jason

<p>I used it for many years, 25+.<br>

I did not have the 90mm or 100mm.<br>

It needs tubes to get into Macro.<br>

Stunningly sharp, beautiful rendition.<br>

6X7 format requires stopping down, not as a 35mm format Macro.<br>

The huge camera needs steady holding or correct tripod.<br>

Mirror lock up a great idea. <br>

Mine lacked that feature..<br>

Great for portraits but I always used soft filters..<br>

Nobody who sell images of clients want ultra sh samples.arp Bruce Gilden</p>

<p>Leica has supported the M8 as best as possible.<br>

Lack of replacement parts made by a now "deceased" part of Kodak.<br>

I own a Nikon which has battery door problems.<br>

Any issue to do with battery, is NOT part of warrantee.<br>

I noted that camera has "Wi-Fi".<br>

Looked on Internet.<br>

One year left of warrantee, BUT as camera is now obsolete,<br>

info is no longer available.</p>

<p>The M8 is special.<br>

Leica quickly abandoned the concept.<br>

Parts as mentioned by Gus, the coming battery problem.<br>

Way better cameras for less money, with support.<br>

Stop seeing Leica as "Leitz".<br>

It's not about lifetime service but to next model.</p>

<p>Leica has discontinued manufacture of M8 and M9 Battery, according to a person involved at Leica.<br>

Out side parties may have battery but seldom work as well as original.<br>

Same person has an older digital Leica for which no batteries are available.<br>

I offered to fit leads and drill small holes, but same person not interested.<br>

If my information wrong, sorry.<br>

If it is true, start getting spares..</p>

<p>I was very fortunate to be allowed use of Prototype Noctilux f1.2.<br>

I found it too contrasty(compared to Collapsible Summicron) for my needs.<br>

The tiny depth of field made it almost useless.<br>

I owned a 50mm Canon f1.2 which had less contrast.<br>

I sold it when it was damaged.<br>

I no longer bother with heavy, large, block viewfinder optics.</p>

<p>The M6 TTL 50mm frame is simply lousy.<br>

It is a wild guess., making skew pix too boot.<br>

My M3 is accurate, as many good SLR finders.<br>

I bought the M6 as my M3 was getting really worn..<br>

I still use M3 in preference.</p>

<p>The Kodak sensor is the magic!<br>

I have a Kodak camera with Kodak sensor.<br>

Incredible color and BW if light is good.<br>

Cloudy, makes magenta shadows.<br>

Kodachrome used to do same.<br>

Shot a fashion model with emerald green coat and recv'd Brown coat.<br>

Kodak tested a piece of cloth on spectrometer and stated , "Coat is brown" to Kodachrome.<br>

I used Ektachrome and made green.<br>

10 years is not really a long time.<br>

The M8 and M9 will be in big trouble, if no battery available.</p>

<p>The best SLR ever made.<br>

It's beautiful, rough and hard.<br>

It will work no matter what!<br>

Lenses are great, don't read which are better, they are all good.<br>

My 35mm f2.8 is considered not good. One can get cut with sharpness on a print. 105mm is a portrait lens, as are most Sonnars, so soft wide open. My meters died about 30 years ago. Lasted longer than the meter on my M3, the CDS one. A pro camera and one of very few, showing 100% in finder. Enjoy.</p>

<p>I use old lenses, as I use film.<br>

The 50nn Collapsible Summicron, 35mm Summaron Goggle.<br>

Arthur Plumpton wrote of using Medium and large format for "better" results.<br>

When there was no digital, no internet, one did make large quality prints from 35mm.<br>

Slower films, steady cameras and good developers.<br>

In South Africa the late Sam Haskins used a Pentax Spotmatic and 50mm lens,<br>

to make huge prints!<br>

6' x 4' of a girl, the 35mm contact in a corner.<br>

I too made large display prints and even by today's sizes were large and very good.<br>

Yes! Medium format (Mamiya C- series, Hassie) were "creamier".<br>

Less rough grain.<br>

4x5 was amazing but depth of field or lack there of was my blocking point!<br>

Aspheric are sharper but I find the bokeh esp. of Leica lenses looks like shattered glass.<br>

Make photos, make big prints, within reason!<br>

My standard size was 6" x 9" inches and 11x 14 inches.<br>

Where the heck does one store monster size prints..?<br>

Largest print from 35mm color neg., about 18 ft. x 12 feet approx.</p>

<p>I was plagued with spots, more so, using a scanner.<br>

I filter everything before use, using coffee filters and after, as I pour back into solutions.<br>

I use new plastic bottles whenever I prepare new solutions of fixer and stop bath.<br>

I keep the Canon scanner covered all the time, except while in use.</p>

<p>Congratulations!<br>

Enjoy. Next year my m3 is 60 years in use..<br>

Yours looks great.<br>

To remove meter, set to "B".<br>

You can then lift the dial that moves shutter.<br>

See there are two milled wheels sections.<br>

The dial is then moved, lifting a coupling pin.<br>

It should easily lift up.<br>

The meter ill slide off, often enough, scars the top of camera.<br>

Look up on "YouTube/Vimeo" remove Leicameter.</p>

<p>A friend of mine's nephew born 2000, is set to graduate school.<br>

The school wanted pix of the kids as babies and now..<br>

There are almost no baby pix!<br>

Digital images lost on older technology, corrupted CD, cards no longer viewable..<br>

I am 72 and have negs of myself!<br>

Film is archival.<br>

NASA cannot access it's early data..</p>

<p>I disagree that the 35mm is a normal view.<br>

It already allows distortion..<br>

A hand towards one say at even 6', becomes threatening.<br>

Normal is 50mm.<br>

The preference for 35mm on Leica M4,6,240 etc., viewfinders is the large frame!<br>

The M3 was for 50mm.<br>

One lens is plenty sufficient.</p>

<p>I agree with First, checking, why your photos are fuzzy.<br>

Some folks cannot see correct focus.<br>

If you can focus then fault in camera.<br>

These are old cameras.<br>

They need servicing..<br>

Servicing may be easiest answer.<br>

I have Minolta X set and Canon A-series.<br>

I prefer the Canons.<br>

Better built, well designed and fairly easy to service.<br>

Lenses are very good.</p>

<p>The Vivitar flash is old.<br>

It may, probably has a high voltage trigger<br>

That is bad for the M6 TTL.<br>

Like electronic damage..<br>

Check with a serviceman, Gus? or Leica itself..<br>

I don't use my Vivitar on any Electronic camera, Canon Ae-1, Ae-1 Program.etc.</p>

<p>A good friend of mine copied Gilden.<br>

Even did a workshop with the man!<br>

Friend was most abused student, but he persevered and they are friends.<br>

Even invited to some shoots with Bruce.<br>

Now the gritty!<br>

Carrying a flash in one hand, camera in another..<br>

I am a klutz. One or the other will fall.<br>

Friend wiped out his flash..:-)<br>

Now uses a ring flash contraption.<br>

You set a distance say 5ft.<br>

Move into that distance.<br>

I personally hate flash and esp. walk by shooting.<br>

B.G latest portraits with flash are awesomely horrible!<br>

Not all of Bruce Gilden's pix are this way.<br>

Thank goodness.</p>

<p>No camera can, in my opinion, be same as the M3.<br>

I purchased a M6TTL in 2000, as I believed my M3 on last legs..<br>

Well it nearly outlived me, due to a cardiac moment!<br>

Yes, it is still my main camera.<br>

I HATE the smaller viewfinder and frames of the M6TTL.<br>

I always had a M2, but seldom used.<br>

A DSLR has really lousy screens(made for wrong focus AUTO) ,<br>

compared to a used Pentax ME-super, Canon-Ae-1P or a venerable Nikon F.<br>

I found the Fuji and Olympus nice but still not my camera.<br>

No not better nor worse.<br>

They are different.<br>

Keep the M3, shoot more film..<br>

It takes a heck of a lot of film, to equal cost of digital Leica, or any Digital system.<br>

No digital camera feels and gives results like a film camera.</p>

<p>I bought the 1st one in the late 60's as I needed a longer lens.<br>

Sold it quite soon.<br>

Next one came with other pieces worth keeping.<br>

The last one, because it came with lens cap and back mount cap!<br>

The cap and back cap worth the price!</p>

<p>I used one Hektor on a Visoflex 11 and 111.<br>

It still was lousy.<br>

Taking a inexpensive 135mm Enlarger lens Vivitar?,<br>

I saw really great performance, esp. of flowers and general views.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>All my 135mm f4.5 Hektor , tripod screw parallel to camera base.<br>

It may have been (in) correctly serviced and re-assembled.<br>

I bought my last one for less than $60, including cap and bayonet cap.<br>

Lens is not marked or scratched.<br>

It is a miserable lens..<br>

Occasionally I get a good sharp image..<br>

That has been my experience with other Hektors.<br>

Are your photos acceptable?<br>

If they are, leave alone.<br>

My 135mm f4 Tele Elmar is in another dimension.</p>

<p>The actual photos are great. I like both of me! I like many!<br>

The shutter needs exercise. Practice without film, many actuations of shutter.<br>

I wouldn't worry about those edges unless they get worse.<br>

Watch TV winding gently and release.<br>

Service if you are bothered.<br>

The lens is amazing (with sun at side or behind) on Landscapes, at f2.0!<br>

It is sharp in center, but lower contrast, which I needed in South Africa and Toronto sunny winter days.<br>

I think roll is great, scans adequate.</p>

I am sure you have some shots from your film/camera/lens test!

What do you think?

Did you get prints?

If yes or no, lets see the negs..

You can contact me via Mauro.

or a reply here at Leica Forum, photo net.

<p>I may have missed it written elsewhere, but the 45mm Nikkor focuses different from all Nikkors!<br>

It focuses like a Leica or Canon lens..Caused me plenty wrong focusing..<br>

I never needed the GN feature using the Vivitar 285 Auto flash.<br>

It is a typical "Tessar" type lens.<br>

Never used the 50mm f1.2 but it may be an interesting one, wide open.<br>

The 45mm makes a very compact kit.</p>

<p>I think the Nikon-F is the best SLR ever made.<br>

Practically indestructible. <br>

Suggest you obtain a<strong> Users Manual for the Nikon-F.</strong><br>

The shutter lifts up, to allow different synch. with various flash(bulbs).<br>

The "FX" is for electronic flash.<br>

Maximum speed is 1/60th. Can use slower speeds..<br>

100% viewfinder, bright image, so many Nikkor lenses.<br>

Not for nothing this camera destroyed the German Photographic industry.<br>

Sure Leica is around..but it's tiny compared to Canon and Nikon..<br>

My Photomic heads are all dead, so one uses experience, no meter.<br>

Enjoy.</p>

<p>I wish Leica all the success.<br>

It seems a great camera.<br>

Maybe still no competition to i-Phone.<br>

Price and portability factors.<br>

Strangely I have noticed 3 things about the Leica Q.<br>

The f-stop is f1.7.Leica has never used such an aperture.<br>

Very Japanese!<br>

2. No built in flash. <br>

3.All the images seen so far in color look flat!<br>

Sadly at a price few can afford, esp. for a point and shoot.</p>