mark.brennan

Just spoke w/ Sherry and she advised me against it. She can't judge the true root cause of

the speck without looking at it, but her more strenuous point to me was that I really

should not be buying an M3 less than 964xxx. This SS M3 is 921xxx. Apparently Leica

upgraded the brake in the 964xxx range.

Regardless, given my ambivalence and Sherry's advice, I'm going to return it.

Thanks,

-Mark

Thanks, Ronald. I'm going to try to get in touch w/ Sherry. I should have had this sent

directly to her but I was impatient. I have 14 days within which to return but will be away

for 5 days starting next week, when I had foolishly hoped to use this. It's a shame that's

it's really quite nice otherwise.

But I am leaning towards returning it. I don't think I can live with the finder as is.

Thanks for your quick feedback.

Regards,

-Mark

Hi All -

I'm sure this has been discussed but my search couldn't dig up what I was looking for.

I just got an "EX" rated SS M3 from KEH which seems quite nice in almost all respects except for the

presence of a small black speck in the upper left corner of the rangefinder patch.

The finder is otherwise bright and the patch suitably contrasty. But the speck is annoying - floating

there in the left corner.

Anyone know what this is? Is this easy to fix? I had hoped to wait to send this body in for a CLA.

Should I just return it?

Thanks for any info you might have.

Regards,

-Mark

John, and Jan - thanks for those suggestions - good ones. I did look on the bay for Leica

Ms under Youxin's ID nothingbut turned up. I had also asked Sherry if she had any M3s

but she only had a fairly high priced one.

I ended up buying an "EX" M3 SS from KEH. It may, or may not, need a CLA; I'll do my best

to evaluate once it arrives. But I guess I've answered my question of how to solve the

alternate body question. I am looking forward to using an M3.

Thanks all for the feedback.

Regards,

-Mark

"Photography is fun, not hand wringing."

Michael - very good point, indeed. I do appreciate that. And I do know that the comparison is spurious - Frank's point is correct. I guess I felt that in fact I was not comparing, but rather evaluating whether I would enjoy using a Bessa - in addition to my Leica. But I take the point.

Thanks, guys.

-Mark

Thanks guys, for the replies. Most appreciated.

Still trying to figure it out. A friend advises against it and suggests getting a user M3 from KEH instead. Again, whether it'll need a CLA upon arrival is kind of a crap shoot, but I am considering this.

Thanks again.

Regards,

-Mark

Hi everone -

I need to send my MP in for service and need a backup/second body (yes, I know I've posted about 2nd

M bodies before but as of yet have not gotten one...).

There are a lot of posts in the archives on the Bessas. A lot of good feedback, some who rave about it,

some who don't like the build quality, etc.

Wondering if any of you MP or M3 owners have used one and what you think? I only shoot with a 50.

I'm attracted by the price (US$570 from Stephen Gandy) and the fact that I don't have to worry about

getting a CLA once the body arrives; and I can slap my 50 'cron on it and I'm ready to go.

I handled one once a while ago and frankly was not thrilled with the controls - I truly love the feel of the

MP, the re-wind knob, the advance lever, etc.

But the bright 1:1 finder is attractive and again, if it works out of the box I find that compelling. I will

not be getting rid of or selling my MP, but expect it to be at Leica NJ for quite a while, given what I hear

about their backlog and slow turnaround. (Some may suggest I simply get another new MP, but that is

financially out of the question; and given the quality control issues in my MP, I do not feel they are

worth the price.)

I will be on a short vacation in about 10 days time, and so like many of us during tax season, I suddenly

realize I have not planned accordingly; I feel I need to rush to get a 2nd body if I want to do any

shooting during my short vacation. In general, I have been in a real rut, so I really just want to get out

there and start shooting again.

I welcome any feedback - thanks!

Regards,

-Mark

Agree that this week's POW is great.

Matt, your tones just blow me away. Always a great subject, the softness of the light on

her face in this portrait is just beautiful. That, along w/ the OOF areas and the crisp heft

of the black, flecked w/ a few flakes of snow, make this a stunning portrait for me.

Great lead off by Mitch, as always. Another great portrait. Ian's is wonderful.

Lots more I like as well, sorry not to name them all.

Best,

-Mark

Andy -

I like the image too - very nice photo. Simple, well balanced composition, great tonality,

lovely light, attractive subject.

This simple available light portrait reminds me of Jane Bown's photos, perhaps?

At any rate, I love TX too, and simply don't shoot enough.

Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for sharing.

Regards,

-Mark

Vivek -

Fair enough - perhaps I was overreaching. Let's just say I like the photos, and i'll spare

the verbiage!

Orville - great run here, I like so many. You definitely have a book in you, so good luck

with that project and keep us posted.

Allen - where are your photos from? Very nice sense of locale in them.

Barry - love Dec 27, 2007; 01:06 a.m.

Best,

-Mark

Hi Vivek -

Apologies - I misspelled! The word is lapidary, and I was using it in the sense of

"characterized by an exactitude and extreme refinement that suggests gem cutting".

It means jewel, or stone-like, from the latin lapis.

hope this helps!

regards,

-Mark

And Michael, it goes without saying I'd love to shoot w/ you in NYC sometime!

-Mark

Nice, Michael! Hope you enjoyed your fast visit. Nice work in such short time - thanks for

sharing.

Nothing new from me, i'm afraid, but everything I have on photo.net is NYC, as you

probably know.

Nice thread, otherwise - enjoying the pics, even as I have no time of my own to make any!

Vivek - those really are wonderful. I would even say they demonstrate a certain lapdiary

aesthetic; not sure you'd agree w/ that assessment, but they're lovely, nonethless.

Best to all,

-Mark

Wow - great thread this week. I have nothing, alas.

Concur w/ a lot of the comments already made on many of this week's photos; really good

picture making.

Matt - tremendous B&W work.

Mitch - love the rhythm in that one, even if it's a crop - :)

So many more I love here: Ray, Svante, Clive, John, Al - too many to note.

Wishing all a happy and healthy holiday season and best wishes for 2008!

-Mark

Hey Barry -

You know I like many of these pics already, since i'd seen them posted before. But the

whole set works well and is a really good edit. Thanks for sharing.

As a New Yorker, I like the energy and movement of the pics. I think they're really well

done. And as Brad said, the processing is great.

Really makes me want to do some really long walks through the city shooting.

Your comment "lots of young people there looking for money and mating" is not only

funny and a great line, but is really astute, I think. That dimension of the city can certainly

gives the city energy and a certain sexiness, but can get a bit old. I tend to think of it as

the post-Giuliani NYC, but hey, I'm NOT getting poltical here! But getting older, and w/ 2

kids, living in Brooklyn, Manhattan itself does sometimes feel like a strange land. But still

great photo opportunities, still a really photogenic, beautiful city.

Well done set, Barry. Would love to see more; you gotta come back.

Orville, I'll look you up for the 9th Ave Food Festival.

Best,

-Mark

All nice, Allen. I like the light in 04:24 p.m. 04:25 p.m works very well.

-Mark

Sure, Matt.

Your site is back up and I like them both!

#1 is especially effective, I think, compositionally - for me, at least (w/ respect to your partner!).

Regards,

-Mark

Hey, Barry - that's wild! NYC is a small city, after all... :)

-Mark

Hi Matt -

1:20pm NYT your site appears to be down or unreachable! :(

-Mark

Thanks, Orville.

I have it tagged as Little Italy, NYC.

I think it might be Grand Street, at Crosby, but not certain.

I seem to remember walking west on Grand w/ my wife and saw this sidewalk restaurant. It might also have been Howard Street, at Crosby. I'll have to go back and corroborate.

Thanks again.

-Mark

And Orville, as you know, I'm a Brooklynite, so I love 12:38 a.m.

-Mark

Have to concur w/ Michael - -very nice, Orville. Especially love the first 3.

Ray- 01:01 a.m is lovely; great moment, too.

Nice run, Robert. Some classics, especially 1:58pm, always one of my favorites from Full

Frame Images.

-Mark