jay_goldman

"leica" and "new technology" are contradictory terms. If

the faveon chip proves successful, we might see it on a leica in a

few decades.

I'm only visiting the bay area for a few days, staying with a

friend in El Cerrito. Today I saw the Salgado exhibit at the

Berkeley Art Museum. It is great and only on until the 24th. Go see

it if you can.

I recently read or heard an interview with Richards (I can't

remember where). He said that he did not use Leica RF

because his eyes did not work with rangefinder focusing.

How do you switch the meter off in an M6 and then use the

camera. I thought the meter stays on unless the shutter is set to

an off position.

Everyone talk about features. what attracts me is that the

R2 weighs about 10 ounces less than my M5. I can put a 50

summicron on it and have a beautiful lightweight camera. the

finder on the R is very big, bright and clean. It is so much better

than the CL that the latter finder looks like a toy. If the CLE had a

decent metering system, I would still be using it with the 40

summicron.

The Bessa R is about a half pound lighter than the M6.

If the R2 is nearly as light, then I will put the 50 summicron on it

and, when needed, use the classic Hexar with the great 35. A

half pound less around the neck all day makes a big difference.

if they include a 40 frame line, I'll get a 40 Summicron as my only

lens. I can't wait to try the R2.

I would still be using the CLE with the 40 summicron

(about 18 ounces) if it it had a decent metering system.

Do you know what the readout will look like in the finder? How

will we know what the shutter speed is in aperature prioity?

Preston;

I've had custom BW developing and contact sheets done in

many places in different parts of the country. $13 is very

reasonable and $10 sounds very cheap. I'm surprised that one

of NY's well known custom labs has managed to keep the

prices down that long.

I'm 61 and I have been using Leica M cameras for over 35

years.

Try Konica Impressa 50. Since Royal Gold 25 was discontinued,

this is the richest most saturated color neg film around.

Grant;

If you set the T3 to mechanical prefocus mode, that by holding the

shutter release down halfway you lock in the focus. Then when you

decide to take the picture it is almost instantaneous.

The column by Bill Pierce in the November issue of the Digital

Journalist (web magazine) seems to imply that he is using the T3.

The latest issue of the Leica Historical Society magazine

"Viewfinder" has an article by TomA and one other(?) comparing all of

the Leica 21's with the Voightlander and the Ricoh. Lots of pros and

cons depending on wht kind of photography you do. I don't have a copy

of the article, but maybe someone else here does.

Tony,

Look very carefully at your negatives. The printer may have

printed dark, even if the exposure is much better.

Tony;

I know you have tried to improve the discussion, but I find your

site too complicated.

On this site, which I have bookmarked, I just click, scroll and

read the latest messages.

On your site, I have to type, go through 2 or 3 screens and then

search for the latest. It just isn't set up for quick checking.

Jeff wrote:

"Put it this way: do you think a parachute makes YOU a better sky

diver? "

Yup!. Having a parachutelets me practice over and over again.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Tony,

Thanks for trying to make the Contax T3 discussions more

organized.

However, I have an iMac. At your site, the screen has two parts

and to read the messages on the right hand side, I have to scroll

horizontally. Is there any way to limit the width of the lines? If I

reduce the font size any more, I won't be able to read the screen. At

the current setting, I really can't use the site, which I would like to

do.

Get the T3. I am about to get one. Tt has all kinds of good

controls. Control on the minilux is very very minimal and it can't

save any of your settings. It is also big and heavy. The viewfinder

on the minilux is like looking through a tunnel.

I've owned or played with most of the high end P&S's. The T3

looks better than all of them.

John,

Would you elaborate a little on your statement that you can shut

off the camera and leave the lens hood on. Does it retract into the

camera or does it stick out

1) It was mentioned that in low light, the T3 throws out a red

baem. Is this very noticeable? Would it cause problems when I an

trying to get informal peple shots in indoor low light.

Is there a noise associated with the red beam (I read this

somewhere.)

2) How is the metering for informal peple shots in indoor low

light. Is it too wide for very varied lighting, for example, a well

illuminated face with dark surroundings. I am usually using high speed

black and white film in these circumstances.

3) Can anyone compare shrpness for the T3 with the Contax T.

I always found the T sharper than the T2. Since the lenses were

supposed to be the same, I assumed it was due to the difference in

roundness of the aperature ring. Aperature priority on the T2 is a

phony (only good up to 1/125 of a second shutter speed) and I usually

used program. In this mode the T2 ignores the aperature ring and uses

the shutter blades to form the aperatue, just as in all of the cheapy

P&S's. Thus not a very round aperature.

The POP Photo review ofthe T3 says that in low light it sends out

a NEAR infared focus assist beam. Is this noticeable? does one see a

red beam?

I would be interested in using the T3 in indoor available light

situations, often with black and white film. The problem with point

and shoots (including the posh ones) has been the wide angle ofhe

meters. The GR1 allowinws some selectiviity. What experience have

people had with the T3? I'm talking about people photography not the

insides of big buildings.

The same thing happened to me. Don Goldberg told me that I could

glue it back on. I did not feel comfortable doing this , so I sent it

to him and had it back in a few days. No problems since then (many

years). When you mount and dismount the lens, hold it by the base, not

the shade or front rings.

Jay Goldman

I apologize for the spelling in my last e-mail. It has been a

long day.