joe_buechler

Yikes! There's a Leica screw mount Schneider 35/2.8 from the 50s? I

think I feel a quest coming on.

<p>

Joe

I loved Chris' response above. It took this tired and repetitive old

discussion in a new direction!

<p>

I agree that the debate is heated because of some people's

self-assured pontification about how film will soon die, and how

digital image capture will follow the same trajectory that the music

CD did. If this were true, it would have been all over long ago.

<p>

But regarding digital's infinite possibilities, it's possible to

compare this with music or verse, where it can be argued that LIMITING

the possibilities by adhering to a specific metre or song form,

can result in a higher artistic achievement than, say, blank verse or

free-form jazz.

<p>

Joe

I used to use AE back in the '80s, but since then I've switched to

all-manual photography. The M7 would be a "downgrade" in my book.

<p>

Joe

Why not just do it, instead of talking about it?

<p>

Start a thread on a theme you like, and start be posting a photo. If

Tony doesn't like it, he'll axe the thread. If enough people

participate, do another one in a month or so.

<p>

I like the idea of posting photos with no critique requested, it

avoids a lot of flame wars.

<p>

Joe

49 creeping up on 50.

<p>

50 is the age at which Bilbo set off on his adventure, and also the

age at which Frodo set off on his adventure.

<p>

50 is the age at which the Harry (the Steppenwolf) intended to commit

suicide, but found enlightenment instead.

<p>

Joe

Welp, we've both got a wobbly wheel on the left. Sounds like a

dysfunctional three-legged team. Can we hire a dogsled?

I looked at the Provence info, and I like the idea of working in an

"event" so that there'd also be an opportunity to do some PJ-style

photography. I doubt there'd be a bullfight ;) but I thought I saw

something about a blues festival. Does any of the Alaska participants

have access to a calender of this sort of stuff?

<p>

Andy - I don't know if 80 to 120 people is even remotely feasible, but

I've been on Midwest Express for business trips and it's definitely

the "Leica of airlines." Even if we could arrange a semi-normal rate,

it would be worth going out of the way for that IMO.

Likewise, I don't mind a bit of walking, but I've got one wobbley

wheel. If folks want to do any serious hiking in the hills that's

fine, but I doubt I'll be able to keep up very well.

Just to get an idea of airfare cost, I used Aug. 1 thru Aug.4 as

travel dates. Price range for round trip airfare to Anchorage from a

few cities in the lower 48 were:

<p>

Baltimore $600 - $650

Chicago $515 - $545

LA $515 - $615

<p>

Alaska Air consistently had the highest rates :)

I'll let Tony suggest a venue, since he knows the area. I'd like the

camping out idea also, hope we can get more information about this

option.

<p>

I'm going to do some airfare pricing from a few representative cities

in the lower 48 to get an idea what cost would be like. I'll let you

know what I find out.

<p>

Definitely we'd take Tony's advice on the single malt.

This idea was buried in a thread that was mostly about whining, so I decided to start a new topic and see if there's any interest.

<p>

How many folks would be interested in getting together up in Anchorage Ak for a three-day weekend to shoot some photos and socialize? It would be an opportunity to meet Tony and each other, and photograph in a locale that has a lot to offer.

<p>

I was thinking about us burning film during the day, and getting together in the evening for food, drinks, maybe exchange some images, and talk about Leica stuff.

<p>

Just an idea to help break out of the winter doldrums. If enough folks are interested, maybe we could make it happen.

<p>

Joe

Reciprocity failure aside, there's two tricks that I've used to meter

in low light.

<p>

One is to meter with a fixed long shutter speed, i.e. 1 sec for ASA

100, 1/2 sec for ASA 50, and adjust the film speed dial until correct

exposure is indicated. Then divide the dial setting by 100 to get the

exposure time in sec. For example, Velvia, metered at 1/2 second,

correct exposure indicated at ASA 800, so expose for 8 seconds.

<p>

The opposite approach is to meter with the film speed dial set 6 stops

too fast (e.g. ASA 6400 for ASA 100 film), adjust the shutter speed

dial until correct exposure is indicated, then treat the fraction of a

second indicated on the shutter speed dial as a fraction of a MINUTE

instead - e.g. 1/4 second on shutter speed dial, expose for 1/4 minute

or 16 seconds. This works because you're multiplying by 2^6 or 64, and

then dividing by 60, which is approximately the same.

<p>

Joe

Single Malts it is! When in Anchorage, do as the Anchorageans or

whatever the hell they're supposed to be called.

<p>

I think it would be a blast! Is there such a thing as an off-season

where the weather is still good? If not, we'll just have to forego

buying the latest 62mm Summideluxo.

<p>

Joe

For inspiration, I think that Tony should conduct a "Leica

Non-workshop". Pick a weekend, think of a good place where we could

all stay or camp near where you are in Alaska, spend the days burning

film, and spend the evenings discussing Leica Photography and maybe

sharing some images over a meal and some good wine.

<p>

Waddya think?

Digital cameras that are acceptable quality of the vast majority oh

photographers - meaning the mass market family shapshooter - have been

around for over a decade. Throughout that period, we've been hearing

that film will be superceded by digital "in the next 2-3 years".

<p>

If this was going to happen, why hasn't it? Digital cameras don't have

any obvious advantages to the typical film consumer.

<p>

There's a Yogi Berra-ism that applies: "I hate making predictions,

especially about the future."

I just cut and pasted the URL, and got NOT FOUND. It also disable the

BACK button, very annoying.

Where would I get some chrome-colored gaffer's tape to cover the red

circle on my chrome M6?

<p>

Joe

Speaking of gothic cathedrals, I used an old Leitz medium ball head

for all my shots inside Washington National Cathedral. Extremely

lightweight package to carry up and down all those windey stone

staircases. I love shooting that way.

<p>

Street photography and PJ are great, but it isn't what I do with my

Leica.

<p>

Joe

Does anyone have any opinion of the Hexanon 28/2,8? I've heard that

the Konica M lenses are sort of collecting dust on dealer's shelves,

but haven't heard of any price reductions.

<p>

Joe

I know I'm repeating myself, but I think that Leica should produce the

original M6 along with the M7, and drop the M6 TTL.

<p>

Joe

It takes a bit of effort to properly critique a photo and identify

constructive improvements that could be made. It isn't reasonable to

expect that a group of people should all put that effort into a

particular photo, just because you scanned it and posted it. If a

photo doesn't move me in some way, or be close to good but have some

areas for improvement that can be easily identified, I'm also likely

to just say "It doesn't do anything for me."

<p>

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

<p>

Joe

This lens is actually easier to use than an AF lens. Just set it

approximately and keep shooting!

<p>

Joe

Or maybe the constant hype on digital is finally wearing off. After a

decade of hearing that film is about to become obsolete, perhaps

people have recognized that the digital revolution has already

taken place, and it was all about image processing, not image capture.

<p>

Joe

Roger, its impossible to mangle the leader if it's already wound onto

the takeup spool before the film is loaded.

<p>

Trimming the leader is an article of faith for a lot of LTM

shooters, but I never do it.

<p>

Joe