vics

<p>I recently did a pretty extensive, if un-scientific, survey on flickr of current 18-55mm kit lenses from Sony, Canon, Pentax and Nikon. To my eyes the Nikon was the very clear winner. Disappointing for me, as my digicam is a Sony. I think the D5200 with the kit lens would be all you'd ever need.</p>

<p>I'm sure you're right. I'm just wondering why he didn't put up a notice that "RFf is down, and we're working on it..."</p>

 

<p>I've looked around Camera Quest and can't find a way to email Stephen. You'd think he'd put something up there!<br>

VicS</p>

<p>How aboyt Southern Utah (Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park, as well as the North rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona.) Also in the neighborhood is Canyonlands NP and Monument Valley, as well as the Slot Canyons of the Navaho Reservation near Paige, AZ. It's all very close together and just stunning stuff for the camera!<br>

Vic</p>

<p>I'm visiting for a month in the southwest of France, and having the bet time ever! This is our 7th visit.</p>

<p>I inherited my Dad's IIIa and sent it in to Henry in the good old days when nobody'd heard about him. He rebuilt the beautiful but no-op camera in 2003 and I've been shooting with it ever since. That shutter hasn't slipped even a tad. Still perfect after 7 years of hard use. I also have an M3 with DR and I love it, but it's bigger and heavier than the Contax. I find the RF patch in the Contax to be contrastier than the M3. Now I love all my old pro cameras, Nikon F with lots of Nikkor glass, Rollei TLRs (my current fav) Contax with Sonnar 1.5 5cm, and Leica M3. I think the Contax is right up there with any of them. Robert Capa seemed to like his. I shoot while traveling mostly. I need to keep it small and simple. I take one camera, one lens and a ton of film. I've used the Contax this way on quite a few trips and it never missed a shot! But neither have any of the rest of my cams.<br>

Vic</p>

<p>I'm in as soon as I can get something scanned!<br>

Vic</p>

<p>I agree completely with Jeff Spirer. What ever happened to the old adage about never taking anything new on an important trip? Take what you're comfortable using now. Your pictures will show the difference that simplicity makes. I travel to Europe with a 35mm camera and a 50mm lens and lots of one kind of film. I developed this habit out of long experience. Go with what you have and you'll be glad you did! Try out new gear at home!<br>

Enjoy!<br>

Vic</p>

<p>I second Barry Fisher.<br>

Vic</p>

<p>The Sumarron 35mm F3.5 is well within your price range. Of course for your M2, you'd want the one without goggles. (They're for M3 cameras.)<br>

Vic</p>

<p>Here's another vote for the Sekonic L308s. Small, accurate, ambient, flash and incident. I loved my Autometer IVF but I hated having to change the dome for the spot attachment. It's also much larger than the 308.</p>

<p>THIS Henry? <a href="http://www.zeisscamera.com/">http://www.zeisscamera.com/</a><br>

I love my Contax!<br>

Vic</p>

I agree. Once you start seeing wet prints come out the way you visualize them, then you'll be really hooked! Good story and good pictures. Keep it up!

Vic

The Rigid first version is the same optical cell as the DR. I have the same problem as yours. I took the Collapsible 'cron on my shooting trip to France, and it was MUCH lighter, but I only use it wide open in certain circumstances, and it's also pretty flare-prone. I'm on the lookout for a rigid to carry everywhere. I wish I knew the actual weights of all three for comparison.

Good luck,

Vic

I strongly second the suggestion of the Zone VI Workshop by Fred Picker. One of our local PJs gave me a copy, and it made exposure suddenly clear and fairly simple. It set me to using experience more than my meter, but the main thing is to understand what your meter is really telling you. Picker is very good for that.

Vic

Brendon, after looking at your work some more, I think that an M6 would be a better choice than the M3 that I suggested earlier. I think you tend to want to shoot normal to wide, also Leica really is a short lens experience for most and the M3 has no VF for the wide lenses. Very nice work on your site BTW.

Vic

Oh, my! Congrats to you and his Mama! Welcome, Anton! A bit of advise early on here. Go for the M3 and the Dual Range Summicron! It'll suit you to a tee!

God bless you all!

Vic

Buy a Leica M3 and a 50mm Summicron Rigid 50mm F2, and be prepared to spend the rest of your life chasing this monkey! Enjoy!

Vic

Man! I sure do want to visit Cuba! I'll be so glad when we can go!

Vic

I wonder if you're thinking of a meter added to the top. An eleven-year-old may have thought of it as a shutter timer since it does attach in part to the shutter speed knob. Did it look like this picture? http://www.dantestella.com/technical/m3.html

Vic

Is there still a shop in Albany that sells lots of used Leicas? I don't remember the name but it might be a good idea to call them, too. If nothing else, you might find replacements. Sorry to hear that.

VS

Berg, I liked them all, but I liked yours because as soon as I saw it I just gasped at how well it conveyed a sense of the PLACE! Don't sell yourself short. It was a very strong image! Keep it up!

Vic

Henri, just buy one of each 50mm lens Leica ever made, then shoot with the one(s) you like best. I think that's what most of the folks on these forums do, and they seem to like it! I've only bought two, but I'm poor and kind of a newbie.

Best, Vic

Berg, what kind of film is that? Or is it digi?

Vic

That is just BEAUTIFUL! More, please!

Vic