paul_chan4

Pablito, good logic. I suppose if you mount either version on a Hammertone MP you'd get clean neutral grey?

More a personal choice decision. The chrome is a little heavier than the black version and some do find it discomforting on a black body. It's the final images that call the shots and both would perform admirably.

The Zeiss Super Ikonta IV is a nice folder in 6x6 format with a reputable Tessar lens to boot. It's fairly compact and should fill your need nicely. Check the bellows and leaf shutter. The integral selenium meter may no longer be reliable but you can always fall back on the sunny 16 rule. If you move up to the 6x9 format, the C model with the Opton Tessar is another model hard to beat. You set the operational modes manually without any auto feature. That I suppose is what the fun of photography is all about.

I should think it's at the infinity end that would give you more dof. And remember to stop down as well for the purpose. The standard 80mm lens coupled with the E56 should give you a fairly high magnification factor although I do not have the specs.

Check the terminals inside the battery chamber. Ensure they're all clean and do not show signs of rust and corrosion. Ensure the shutter curtains are intact. Mine show crack lines but do not leak for the present time. All 5 operational modes, controlled from the big cicular knob on the right hand side of the body, should function flawlessly. Clean mirror, palpas interior intact and motor function are just about the remaining check-list. The 553ELX could now be bought at a bargain price and is definitely good value for its features.

Several on-going Leicas are posted on the auction site lately. Private

auction, 24-hour duration, absurbly low opening bids, dubious payment terms,

private email contact, blah blah blah with all the apparent red herring signs

in place. For the benefit of newcomers, beware. We have all gone through this

many times before.

Boris, would you know when would be the best time of the year to get those shots of the terraces in all their splendour? Pre-harvest season would be ideal.

'...good to be back shooting film again'. Ah, I never leave the enjoyment of shooting film in the first place. Digital whatever.

Try out the Casio Exilim EX-Z60. Small for the pocket with a strong proprietory battery to boot. The 6mp output is more than sufficient for 8"x10" enlargement and a 512mb SD card would suffice for a day's shoot. Easy menu without the hassle. You would not be disappointed.

I'd believe Q.G's opinion is related to his personal perception and we need not go overboard with our differences. As with any other brand name gear there may be some particular product that do not meet end-consumer expectation but we do all have the consensus the Rollei TLRs of the '60s and 70's are hard to beat for their appeal and general reliability. Like the Graflex of the pre-war years I dare say no serious photographer can claim to have shot 'em all unless he did use a Rollei TLR at some point. If anything, my dream Rollei collection would comprise ideally a 2.8F, Rolleiwide and Tele-Rollei!

Rollei's TLRs are selling strong in the auction site. The 3.5F and 2.8F series seem to hold their prices pretty well. They do reflect the golden era of excellent cameras with the 'Made In Germany' tag like the Leica M series of the '60s. I'm not so certain the same could be said for their GX and FX series. Honestly I'd love to own one of those late white-face models albeit not so much as a user rather than a reminder of the great past. Other brand names sprang to mind too. Linhof and Contarex. They all do not seem to make 'em like they used to anymore. For that matter, some never even make it

through the millenium!

Brad, my apology for a slightly OT response. The 1st scratch mark would really hurt, naturally. The subsequent marks would bring you to accept the realities of using it on any field trip. And should you ever get a ding or dent on it you'll further accept the cold reality it's gonna be a user. Shoot plenty of images with your new M7 and enjoy every moment with it, irregardless of that rub or whatever mark caused by that little shirt button or tie clip. Congrats on your purchase.

And they do not make the CFi and CFE lenses like they used to anymore. Those C oldies are solid chunk of heavy metal, pretty indestructible. I really adore their classic styling and aesthetic appearance, especially the gleaming silver chromes!

My perception of Sinar is their forte in Large Format. They have digital backs for LF application with their range of Digitar lenses. Tailored specifically for professionals and very pricey. It would be interesting how both would work it out to synergise a medium format digital product to lure their respective brand-name users as a competitive alternative to H1/H2. On this route, 'Blad and Fuji apparently have the leading edge, for now anyway.

You'd keep the SWAT squad pretty busy if you lug that monster around on the streets.

In anticipation of more M8 threads in the coming weeks, I'd like to refresh

some of our endearing moments with our film-based M's. For some, these

memories stretched over a 50-year period since 1954. I was a late starter but

am I glad my old Kodachromes shot in the 60's and 70's with my first M3 are

still lying scattered around in the house. Let's share your magic moments

before digital drown us.

Buy it, and go gay (sorry folks, pun intended)

Your sense of humour is refreshing. For this reason alone this excellent lens deserves a new owner.

The Noctilux with the 6-bit coding for the new Digital M is available from a

Hong Kong seller in the auction site for $3150. Prices for this new batch of

lenses would typically trend north. Looks like I need to ask Suzie Osman

whether I should take up that 2nd mortgage.

Billy apparently takes an exception to wishing thinking. Not for the first time though.

I thought this was meant to be used in a nudist camp only?

The general consensus is cameras do not normally not make good investment. You

buy them to use (professionally or otherwise) or build up your collection in

your display cabinets because you can well afford to. On hindsight, which

Leicas would you say really hold up their value? Go back to their early years

with the thread mount, past commemoratives up to the present MPs and the SLR

series.

Monkey, bluntly I'd say you are stupid for even thinking of it. On the other hand, being stupid is a great sign of humility. We all happen to be so at one time or another.

George, hopefully it won't be an expensive guess. You must have your good reasons to decide on your purchase at that time.

Leica must have been making them more brand new out of the production line in lesser time than it takes to service the equivalent number. Frightening thought how much total time it would take if all the M6s were to go in for servicing at one time or another during the years ahead! One day and a half for each M6 multiplies by...?