joseph_barbano

Im a somehwat similar experience, after buying a D70 (which I like alot) after years of owning R's (still own) and a few M's (got rid of a few years ago), I just last week bought two MPs and 4 lenses (28/2.8, 35/2.0, 50/2.0, and 90/2,8); all new. There's something about shooting with Leicas, especially M's. It's not "either or". Good luck.

D70. Battery lasts a week. Get the 18-70 kit lens. Good value. You'll be impressed. After 20+ years of using Leica M, R, Digital, and Compact, I was! It's NOT a Leica; it's totally different.

Forget the thieves. Fanny packs don't blend in any city. They're conspicuous from a sartorial perspective. Dress well; the whole world is watching.

Make sure you visit the El Truca ("The trout") for tapas. Enjoy the Cordero and Cochnia. Unforgettable.

You will not beat the D70 for value and quality. I owned a D2 (which I sold because I hated the EVF) and bought a D70 "Kit", 70-300, and 50/1.8 lens for less than the price of the D2.

 

However, I think you should pay closer attention to the quality of the images "out of the camera" and less attention to resolution. After looking at many, many images on the Internet, I believe that the D2 produces the most Leica-like images of any digital camera particularly in terms of rich colors and physical depth.

Follow-up:

 

BTW, about ten years ago (when I turned forty) I, like many other in this forum, also felt a sense of ennui'. Photography lost its umph. It was fun but it seemed frivolous somehow.

 

I wanted to take stock and reviewed and assessed my entire body of work. When I did, I noticed what was there, and what was not. In my case, I noticed that my photos just didn't have enough "life" in them, literally, people in them. After that I completely changed the direction of my photography to emphasize life and people, which seemed to give it some relevance. I don't know if I was successful, but it helped focus the quest.

 

Perhaps you have reached the point in your life (and photography) where greater meaning is desired. Photography may or may not be part of the solution, but trying to give it purpose, on a personal level, may make sense.

 

Don't take turning 40 too seriously.

Start over. Buy a Leica rangefinder and a 50mm or 35mm lens. Shoot slow slide film.

 

Photography is it's own reward and it doesn't have to lead anywhere.

 

You just have to enjoy it.

Focal length range of 35-70 is too narrow. Take in the 1.5X digital factor and you have what, a 52-105mm lens? Strange. Performance wise, having owned the 35-70, I think it's image quality is similar to the kit lens, i.e. better but not by much. I think the kit lens has more useful focal length range and that is the main consideration and not inage quality differences.

20" X 30". The real expense is in the mounting/framing.

DMR is a stop gap for current R8/9 users who have an investment in the R system, particularly lenses. To start form scratch and switch to a comparable C**** or N**** system with high end L and AFS lenses and MkII or D2X body would cost much more than spending the $$ for the DMR. I think the real, and perhaps final test for Leica, will be once dedicated digital R and M cameras are released. At that point Leica will have exhausted all patience of its followers who have stood by waiting for a serious digital product. The pisser will be if a dedicated digital R comes out within a short period of time after the DMR is released and cutomers have already dropped their $$$ on the DMR.

I purchased and then later gave away my FZ20. It never lived up to its hype. It always had difficulty focusing (which is well documented apparently). The extreme telephoto was never really useful for anything moving and the image stabilization IS NOT in the same league as the C**** (IS) or N**** (VR) systems. Finally, even for stationery objects it never seemed to get really sharp pictures. I since bought a D70 kit which is much much more capable.

My thread is more of an observation than a criticism. Some points to consider prior to making a sizeable investment.

After years of using Leica R, M, and P&S cameras, as well as a

variety of digicams, I recently bought a D70 to "check out" what one

might expect using a decent DSLR. The technology of finally having

built-in motor drive, autofocus, variable ISO, and instant review of

photos is really great. However, it's clear that a ton of post

processing is needed if there's any hope of having an image that

even remotely approaches Leica film cameras. No suprise.

 

I generally shoot JPG format with a minimal amount of post-

processing. The photos look pretty good, but not in the same

category as shooting RAW format and then performing heavy post-

processing using Nikon Capture and PS7, which is time consuming. To

me, the hidden "tax" of digital is the need to be committted to

doing post-processing if you want ot get the most out of the image

which may include shooting RAW format. If you want an "out of the

box" result, like opening a box of processed Kodachrome (I'm dated?)

slides, you don't get that without some time and effort.

 

Some people are content with JPG and I guess I am as well because I

don't have the desire or time to spend working the images through

serious post-processing. Bottomline is that "some" degree of post

processing is required to get any product. When working with film

scans, I generally just USM a little, crop, and save the file.

That's about all I'm interested in doing with digital as well.

 

An interesting thing I discovered with digital is that one can

download to the camera "custom tone" curves that are representative

of Astia, Reala, Provia, etc. fils. These curves try to digitally

represent the behavior of various films so that one's camera has the

flavor of that film in the digital image. Intriguing.

 

Another issue which is completely different with digital cameras

over film cameras is how intergal the hardware and software for the

camera is to getting the picture, especially in JPG format. In

fact, that's the argument for RAW. Minimizing the "camera setting"

effects is critical. On this and other forums, we talk about how

the camera is the tool and incidental to the end product. This is

untrue with digital. The camera and software are central to the

image with issues such as white balance, sharpening algorithms,

noise algorthims, tone curves, etc. It occurs in taking the

picture and in psot-processing.

 

To anyone who is contemplating a serious investment in digital I

would HIGHLY recommend that you gain some sense of appreciation of

the post-processing workload for RAW, the result out of the camera

in JPG (are they good enough), and the overall hardware & software

of the camera you are interested. It's alot different than film and

film cameras. For me, I'll probably stick with JPG and forget RAW

processing. I just don't have the time and desire to mess with post-

processing.

I also have a collection of Domkes, and I think they're great. However, the backpack arrangement is a contraption at best; really an adhoc solution. It really cannot be compared to a true camera backpack. My recollection is that the bag rides low on the back almost on the hips, but the real issue is that the bag just doesn't stay put.

I don't know how these Leica dealers who specialize in both new and used equipment can stay in business. Small margins for sure. The current digital-film dynamic certainly challenges their viability more so than ever.

 

Never dealt with Photovillage. Most of the comments seems very favorable from all of the press I've read over the years. As far as Kuehl is concerned. I've dealt with him. He's crotchety, difficult, and rude, but he's honest. Same with Chatterton. Tamarkin seems very polite and professional, but I don't care for his staff. They're jerks, except for Jim Lager when he was there. Sam Shoshan seems OK.

 

It was explained to me by one of these gentlemen that whenever a used item is returned after a sale for whatever reason, they lose money. There's really very little margin when much of there inventory is gained the hard way by going to estate sales and/or traveling to buy out some collection (the time, the money, the aggravation), and then having to guarantee the equipment for some reasonable period of time. It's a tough buck to make and it's a different business model than buying new equipment for both the seller and buyer. On top of this, generally these vendors have to offer lower prices than the "new" only vendors like the large shops such as B&H, Adorama, etc. to remain attractive.

Pop Photo said this zoom was probably the best they ever tested in this focal length range. Unfortunately it's a little slow.

 

When my primes die, I'm buying this zoom. However, I don't know if I'd buy it if I had your current lens selection. I think you could get by with any two of the three lenses for travel.

 

BTW, $1400 is a good price from what I've seen.

Take some time getting use to the auto focusing. There aren't many steps or focus zones as was the case with most/all P&S in that time frame. So tack-sharp focusing takes some practice.

 

BTW, I bought my Mini new in about 1989. I still use it.

Price is very high, but it will probably sell if it works as advertised. Other than dumping one's R system and moving on to another brand, what's the alternative?

 

My concern is reliability. An R8/9 with the Digital back represents a serious investment. There needs to be some creative warranty program like the Passport Warranty that includes the new back as well as the body.

 

I don't know why Leica just didn't jump to a dedicated DSLR; it might have been cheaper in the long run and less risky; product wise. To me, this hybrid "back" approach represents a strategic risk.

My comments stand. I look at many/most of the posts on THIS forum and MOST of the street photography are pathetic and opportunistic snapshots. In general, they suck.

Quitting IS the solution. Spare us the pain not of the reality of a homeless person (or even a wealthy person), but of another terrible, pointless, and meaningless photo that simply infringes on the dignity of the subject in the name of what, street photography. Give me a break!

Most of the street photos on this forum are of impoverished, indigent, hopeless people; many street people, etc. I don't know why people even take these pictures! These pictures usually suck technically, are pointless, and have no message or aesthetic value. Photographers should feel embarassed hovering over these unfortunate people with their cameras, but they don't. Not a concern whatsoever for the dignity of these people.

 

For some reason many believe this IS photography. It's not. If as a photographer, this is the only way you can get a cooperative subject, then quit. Many of these people who are photographed don't want their picture taken, not that this stops many photographers, but usually these people can't prevent being photographed. This intrusive photography doesn't happen in many areas such as New York, and other cities. In that case, the subject being photogrpahed would probably grab the camera and beat the photographer with it. Then of course, the photogrpaher resorts to the biggest wussy move of all, i.e. the famous and ridiculous "hip shot".

 

If stealing someone's dignity to get a picture is the best you can do then, for everyone's sake, quit taking pictures.

This forum has a habit of "piling on" some contributors while treating other contributors with preferential treatment and respect regardless of the value, veracity, or tone of their comments. It's one of the weaknesses of this forum. Every contributor should be shown some civilty and respect.

 

For 10 years I was a mechanic, and for the last 15 years I've owned and run an engineering company. It has been my overwhelming experience that the best mechanics and engineers always have the best maintained (and clean) equipment and tools (not to be confused with wear and tear). Their livelihoods depend on these tools; but it's a pride thing as well. They are inextricably related. The same is true for photography. If you think being a slob isn't reflected in your work; then you're wrong. It is.

 

Finally, for those of you on the forum that insist on showing deference to the "alpha-members" by sucking up and agreeing with their ridiculous comments, please show some self-respect. It's embarassing for all of us.

The Minilux Eveready case is #18506. Look on e-bay.

I recently bought a P300 w/Colorpan for under $300. It works great.

Regardless of the quality of the photos or processing, it's pretty f----ed-up for some one, or any one to make derisive comments about some one else's children in a public forum. Show some respect!