jongraham1

I wouldn't consider it harsh.

http://i.pbase.com/g6/93/720693/2/69329631.xoyBn7bx.jpg

simply excellent work Frederick

There are really no stocked Leica shops there, so buy before you fly.

In general I agree that wide angle lenses are a must.

Safety is an issue as much as any other large city.

 

Photo opportunitues abound all around Cape Town. Best to have someone who knows the area drive you around in the city.

 

Do not forget the wine country to the North and the rugged coast at Yzerfontaine (sp).

 

Also definately go to Boulders to see the SA Penguins (a 21mm lens is a must there)

 

Personally I would just take the Leica M6 with 2 wide lenses (21 and 35) and forget the D200 for various reasons.

 

http://k41.pbase.com/o5/93/720693/1/69237216.em0ziJN3.90145127bwweb.jpg

Must agree with John Kelly - most of the m8 shots I've seen posted are pedestrian. Nice to see your pics Jorge

Luigi, I have been enamoured with this lens since first released. One of most under rated in Leica stable. Yes, it is f4 but it makes up for speed in sooo many other ways.

 

I have gallery of 90 MEM shots at www.pbase.com/jonathangraham

 

http://k47.pbase.com/g6/93/720693/3/69329623.uo32oB8F.jpg

Yup

Sparkie,

 

I have found that correct exposure is vital with the GRD. Generally I underexpose by about .5-1 stop and correct stuff only with the levels in PS, then a bit of unsharp mask for micro contrast.

With the eyes, do not try for tight framing - it is too tricky. Leave space and crop.

> It doesn't require the external viewfinder, but it is very useful for nightlife and fast shooting.

do you use the external viewfinder yourself? <

 

Yes, I use the external viewfinder (a CV 28mm metal barrel) especially at night or at parties.

 

>nice images. the B&W's look superb. can you share your PP technique and software used? <

 

If I convert a low iso color shot to B&W, I use Fred Miranda's B&W conversion program with PS

 

>the dog photo is great, beautiful tonality<

this was color at about 64/100 iso and verted to B&W as above.

 

>the beach couple shot is very reportage with the waiter gesturing - great photo. lots of tension and dynamics. what shutter speed was that shot at? <

 

It was shot at 1600 iso at probably f2.4 in snap mode at about 1/30th second.

 

>the plant shot (R1001374web.jpg) shows good detail<

Shot at iso 64, no PS

 

> and was this along with the bottles image (R1000739web.jpg) PP'ed with increased colour saturation.<

 

No increased saturation, shot at 2.4/ iso 100/ no PS

 

I never bother with raw, just looking to capture the moment.

For my use, I have found the GRD an excellent P&S alongside my M7. The only problem is that it really not a point and shoot. To get the most out of the GRD you have to think about exposure, etc. The controls are really designed (and very well designed indeed) to encourage manual operation.

 

It doesn't require the external viewfinder, but it is very useful for nightlife and fast shooting. As someone said, it is the digital that Leica forgot to make.

 

The in camera setting are relatively tame as far as contrast and saturation are concerned - but I prefer it this way. It is not a perfect little digital, but I prefer it to all the others I have had, including the pana-leicas.

 

Small gallery of GRD shots here:

 

http://www.pbase.com/jonathangraham/gear

There is a small gallery of the 90mem at http://www.pbase.com/jonathangraham/leica_90_mem

GRD 1600 iso bw mode

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/6001/R1000283afilteredweb.jpg

Simon- I must agree with you 100%. My experience has been the same.

3 grd shots. This is my companion to my m7.

 

One of my dogs http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/data/6210/medium/R1000106bwprint57web.jpg

 

Bar with waterfall: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=42529&cat=6210

 

Big leaves: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=40897&cat=6210

For heavens sake, carry some spare batteries. The m7 is the best in the leica lineup for fast shooting or manual shooting. The pure mechanical MP is a bunch of nonsense IMHO. The m7 gives you the best of both worlds.

The Ricoh GRD needs no mods to shoot IR.

 

See http://paulobizarro.com/tema.asp?id=37

 

Gotta try this.

Ian,

 

Your shots are extremely good with the GRD. I also have one and it is most fun (not for beginners) digital camera I have owned.

My GRD gallery is no where as stunning as yours, but I will work on that.

I have used this lens since it first came out. It is truly a little gem. The focusing is as smooth as the new version 50 elmar. If F4 is okay, it will never disappoint.

 

It does work very well in "macro". Of course if you want to shlep around an slr that is another story.

 

http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/2497569-md.jpg

I am temporarily using a lowepro ridge 30, butis a bit too tight for continual use. I will try the other suggestions before I go to Luigi.

First of all the GRD is a great little camera and companion to my M7.

 

I often use it with the CV barrel 28mm external viewfinder - a great

viewfinder that is dead nuts on in 3:2 format. With the external viewfinder,

the camera is a tough fit in your pocket. Has anyone found a compact slim case

to fit on a belt that will hold this combo? It seems a fraction too large for

the standard Lowepro cases standard width.

 

Only real problem with GRD is all the damn questions from people about the

camera when the external viewfind is attached. The GRD gets more questions and

stares than any Leica I have ever owned.

Agree with Mark re battery life. About 200 shots with charged battery and normal 'chimping'. I also use aaa batteries as backup. 4 aaa's store nicely in a film cannister - that is 100 shots. The GRD has been the perfect companion to my M7.

 

I live in the tropics, so your shots your be less in cooler places.

I just got my GRD as a replacement for my clux-1. As far as I can determine, the 'snap' setting fixes the focus at one specific distance from the lens (I think it is 8 feet). But in reality, because of the extreme DOF, anything 4 feet away will be 'in focus'. This is if you set the aperature at f2.4, of course the smaller the f stop the greater the DOF.

 

It is GREAT small digital and at ISO 1600 jpeg in BW mode, it is very 'flm noir' and more than acceptable because it just looks like high speed film grain.

As stated above, follow the instructions (FTFI) from Leica for loading film or else you will have problems.

 

As not mentioned above, a jammed film advance is NOT a rare problem. I have had 2 M7s that had to go back for repair of this problem.

Trevor-

 

The shoe is all plastic. Probably not that easy to break, but the lever arm with the large viewfinder makes it easier to damage. I am not saying this is a 'fatal flaw', but merely noting that it is not perfect; but it the best present solution for a polarizer.

 

The viewfinder is quite big and hence easy to use. I will take some detailed pics tonight and post them here.

I have the Kenko system and it is an okay solution. A significant design flaw is that the viewer that sits on the camera turns 360 degrees while the vernier marks are 180 degrees. This is a PITA because 50% of the time you are off scale and must reset it to zero and carefully start again.

 

Personally, the old way of turning the filter itself for maximum underexposure is not a bad way to go. But the Kenko system does work and would be greatly improved with a better designed and more robust finder.