sal dimarco

First of all the Capitol Dome echoes sound. Secondly, there were ONLY one or two photographers on the floor and it looked like they were kept about 30 feet away. The majority of the photogs were on risers working with a minimum of a 300mm f/2.8 to a 600mm f/4 lenses. Any one limiting themselves to a Leica rangefinder with a 135mm is out of luck. In the meeting rooms on the Hill, photographers can only use their motors during the swearing-in of the witness, after that it's single punching. One must use an SLR for this assignment. Happy Snaps, Sal

Babar, To answer your question... I have owned both the Noctilux and Summilux lenses. Originally, I bought the Noctilux and decided to mate it to one body and this would be my "no light" camera. I found I could only reliably hand hold it at an 1/15 of a second at f/1. This means out of five frames, three are tack sharp, one is passable and one is junk. I got the same results at the Summilux at 1/8 of a second at f/1.4 and the quality was the same. So, I sold the Noctilux and still have the Summilux. Happy Snaps, Sal

Bob, The Wetzlarer Hof is a great hotel (I've stayed there) but there is a closer hotel to the factory. I can't remember the name. Why not contact the factory and ask? Happy Snaps, Sal

Try taping it in place. Happy Snaps, Sal

Children, children....The only 'honest' way to wear down the finish of a camera is to EARN it by USING the camera. All you photojournalist wanna be's, this doesn't work..... Pictures do... Happy Snaps, Sal

Huw, Please explain how you are going to do this.... There is no room inside a IIIb body to put the meter.... Happy Snaps, Sal

To Lacey, The MacArthur wading in the surf photo is NOT, repeat NOT a set-up. The photographer who made the photograph is Carl Mydans. Carl was working for LIFE magazine, but he shipped his film by military courier, which made the picture available to the "Still Picture Pool" which was the Associated Press, United Press, International News Photos, and LIFE. No one set the photo up. The picture was not part of any military based propaganda effort. You can read about it in Carl's book "Carl Mydans, Photojournalist." Carl and I have been friends and co-workers since 1976. Happy Snaps, Sal

Kerry, Eisie's VJ day photo, Capa's Falling Soldier, and Rosenthal Iwo Jima photo are REAL candid unposed pictures. There is a huge amount of evidence to support this. Eisie's VJ photo was made by another photographer from a different angle. The falling soldier has been identified in the Capa photo, and the real story of the Iwo Jima photo is known. As to the HCB leaping photo, some one has claimed to have seen the original contact sheet, and said there are about 18 versions of the jumper. But, the negative was cut out of the roll many years ago. So, posed or unposed, who knows. You should be disillusioned in the quality of the editor for printing such garbage. Happy Snaps, Sal

Imran, For years, I had a couple of the M2/4 Mot cameras and motors. Yes, they run much smoother than today's motors. The older motors use an electric trigger, rather than the shutter release button, (hence no bump). On the negative side, these motors made the camera twice as large as normal, were very heavy, and had a slight tendency to jam. Today they are a highly desirable collector's items and very costly. Happy Snaps, Sal

David, One should NEVER go off on a major trip with untried equipment or film. This is just asking for trouble. If you have time, I'd try Kodak Ektachrome 100G (sorry, but I don't know the consumer name for this film) BEFORE you leave on the trip. Today's films should be able to handle two months worth of Madagascar heat. Just use some common sense. Have a great trip. Happy Snaps, Sal

Philip, You will not go wrong with Tri-X and D76 1:1 or the new X-tol developer. The T-Max films are very good also, but they require a little more care in exposure and development. According to a Kodak techie, a good t-max 400 negative is a little thinner than a Tri-X negative. His advice is to print the negatives before deciding. Before the T-Max films were offically annonced, I was give some test film, to shoot, and the quality of the 400ISO material was stunning. 14"x17" prints were almost grainless and the 100ISO material would knock your socks off. Remember, the first vesion of Tri-X was made over 50 years ago. Good Luck, & Happy Snaps, Sal

Hermes still owns only 30% of the stock. Personally, I think it was a poison pill move on the part of Leica management to prevent a hostile takeover. Happy Snaps, Sal

Terence, It sounds like the focusing cam on your 50mm lens needs adjusting. It can be easily done. TO Sebastian, your Leica dealer is INCORRECT, a properly adjusted 50mm Summilux should not have to come back a millimeter to focus at infinity. Happy Snaps, Sal

Sergio, Interesting idea..... You need to find a top rated independent Leica repair person to do the work, IF it is possible. If you are in the USA, try Don Goldberg, Sherry Krauter, or Tempe Camera repair. Tempe Camera (they have a web site) has been doing off beat modification for years and are very good, Don and Sherry are top quality Leica repair people and I personally do not know how much custom work like this they has done. Good Luck & Happy Snaps, Sal

None of us hit a home run everytime we come up to bat. This time, Harv just barely got on base. It is by on means his best work. Maybe his one camera, one lens, one film attitude needs to be modified, or maybe he just didn't connect with the story. Only He and his editor know for sure. To correct some misconceptions.... Just because he has done over 40 stories, doesn't mean he has more of a say in the editing process. He and all the photogs don't. Secondly, the "stay until you get the pictures" days have been over for years. (credit the MBA bean counters) From what I'm told, if your not getting the story after three weeks of shooting, you're pulled back and the story reassigned. Happy Snaps, Sal

Gary, To seriously answer your question... (a shortened version)

LN (like new)- Appears to be absolutely new & unused. A perfect example which could be NEW, if with cards & Packaging.

MT (mint) Only the Slightest hint of any use.

WEAR DETERIORATIN DAMAGE

MT- (mint minus) very light none none

EX+ (excel Plus) Very light very light none

EX (excellent) very light very light very light

EX-(excel minus) light light very light

VG (very Good) Moderate Moderate light

GD (good) heavy moderate moderate

FR (fair) heavy heavy heavy

PR (poor) For parts only

RC (reconditioned) state condition and by whom.

 

The Leica Historical Society of America is a great and diverse group of people. Intelligent people know the LHSA isn't all collectors. All Serious Leica people should join.

Happy Snaps,

Sal

The police have NO right to seize anyone's camera or stop them from taking pictures in a public place. As long as they are not interfering with the police operations. The two policemen were wrong and they broke the law. The last time I looked, Fairfax County Virginia was in the United States of America and we have do have laws. These high school kids were completely with in their rights. If the police are afraid of being photographed at work in public, they are either doing something wrong, or we need new policemen. We can not allow this sort of thing to go unchallenger. Happy Snaps, Sal

Ken, The lens was designed to be used with the Bellow-R unit. It it probably slightly optically better than the 90mm lenses, you cite, but it is a royal pain to take pictures with. Happy Snaps, Sal

Jerry, First of all, if you paid money to have the lens CLA'ed and it wasn't done properly, call the repairman can complain. If you do not get satisfaction, then go to someone else. Happy Snaps, Sal

Sergio, The great Yellow Father in Rochester recommends 12 minutes @ 68 Degrees F. Good Luck & Happy Snaps, Sal

Steve, This looks like an interesting collection. The first photo is possible a gold Luxus, a quite rare Leica. the second photo is a IIIG with a 50mm f/2.8 Elmar lens. Happy Snaps, Sal

Ken, Mark Theken is an honest and honorable gentleman. You have no worries dealing with him. Also, Mark is a member of the board of directors of the Leica Historical Society of America. Happy Snaps, Sal

Bill, Shintaro's work is top notch from the examples, I've seen. My question to you is if you have a real KS15-4 camera, have to checked out its collector value? You may be able to get another camera and payless out of your pocket for the paint job.... Happy Snaps, Sal

The 10% Leica day discounts were stopped about a year and a half ago. Leica still does Leica day events at dealers. Happy Snaps & Easter, Sal

Herbert, The next time you use your 135mm, try being extra careful. Shoot a few frame where you will remember exactly what is on the edges of your frame. This and a little more experience with the lens and you'll be able to compose accurately. Happy Snaps & Easter, Sal