paul_chan4

Seb, that's reassuring. Then again I had old b/w scratched-up prints smaller than postcard-size that I got them scanned, touched up and enlarged with digital manipulation to restore those images. I never realise my mum looked so beautiful in her younger days. It goes both ways.

Fuji F31fd. No second thought.

Ouch, this one really hurts. I suppose that would be a 4K loss? Then again, it's not only Leica gear nor the classified ads here or in any auction site. With borderless trade the risks are always out there notwithstanding the red flags. I can only wish you get some leads on this with a positive outcome. Could you possibly imagine the odds when purchases are made from overseas buyers. A sour deal would not make up for all those 5-star ratings you earned as a buyer. Caveat emptor, did they say that? I thought it easier said than to follow through.

Jim, you have the typical 'choice dilemma' on your gear configuration before the trip. M or R, DSLR or 903SWC. And a pocket digital p/s to boot. Films or memory cards? Shift lens would normally require a tripod and a time consuming setup. You are likey to end up with less shots albeit some great ones. I'd prefer some light gear, two bodies with no more than 3 chosen lenses for the trip. The shopping would add extra weight on your passage home. Have great trip.

The standard central microprism screen on the SL is generally bright for focussing accuracy in outdoors and a well-lighted situation. I found the split-image screen on the SL2 particularly useful for landscape and subjects with vertical lines for pin-point focussing and it also has a slightly more sensitive meter. However, these screens are interchangeable by a trained serviceman.

John, I'm just lost for words. And on such an occasion too. You did pluck the courage to share your experience and hope we all learn something from it. I'm now wondering how you handle the situation to inform the couple it was a no-go? This better go right in the very first page of any wedding shoot tutorial to aspiring cameraman.

Dealer probably no. But if you happen to check in at the 6-star Empire Hotel you could get some nice shots of the facade during sunset at this time of the year.

They appeared on *bay infrequently within the $2500-$3000 range. In any better condition approaching mint, they could fetch as much as $3500. There are 2 versions available - with or without the selenium meter, the former seem to be more desirable if it's in full working condition. The complete model would include a transparent glass plate attached on the film rail. The Bay IV lens shade alone could be sold for $200 upwards.

No reservation whatsoever on image quality from the Rodenstock series available for the SW612. Remember this is a camera requiring full pre-set manual operation. Setting the exposure and scale focussing before tripping the shutter would demand some hand-on experience unlike the point-and-shoot auto-focus variety. So if these settings are incorrectly done you would expect some disappointment in your prints or transparencies. But these do not in any way reflect the excellent capabilities of the SW612. The availability of various formats in 6x7, 6x9 and 6x12 film backs (and lens choice) is a definite advantageous feature.

And I thought I was pretty proficient in English all these years. Time for me to go and get a check-up.

If I may, could you increase your initial offer to $1888? That would offset the taboo serial number of the camera and it may just give some comfort to the seller to part with it! The "8" is held as the prosperous number and that would give you triple doses of endownment.

The nature of these feedbacks seem to be appearing more frequently of late. Some question mark for the QC on this brand-name? When prices are creeping up are we not expecting more reliability instead of less?

The other thread on many of us using only 10% of our hardware with the

<br>remaining 90% unused set me thinking. Same for Leica gear, be it that

<br>additional body or extra lens we yearn to purchase notwithstanding an

<br>awareness of the fairly substantial cost involved. I wonder how many of us

<br>have this 'guilt' feeling (telling your spouse it costs only a fraction of

<br>what you actually paid is one clear admission sign of this guilt) at most

<br>times to purchase that additional item just because you-

<br>1. just have the purchase bug when you really do not need it,

<br>2. are addicted with the brand-name phobia which Leica is associated,

<br>3. want to show your latest acquisition

<br>4. are curious enough to try out something different

<br>5. get that fuuny feeling if it's Leica, you cannot be wrong

<br>6. have your other peculiar reasons, whatever.

<br>Two bodies, three lenses seem to be fairly acceptable for most shooting

<br>needs. Then surely we have a lot of forum members here who do have much

<br>more that this basic outfit? Apart from the collection aspect, why do we

<br>keep on pursuing the purchase mindset? Your M6 is still working perfectly

<br>and yet you think you need the MP? Your 4th edition 35mm Summicron is not

<br>good enough that you need to get the Asph? Is there any real need?

Thomas, depending on the condition you can expect it to fetch around $500-$550 at most. Dealers would usually offer for 30% lower. Your earlier version sells for less. As I read somewhere, it works out to about $2.50 only for each mm of the focal length. At this miserable rate I'd suggest you keep it as an excellent shooter unless you decide to ditch the Leica SLR series altogether. My 2 cent.

All the more reason why the diminutive 35mm/1.4 non-asph can hold out on its own admirably.

New M8s are priced at $4795 or thereabouts in most reputable stores. What's the

catch when you see ads for the same brand new items with passport warranty at

about 4K? Caveat emptor?

Laurence, the SL2 and its sibling, the earlier SL are both indeed very fine no-frills mechanical cameras made in the heydays of Leica. Load the roll, set the ASA film index and you are just about ready. There are only 2 controls which require plain basic manipulation-shutter speeds and aperture. The selective metering is reliable and accurate. They are indeed slower to capture the 'decisive moment' compared with today's all-auto features. But when it comes down to getting the feel of a plain-jane mechanical camera to relive those nostalgic days both would fit the needs perfectly. And neither is heavy on your pockets going by with current prices. Reminds me of the Olympus SP fixed-lens compact point-and-shoot.

I thought this was an original British product and there's no official importer yet in ContUS?

I can think of 2 possible causes only-

1. you had loaded the film the wrong way with the elmusion side facing the rear instead of the lens? That means the entire roll was never exposed at all. I am uncertain whether the camera can still function normally if you had indeed done so.

2. Or the leaf shutter is not opening up during exposure? You can make a manual check by opening up the camera back, making some test shots with the top dial set to 'manual' operation and testing to ascertain this fault by looking at the lens from the back.

I hope this helps to pin-point the defect.

M5's are generally selling for a little less than the M6. If you can find a nice working one, why not? It gives you that great feeling for being different when you tote that around when everyone else is shooting with any of the other M series. It seems to attract some conversation when you're seen with any M5 among the Leica-user circle.

Thought he was using Polaroid?

His comment is going to receive a lot of flak so I'm staying away from this one. As for his probable 1st, I suspect he'd stick with a single prime lens with a focal length of his choice. That lens is glued permanently to the body. Multiple-lens gig would be a henious crime. And any zoom found in your bag would render you to be banished into the twilight zone.

Give a thought on the new Fuji f40d or the earlier f30. Both are excellent p&s compacts capable of producing excellent pics. Write-up reports tend to favour the f30 for indoor/low-light usage while the f40d gets the thumbs-up for outdoors. They are both slim, compact and easy to use. The f40d has a simulated chrome setting (unlike regular print film) on manual mode which gives rich saturated colours on my 10"x15" prints with all the sharpness and clarity you could wish for.

Fairly ingenious idea. Most probably meant for portrait application and you still get 12 shots to the roll. If you could remove the personalised name I do not see any reason why it cannot serve as a normal back except for its vertical orientation. Remember to frame your composition carefully in the screen to get the image correctly in place though!

Maybe, maybe not. I lost the framelines for the 50/75mm and 90mm in my M6TTL .85 viewfinder after I mount and remove the body cap! My repairman told me there was this linkage mechanism that was not working as it should. No fall , no angel. You win some, you lost some. Yes, I still have this firm conviction they are fairly durable.