charlie_chan2

Annie Leibowitz at the National Portrait gallery near Leicester Square

Charlie

An excellent condition Focomat IIc with Focotar 60 and 100 V Elmar and a full set of masks, timer, Leitz easel, etc for

GBP 350 (550 USD) last year from a camera shop with a guarantee!!

Charlie

Andrew,

it's been a pleasure. Great pics.

Best wishes,

Charlie

From my discussions with Tom A, the leica rapid load kit won't work with the M2 rapidwinder. You should contact Tom A to see if he is making the M2 RW any more. It was only a 200 unit run from memory. I have one and it is on my M2 permanently (and I agree with others that the M2 is my favourite M body too).

The softies are good if you like that sort of thing (and at least they're cheap).

Personally i don't use a case, although i do have a spare Luigi half case for my M2.

The rewinder attachment is something I've not tried although I have a M6TTL as well which does have a rewind crank.

Ultimately what is mated to my M2 permanently - the TA rapidwinder and my 35 lux.

Charlie

I have a M2 and a M6TTL both with TA Rapidwinders. Guess which gets used all the time? No contest. Mostly used with

my 35 pre-asph lux using sunny 16 or sometimes with my sekonics 308B.

Charlie

I'm pleased to hear such good reports about using the Tamron on a Pentax digital body. I had a Tamron 300/2.8 too, but used it on my Leica DMR and occasionally on my Pentax MX. I tested it side by side with my Leica APO 280/2.8, There was very little between them. A few times, I've recommended people buying one of these for their Pentax cameras and I'm delighted to see it delivering the goods.

Charlie

Charles,

The V35 won't do anything other than 35mm downwards. Masks were available to do everything down to the minox 8x11mm neg. However, it is a fabulous 35mm enlarger. I have one at home and it's so easy to use, once the autofocus is setup for your easel. If you want adaptability to 6x7 in a Leica, then you need a Focomat 2c. They tend to go for about USD 1500 if you can find one! I bought mine a couple of months ago, so I could print my XPAN images.

Charlie

Ian,

Get a R8. there's a mint- R8 at Aperture in Museum St for GBP450. It's bigger

(much bigger) than the older Rs, but ergonomically it's great. Short of a SL2 VF, it's

the brightest VF in the R range. I love my R9/DMR - it's so good, I'm not sure I'll

need a R10 if it comes out. For those who don't belive that Leica make good R

glass, here's a shot from tonight. I went to see Duffy at our local music festival in

Cheltenham - truly fabulous. I even had some Canon pros ask me about my 180/2

Summicron R!!!

Oh and I do use my Ms too - M6TTL, M2 and CLE. But they're different tools.

Charlie

I developed a roll of Agfa ISS from 1970 a few months ago. Gave it about half a stop more on

the developing and hey presto - usable negs. That was a great delight as these were images

of my Grandfather, who passed away in 1981. The roll was found in the back of one of his

old cameras.

Charlie

One that you'll use, as opposed to ogle at. No seriously, they're all good at their job. In this

sort of area, you'll just be happy to use one. I have a M6TTL, M2 and a Minolta CLE. they're all

different. Maybe the best is the one I use most, in which case that'll be the M6TTL (swearing

I hear in the background!).

Charlie

Try Mark Antony and have a look at his blog

http://photo-utopia.blogspot.com/

he seems to revel in taking old expired film. I developed a roll of 36 year old Agfa ISS last

year. I just gave it another half stop in the developer (XTOL in my case).

Charlie

Sounds like you're asking the M8 to do too much. Macro/micro work is the domain of the

SLR. Personally i don't own a M8, but I do have R9/DMR. Again, there's no contest between

the RAW and jpeg files. I shot jpeg once and never again.

If you like the M shooting style (as opposed to wielding a large SLR), then persist with the

M8 and learn more about your digital workflow. Pick a RAW converter that you're happy

with, LR, Aperture, C1 or whatever and when funds permit, buy another second hand lns.

Charlie

35 summilux for me. When I'm travelling light, it's my M6TTL or M2 and my 35 lux, and loads of film.

Charlie

If I'm shooting in rehearsals, then the 180/2 cron on a R is just the ticket (I use a R9/DMR

with monopod).

http://contest.leica-users.org/main.php/v/0705/Gloves+on+nurses_.jpg.html

If it's during a live theatre show then the 75 lux for a M is my favourite.

At gigs, I can use a 80-200/4 ROM on my DMR. Noise is not really an issue at rock gigs, as

the volume's up anyway.

http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/topoxforddoc/Squeeze-8731961.jpg.html

Charlie

I use HP5 in XTOL or Ilfosol. Neither seems a real problem with 16x12 enlargements from

35mm

Charlie

Take two bodies - MP and the M2 (no need for batteries) - with the 25, 35 and the 75/90. One lens only per body is great for shooting discipline. When I go abroad on short trips, I just take one M body (M6 or M2) and one lens, a 35 lux.

Charlie

If you're taking normal interior shots at a reception (as opposed to a murky church interior) with a f2 lens, then HP5 will be fine. Just push it by one stop to ASA 800 (in say XTOL 1:1) and shoot handheld at 1/30th to 1/60sec. There's plenty of latitude in HP5. Handholding down to 1/15th should be no problem with a rangefinder.

Charlie

Go for it. I processed a roll of film that had been shot almost 40 years ago and got printable

images. OK it was B/W, but still at 4 years only, you should be fine.

Charlie

For me, my usual setup is my M6TTL and 35 pre-asph lux. That's what I carry most of the

time. Yes, I like my M2 and my CLE, but which one gets used the most - that gets my pick.

Charlie

Byron,

If you get over to vancouver at all, look up Tom Abrammsson and his fellows. They normally

meet up every friday morning for coffee. Email him at his site (www.rapidwinder.com). I can't

remember which cafe it is, I know his regular cafe is cafe Viva across the road from his

apartment, but he'll let you know where they all meet on Fridays.

Charlie

If can only get one lens, get the 28-90 Asph. I use mine with my R9/DMR. This lens sits on

my R9 90% of the time. Don't forget, you can use the R lenses on your digilux 3 with an

adapter too. What you get after the 28-90 depends on what you shoot. If it's sport/ wildlife,

the 280/4 APO-Telyt, if it's landscapes etc, the 19/2.8 Elmarit. Enjoy - if you can find a used

DMR, I guarantee you'll just sell your Digilux 3.

Charlie

Rollei 35S or Ricoh GR1 series. I've got both and they're just the ticket.

Charlie

Byron,

You mentioned that you're impatient. If you develop your own film, you will have a much

faster service than any shop. For B&W, you can have the film developed, washed and up to

dry within the hour. It'll be dry say within 3 hours. I don't know of any labs who'll do B&W

much quicker, and that's only in daylight hours!! The satisfaction of doing your own

darkroom work is fantastic. The whole image is yours from conception to finished product

- magic, that's what my six year old calls it!

Byron,

Congratulations. For the cost of a leica uv filter, you'll be able to buy the kit to develop your films. Once you do it yourself, you will never ask anyone else to do it. Even my six year old helps me now.

You need a developing tank, a daylight changing bag, scissors, can opener (or film opener), some measuring jugs, a thermometer, some chemistry and a watch. Buy a book like Michael Langford's Darkroom handbook and practise loading an old film onto a developing tank spiral. Use some easy chemistry - single shot developer in liquid format eg ilfosol, rodinal or something similar. Get some STOP and FIXER (any brand will do).

It is REALLY easy to do. Hang your wet film up to dry from your shower rail with a couple of paper bulldog clips.

Be brave - have a go!

Best wishes,

Charlie

Email me if you need any more advice

topoxforddoc@btinternet.com

Peter,

I saw a mint boxed 180 cron go on the bay for less than 600 GBP about a month ago; I've seen others go for GBP1300-1400. I almost bid for it myself, even though I bought one from Leica UK as an ex-demo lens earlier this year. Exotic leica r glass prices are in free-fall

Charlie