't understand why everyone is taking on Jay's first statement.

I use Xpan and love it, but surely I've paid a lot more the "Hasselblad" badge than for the camera and the lenses.

And I think that it's an irritating thing for everyone who works hard for the money he gets every month.

Only my humble opinion,

Stefano.

Marc,

I use Leica M equipment for my work as a documentarist in social assistance and for landscape photography for an art gallery.

Regards,

Stefano.

Beg your pardon for my ignorance, but sometimes I don't understand certain kind of comments.

If the Noctilux is a so terrible lens, why is it used?

If the Noctilux has ONLY a specifical use, that is to say use it at f:1, well... I must be really a stupid using it as a general purpose lens.

If the out of focus is so awfull, maybe I don't know what out of focus is.

For Ken's question: don't sell the Noctilux. It is not for the lens itself, but for every piece of Leica equipment. If you sell, you'll buy it again, sooner or later.

Best regards,

Stefano.

Chip,

Please take your Leicas and go out for taking pictures!

Stop buing and don't buy what you don't need.

Stefano.

I hope I'll hurt no one, but I really believe that what matters is thinking lesss about gears and use the equipment we own for taking pictures.

Regards,

Stefano.

Michael,

You wrote: "However, there is a company that produces jewellery in the form of photographic cameras, that is worn around one's neck. That piece of jewellery is what usually costs you $2000, and unlike a real camera but like all known jewellery, you are not advised to wear it in the street and in poor areas or countries.

True collectors keep that jewellery in original boxes, and opening them diminishes it value".

Well I must me the greatest stupid man in the universe, since I use my Leica M cameras and lenses in my work as documentarist in social assistance...

Isn't your statement a bit excessive?

You can write what you want, you're a free man in a (supposed) free world. But also other people are free and your kind of statements can expose you to not very kind reactions.

Is it so hard to respect the ideas of people thinking in a different way from you? It would be nice.

Sorry,

Stefano.

Didier,

IMO and for the way you've said you'll use the lens I strongly recomend you to take the 50mm Summicron with you.

I know the arguments of the extra-stop (know also the argument of the two extra-stops... Infact I use also a Noctilux...).

But the question I make is:how many times you really need that extra stop really?

I'm not affected by noctilust, but in my work of documentation for social assistance has come a day in wich I have been forced to buy the Noctilux. Since I can't use flashes in documentation a lot of time I need this lens.

But surely I wouldn't use it for my landscape photography, or I wouldn't use it so often wide open.

For landscape the Summicron is a wonderfull lens, nothing to say.

You are scared about the quality the corners of your photographs using a Summilux. You shoot for pleasure or for work? What enlargement you will have from your negs?

Didier, I'm not taking on you.

I only want to tell you to take things simple.

If you really want the extra-stop, take the Summilux. And don't think so much about differences and comparisons.

The day you'll make life from your photos, start again thinking all those differences.

I really hope you'll understand that isn't my intention hurt you and that my words will help you.

Enjoy your camera and lenses,

Stefano.

Why have we to make our life so complicated?

Stefano.

Chris,

For my work I use two combos.

The first Leica M6TTL 0.58 + 28mm Summicron Asph.

The second (and most used) Leica M6TTL 0.72 + 50mm Summicron.

The second combo is one of the best you can immagine, expecially if you have to use one camera, one lens. If you don't have to do, try the same. You'll learn a lot of things.

Is it necessary your body being an M7? Well, it's a matter of taste.

Good luck,

Stefano.

Noctilux can't be used, normally, with all its pro and cons?

It could be interesting. Expecially the use of the Noctilux for a not so well known application: taking pictures.

Regards,

Stefano

Next time use a normal 50mm lens.

It could give sense...

Stefano.

Matt,

Maybe you're becoming a "cameraholic"...

Surely there are differences beetwen cameras and lenses, but only making photographs will make you became a bettern photographer.

At least there are no rational reasons for using a Leica, or you can find good reasons when the system is used for work in not ideal situations for a photographer. I'm a documentarist in social assistance activity and must admit that my Leica M system helps me a lot. I also hate reflex cameras so that Leica has become my solution.

But for me also there are a lot of non rational reasons in using a Leica M.

And I mean really USING a Leica M.

If if take the camera and lenses be sure to use them, really.

On the contrary, a pice of metal with glasses, engraved with Leica name, exposed somewhere in your home will not be a nice thing to see.

The point is not "owning", the point is doing thing with instruments.

Good luck,

Stefano.

P.S. You can look at http://luminous-landscape.com/ for some considerations about the use of a Leica and the becoming a "cameraholic"

Never seen a film with the Leica logo engraved...

I'll look bettern tomorrow :-)

Stefano.

Matt,

The viewfinder is probably the Leica Vidoom.

For forther info look at the archives of this forum, you'll surely find all the notices you need.

Regards,

Stefano.

Naji,

If you will use one body take the 0.72, the best all around magnification.

For everything else, listen to Jay.

Regards,

Stefano.

Gene,

I wear eyeglasses too and have some problems with my eyes.

Since I've got a kind of "fobia" for contact lenses (Jay bless me please, but they remind me a scene from Bunuel...) first of all I use diopter lenses on my two M6TTL.

But without diopter I can use my 0.72 with 50mm with no problems and my 0.58 with 28mm/35mm as well.

The lines for 50mm on 0.58 aren't so big, but with my Summicron I have no problems of focusing accurance and a thing I love is that I can see a lot of thing out of the frame.

If you will use wide lenses and a standard lens I think 0.58 mag is a good choiche for you.

If you need further informations fell free to email me.

Enjoy your passion,

Stefano.

Marc,

Would you explain my wife that over all my Leica M system I also want a Leica R and some nice macro and telephoto lenses? ;-)

Stefano.

Travis,

Everyone of us has his own standards about the quality of a photography taken.

Being able to edit is what makes the difference beetwen shooting around and taking photos.

I don't like terms as "keepers" and non "keepers".

On one roll of film maybe you tecnically keep most of the exposures.

But that's all?

Many times a photo tecnically perfect gives you no feelings, no sense of what you're telling about the subject.

Many times I need to have a lot of exposure with different couple of time and stops. And many times I need to "bracket" the exposure.

IMO being able of edit a roll by choosing only one photo from it means being able to chose a frame of time that will always tell you something very special.

But it's only my opinion.

Regards,

Stefano.

P.S. I don't think landscapes are so easy subject, but once again it's only my opinion.

Most of all depends from what you want from the photos you take.

I want soul and sense of the place.

The same in the photos for my activity of documentarist in social assistance.

Everyone of us has his own expectations.

And everyone of them has to be respected, I think.

Thanks John,

I know the problems of the lens I own isn't a general problem of the Apo Summicron 90mm Asph.

But mine didn't work... :-(

Regards,

Stefano.

Thomas,

The only film I use is Kodak TriX 400.

Maybe there's something better. But there's also a lot of worse films.

Regards,

Stefano.

Tom,

I've had bigger problems with the Apo Summicron 90mm Asph.

It was giving me unsharp, blurred and fogged images.

I've tested it and the biggest problems comes from images taken at a distance from 7 meteres to infinity and at closest distances.

Now the lens is in the hands of italian tecnical assistance.

They've told me that they probably will change the lens with a new one.

And it is a thing that makes me worry.

But it's another story.

Look out at my post of two weeks ago for further details.

Good luck,

Stefano.

The argument of owning more lenses than needed and the bad influence that it can have on really taking photographs is a firm point, as the usage of one camera, one lens and also one film only. The so called "Zen way", or as I like to say "minimalist way", is a great way for learnig photography, discover our own limitations and go over 'em. It's safe and sound.

But this trade is based on a different point.

And even if at january 30 2002 Dan was thinking to himself as full equipped for the rest of his life... Well, couldn't he have changed idea? Or maybe he has found the good occasion he was looking for and now has only some dubts.

Even if remembering him "the less, the best" can't we help him giving appropriate answers instead of taking him like a scapegoat?

I'm not taking on anyone.

It's only a consideration.

Regards,

Stefano.

Dan,

Are you becoming mad??? ;-)

"Sell the 50mm Summicron and buy a 50mm Elmar", that means selling IMO the best 50mm lens in contrast and sharpness for a lens without meaning.

I don't think is so urgent selling somenthing.

Use your lenses and enjoy with them.

I'm really in love with 50mm focal lenght.

But the way I've followed is the same suggested by Thomas. First i bought the Summicron. And after one year I've used it, I've bought a Noctilux. IMO and for the way I work it's a perfect combo.

Don't sell Leica lenses. Use the lenses you have and buy others when it's possible.

Expecially don't sell the 50mm Summicron. I'll go back rebuyng it in a few time. The Summicron is really a great lens.

Remember, it's only my opinion.

Now I must leave you... I've gotta go and buy a 50mm Summilux!!! :-)

Regards,

Stefano.

Doug,

Enjoy the warmth of the Noctilux without adding filters.

First of all, when Leica tells you that you have not to use filters on a lens it means that you have not to use it. The builder knows the optical computation of the lens and the effect that a filter can have.

Second, since I have always to verify things, I've tried filters on the Noctilux... Well, take them off :-)

I think that an error we usually make when we have a new lens is not making a serious research about it's possibilities. Maybe my suggestion looks like something mad, but try to use your new Noctilux for a period of 6/10 weeks. I mean only the Noctilux and no other lens, possibly with one camera and only one kind of film. It could be a good experience.

For ideas like the one upon give a look at Luminous Landscape, Sunday Morning by Mike Johnston (whatever you think of the site and of Mike). There's an interesting article titled "On Self-Assignment". It's quite similar to my suggestions, maybe a bit harder.

The link is:

http://luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-09-01.shtml

Hope my words will help you,

Enjoy

Stefano.