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rico_tudor

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Posts posted by rico_tudor

    Left or right eyedness with a Leica M. Which is correct?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I'm a rightie M4 user, and my brain simply won't reconcile the view with both eyes open, so I have to squint for framing: M3 is tempting for its magnification, here. M lefties benefit by the camera body blotting out the view from their other eye.

     

    As for vertical framing, I'm spoilt by SLRs with vertical grip and secondary release, facilitating one-handed operation. With Leica M, orienting the shutter release and advance lever downward allows both to be operated with one hand. I added a softie to make firing easy with the flat part of the thumb.

    My Universe is Crumbling

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I regularly focus by scale, on RF and SLR alike. The more you set up the shot with camera away from your face, the better. Good thing about 35mm is the DOF. At f/5.6, you dial 2m and get 1.5-3m of depth: nice for work around the dinner table. On a sunny street, hyperfocal or really broad zone-focus is a no-brainer.

    The best Leica M to use nothing but a 50mm on?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Trevor,

     

    I have the M4, 139Q, and the Aria. My primary shooter is the Aria and P50/1.4 - an awesome combo. Unlike the Canon mid-range SLRs with creaky plastic body panels, the plastic-sheathed Aria feels like a forging, but light. The brightness and focus snap of the VF is stunning, and firing is barely louder than the M.

     

    Of course, there's only one way to experience the Leica mystique, and perhaps your time has come. The mechanical qualities are special, that's for sure! Optically speaking, it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. The big choice is emotional rapport versus getting the job done.

    Coverage of RF framelines. What does that mean ?

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    <i>This was carried forth into the SLR era partly to allow the use of a smaller, lighter, CHEAPER pentaprism and it results in a less bulky camera. Only the Nikon F series ever claimed to have a 100% finder image.</i>

    <p>

    Al K. is correct about the size and weight of the pentaprism. Another weight and cost reduction is the recent proliferation of so-called pentamirrors (shudder). As an SLR junkie, however, I take exception to his statement about 100% VFs and manufacturer claims. This is a top-of-the-line feature and, when offered, is noted in product literature, e.g. <a href=http://www.kyoceraimaging.com/tourspecs.asp?itemnum=123000>Contax RTS III</a>, <a href=http://canon.com/camera-museum/camera/2000-/data/2000_eos-1v_s.html>Canon 1V</a>, and <a href=http://www.minoltausa.com/eprise/main/MinoltaUSA/MUSAContent/CPG/CPGProducts?NS=true&cname=cam&fname=cam_slr_max&Mname=Maxxum_9>Minolta Maxxum 9</a> to name three examples.

    OT Now here's a rangefinder

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Largest "rangefinder" will be found in the field of astronomy. For coherent imaging, my guess is the <a href=http://www.vla.nrao.edu/>Very Large Array</a> which operates at radio frequencies. The baseline is configurable to a maximum 22 miles.

    <p>

    For non-imaging, the largest baseline is the diameter of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. Measurements are taken 6 month's apart and correlated for calculation of stellar distance. This uses the same parallax we enjoy in the M VF! If the Earth is one <i>astronomical unit</i> from the Sun, then Alpha Centauri is 10^5 times further away. <a href=http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/distance.htm>Edward Wright</a> has more details.

    My "sling" copy

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Absolutely agree, Henry. No purpose is served by reinventing the original Sling. Better to design new items that solve other problems. Here in Chicago, the Sling is less useful because of our long, hard winters. On many days, the outcome would be frostbite, and the amputation of valuable digits. I now introduce my new product, the Glove:

    <p align=center>

    <img src=http://patternassociates.com/rico/photo/misc/m-glove.jpg>

    <p>

    The Glove (patent pending) provides a secure grip to the Leica M body, while protecting your hand from the winter elements. The shell is hand-stitched black calfskin, with lambswool interior and a Gortex liner; brown calfskin is available on request for owners of the M6TTL Titanium. The Glove allows free movement of the thumb and index finger for operating the camera, while the other fingers are mounted flush to the M body. All straps are compatible, and by removing your hand from the Glove, the camera can then by carried around the neck or on the shoulder. Detaching the Glove takes just a few minutes using a small tool (included).

    wnw:Lost in Translation.;)

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I saw the movie just before photo.net crashed, and wiped out our postings (again). Having a Japanese family on my mother's side, and not knowing the language, I'm well aware of being "lost in translation". I spent a fortnight at the Shinjuku Hilton (Hirton Hoteru in local parlance), and Sophia successfully captured my impressions of modern Tokyo with all its crazy juxtapositions. I also whisked down to Kyoto on the Shinkansen, and did the temple tour.

    <p align=center>

    <img src=http://patternassociates.com/rico/photo/misc/tokyo1.jpg>

    <p align=center>

    Under the Cherry Blossoms, Tokyo

    </p>

    OT: Totally off topic and personal

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Victor,

     

    Greetings, and welcome to Chicagoland. You have perhaps nine months before you realize the mistake you made. :-) As Jake said, get friendly with long underwear - no more Al K and sunny Florida. I suggest you, Karl, Stephan, Benjamin and I get together somewhere in Lincoln Park for dinner when you're settled in. Mia Francesca?

     

    For such a flat and industrial locale, Chicago is surprisingly photogenic. Lived here twenty years, and love it to bits. This is one California native that doesn't need beach blondes, 16-lane traffic jams, and Arnold.

    Interesting M Strap

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    I never dangle a camera off one shoulder. If shooting is imminent, it's loose in my hand, or around my neck. For conveyance, I wear the strap as a bandolier: this allows the camera to perch up front, under the arm, or on the small of the back. With a slightly longer strap, one can also shoot without ungirding.

    Analysis of Composition

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    <<... Harvey, Stuart Franklin (to name a few) all try for that "10 decisive moments all happening at once" look in many of their shots. It's hard to pull off, obviously, since the odds are 10 to 1 against you.>>

    <p>

    Andy, your nest egg asks you to avoid Las Vegas! The odds are much lower than 1 in 10. Here's my mathematical treatment of HCB...

    <p>

    If "decisive moment" means one second of time, then the chances of capturing a puddle-jumper, a woman tripping over a grate, and a taxi plowing into a horse-drawn carriage all in one image is pretty remote, and that's just three of ten. A place <i>that</i> happening would make NYC look like sleepy-town.

    <p>

    Using a more sedate goal of capturing ten "decisive vignettes" (duration 10 seconds) in one photo, and assuming you will encounter ten such vignettes in your walk, the probability of success is (1/720)^(10-1), or 0.000000000000000000000000019231, or one walk in 51,999,000,000,000,000,000,000,000!

    <p>

    If your subjects can remain riveting for a full "decisive hour", then the odds improve dramatically: 500 walks should clinch the image. You even have time to set up the LF gear :-)

    <p>

    BTW, I like the Ramsgate image. The term Rules of Composition has a dictatorial ring about it - for photographer and viewer alike. This image invites you to wander around without a government escort. Given the odds, I begin to wonder if this scene was staged... Perish the thought!

    Digital (R) fisheyes

    in Leica and Rangefinders

    Posted

    Bruno,

    <p>

    Sensor crop is a real headache for WA fans like myself. With standard 35mm lenses on a typical DSLR, you get to carry all the glass and enjoy less than all the image circle. Ultra-wide lens are expensive, bulky, and limited in their selection.

    <p>

    Fisheyes are my personal addiction, whether <a href=http://patternassociates.com/rico/d30/fisheye/>cropped 1.6x on a Canon D30</a> or used with film. My fling with defishing is over - I now prefer the images in their curvaceous glory. This is particularly important for <a href=http://patternassociates.com/rico/d30/misc/party3b.jpg>people pics</a>. Besides providing actual UWA coverage, a fisheye has better illumination, less CA, and a small size in comparison to a rectilinear prime.

    <p>

    Much as I hate the dichotomy, Nikon is addressing some of these digitally-induced traumas with their DX lenses. If I pick up a D2H, that DX fisheye is a no-brainer: can't go too wide, you know. :-)

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