steve_king1

<b>Related question?</b>

<br>

I'd like to tack on a related question, if y'all don't mind. It occurs to me that for the year and a half I've been using an M6TTL (primarily as my only camera) I have never used the frameline preview lever. Is this a feature that a lot of you *do* use frequently?

<br> I sure wish it somehow were able to toggle a 1.25x view, instead....Thnx, Steve

I find the fan, back wall, and opening to the water interesting, but I wish there were either significantly more, or no, detail in the shadows.

The orange curtain and stacked lumber things just confuse me, but maybe that's the point? Dunno.

I'm not even slightly tempted. I *am* tempted by another M6-TTL body, if the used prices keep dropping; get one in black .058 to compliment my chrome .072: use the silver for color slide, and the black for B&W. Too cool.

But spending another $1500, or so, over and above what a used M6-TTL would run, on a body that would be *for me* a disconvenience (weird rewind, and shutter dial), isn't worth even the cheap price of fantasy.

You know, I had a bout of "digital fever" a couple weeks ago, and bought a used Canon G2 from someone advertising in the photo.net classified's.

I admit to being grudgingly surprised by the resolution and quality from this little camera. I'm also having fun playing with pseudo-studio lighting, and bouncing a Vivitar 285 into an umbrella: the G2 is very useful for checking light placement.

That said, I feel the same irritation with the camera's interface, that I feel with many modern electronic consumer products: I would gladly exchange 95% of the G2's "features" for simple, manual focus. Hell, I'd be happy to just get rid of them, even without an exchange. Menus, sub-menus, modes, auto-compensation, auto-compensation with manual control!...AAAGH. It's the same kind of frustration I feel when I discover, for example, an elderly relative has been without TV for three weeks because he's accidentally pressed the wrong button on one of the three, 700-button, goddam remotes, the TV requires.

I'm not particularly interested anymore in SLR's, so Canon's announcement doesn't particularly excite me. Looking at the specs, conveniently available from the Ritz Camera link above, I see it has 7-point AF, the new DIGIC circuit, and direct connectivity with Canon Bubble-Jet printers. Great. :)

I can't imagine I'm alone in wanting to hide from all that. Please: just a manual aperature ring, and shutter-speed, manual focus, and a bright, uncluttered finder. Why is this simplicity so anathema to designers of digital cameras?

I realize some frown on the use of tripods, but I decided to throw up

a picture from a recent purchase for those curious about the size of

the Acratech head relative to an M6. <br><br>

Actually, I doubt many <i>were</i> curious, but what the hell -- it's

a neat piece of gear, and worth a quick glance....<br><br>

I had been saving my pennies for a used 35mm ASPH Summicron, but the

frustration of lugging around a large Bogen tripod and head got to

me, and I broke the jar open and bought this Gitzo 1128 and Acratech.

Ah. And used Hexanon 28mm as well. I'm planning on using the tripod

primarily with a MF rangefinder I inherited, but couldn't resist

purchasing the QR plate for my M6, as well.

Aaaagh. Sorry.

<center><img src="http://www.photo.net/bboard/uploaded-file?bboard_upload_id=11593984"></center>

<i> 35mm Summicron & Provia </i>

I use a Nikon CoolScan LS-IV, and Photoshop 6.0. Previously, I had both a flatbed, and a cheap film scanner (Acer Scanwit). The Nikon is a quantum step over both of those, IMO.

I bought VueScan, but honestly prefer the Nikon scanning software. It doesn't seem to make a hell of a lot of difference, which I use, and I just try to capture as much as possible with the scanner, but leave all manipulations/adjustments for Photoshop.

I, too, use a Nikon CoolScan LS-IV -- the 2900 dpi model. I'd struggled for a while previously with a flatbed, then a cheap film scanner (Acer Scanwit), but have been absolutely pleased with the Nikon.

I didn't think I'd see much difference between the Scanwit and LS-IV on the monitor, but I certainly did: the Nikon was vastly superior in capturing tonal range and detail. As for the 4000dpi model, I can't say...I put the difference towards an inkjet printer (Epson 1280),

with no regrets.

<img src="http://www.duke.edu/~stking/doozy.jpg" height=655 width=700>

<br>

<i>50mm summicron-M, delta100</i>

<i>Just how "macro" do you need? A 90mm lens at it's minimum focusing distance covers about 8x12 inches</i><br>

<br>

Well...I just bought a 90mm f4 Rokkor CLE, and neither that lens, nor my 50mm Summicron are even close to "pseudo-macro." I'd like to take the odd close-up of interesting flora and (little) fauna, if the opportunity presents itself. This isn't a critical need, but it would be kinda nice, and I can forsee other instances where a small digital camera would be useful, despite what appears to be universally miserable ergonomics (at least for the 4-5MP non-SLR cameras).

<br><br>

With the exception of Godrey, no one seems to have renounced their M-series entirely, for the digital cameras. Although not surprising, it's nonetheless comforting on some level. Thanks!

Hey folks -- I'm curious how many of you carry/use a small digital

camera, in addition to your Leica RF gear?

One of the biggest reasons I am attracted to Leica (in my case, an

M6TTL) is a strong dislike for "features" -- autowind, autofocus,

electronic-this, matrix-that. The M6 has been superb in this regard,

and it continues to grow on me.

However. I've been planning to purchase a wide-angle lens for the M6,

but I've got an upcoming trip in the next month during which I can

imagine the need for a macro lens....I could purchase a used 35mm SLR

outfit, but then I'd have *three* systems using film (have a folder

MF camera), and I'm wondering if perhaps something like a used Canon

G2 or Coolpix 5000 might not be a better choice?

Those of you that carry both (I'm not talking about using a modern D-

SLR or MF with digital back)...do you find yourself using the digital

camera more or less than you expected? Did it change how/what you

shoot? Or was it often something you *thought* you wanted, but rarely

used after the initial novelty?

Thanks,

Steve King

Because I don't know any better (really!) the camera store sold me a DIY B&W kit last year that I'm still sticking with: Delta 100 and Ifosol-S -- a one-shot developer.

I must admit, there seems to be very little grain. Granted often grain is desirable, but since I scan most of my shots, it's a problem with "true" B&W. If find if I'm really meticulous about my times and technique the results are good enough, I've never looked for anything else. I suppose Ilfosol is more expensive than some developers, but I save so much money processing myself, I've never thought about it.

Here's a shot of a family pet, using Delta100 and Ilfosol-S.<div></div>

Given an apparently inevitable war, and the terrific global economy,

it seems a bit self-indulgent not to do my part, and at least spend a

little money. I've been saving for a bit, and am trying to "round-

out" my Leica outfit, and would appreciate any thoughts on potential

pitfalls, by those using the M6 a lot longer than I have....

Currently I'm down to only a mid-80's 50mm Summicron. I must say,

when I look at results from this lens, I say "wow." This only

happened previously with some Contax G gear I had and sold. If I only

had one lens, I'd prefer it to be a 35mm, but I'm loathe to sell my

50mm as it's a proven "winner," and I have a hard time justifying

BOTH a newish 35mm and my 50mm....I'm thinking about a new/used

Konica Hexanon 28mm. I've dredged the archives, and my head hurts

with people screaming about "Erwin Putts" this, and "Photodo" that.

Am I wrong in thinking this lens should work just fine on an M6TTL?

Second: I travel for business, and even on pleasure, I need to carry

a laptop. I usually stuff the M6 in a regular laptop case, but this

doesn't work well; either the lens or body protrudes through the

case, and inevitably bumps into things. My requirements are that the

bag be "satchel" style, with a flap that I can handle with one hand.

Ie, while slung on my shoulder, I'd like to reach in an grab my

camera with one hand. I've heard good things about the Domke

802...Would that be *too* large, for a laptop, and M6 and two lenses?

Finally tripod: I broke down, and ordered a set of Gitzo 1128 CF

legs. I'll be using 'em with an M6, and PlaubelMakina 67, with is a

Mamiya7-sized RF. I'd like a ball-head, and QR seems nice, but how

much bulk do the Arca-type QR systems add to both the M6 and head? In

practice do some of you find it more ergonomic, though slower, to

just attach the camera the "old way"? In which case, could I go wrong

with the Linhoff Universal Ballhead? Otherwise, I'm looking at

another $100, and something like the AcraTech, or Foba mini

superball. OTOH, if the QR plates really don't increase the size of

the camera that much, it might be money well-spent?

Many thanks

Steve