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I bought the G5 ten days ago. <br>Don't go for the G3 unless you want to spend your time finding excuses to the -why G5 is not as good as my G3- question<br>I read all reviews and opinions available before I decide for the G5 vs Sony and Nikon. Great camera, but I need another 3-4 weeks before I am ready to tell which is its place in the heart of a Leica-M user.

Not because she's perfect...she is not! But there are a couple of things that made me go for her instead of the Nikon and Sony:<br>1) RAW files NOW! <br>2) Best sharpness (even slightly)<br>3) Separate button controls for White Balance and Exposure adjustments on the fly<br>4) Swivelling display<br>5) Ugly, but she's the right size and weight and has very good ergonomics.<br><br>It is my first Canon, I hope I will be happy with her!

The Sony was the only one of these 3 cameras that got the "Highly Recommended" from DPreview, both Nikon and Canon got a "Recommended" instead. But Sony is $100 cheaper and this is -apparently- very important factor, even if its rates were lower than the other two cameras! Phil Askey probably was in a strange mood during these tests. He-he...

After weeks of researching and hundreds of MB downloaded and printed on Epson Premium glossy photo paper, I finally decided:<br>

On Saturday I will -hopefully- receive my brand new Canon G5<br>

I also didn't want a DSLR as my main system is Leica-M and I am very happy with it. The G5 is a small(ish) camera with very good handling, not too small- not too big, not too heavy-not too light, with an ugly but so useful grip, a RAW mode, and many-many pluses (and some minuses of course)<br>I hope I made the right decision...

<img src= "http://www.jordan.gr/hood.jpg"><br>

Here is your answer: I have a 12585H metal hood which perfectly clips on a special home-made E39 ring. No vignetting at all! Even with one filter added between the lens and the ring I still can see no vignetting. <br>

If you are interested of buying the hood and the ring adaptor please contact me.

M6 + 3E for travelling<br>

M6 + 40/2 for trekking & hiking<br>

CL + 40/2 for backpacking<br>

I absolutely agree with Roger Michel. The 3E changed the way that I shoot with a Leica. <br>I used to carry a Billingham bag with 2 M6 bodies plus 35/1.4 (or 28/2.8) + 50/2 + 90/TE. <br>Now I only carry one M6 with my 3E and -some times- the tiny 90/TE in my pocket. I feel SO good now and photography is so much more fun for me! <br>Lower quality then primes? HA! come on... you know what I mean...<br>And yes, $1095 is a great price for a LNIB 1st version 3E (which btw I like more than the current version that I have -because of the tab-)

Am I the only one that believes that RF focusing system in ANY camera is never top accurate?<br>

On the other hand I may be wrong...<br>

Henk,<br>

I have the thin Tele Elmarit and I have used the current Elmarit too. Here are my conclusions:<br>

1) Current Elmarit is sharper and its shots have more contrast then the TE (which is already very sharp)<br>

2) TE is easy to flare even with the deep hood on. <br>

3) You think that the current Elmarit is just a little longer and heavier than the TE? You are wrong! Use the TE and the feeling is like you have a 50/2 attached. The current Elmarit feels much bigger and heavier. <br>

4) In a small bag or pocket the TE can always find a place to sleep.<br><br>

Well, the logic says that the current Elmarit is the one to buy.<br>

(But I always follow my heart and I bought the TE :O)<br>

Jay gave a full answer to your questions. I also sold my 4th generation 28 Elmarit and my 50 Summicron current model is for selling now. The 3E is my favorite lens by far!

Erm... ok... my digital picture is magenta... See? Nothing is as good as Leica, he-he! (and my eyes were too tired after an hour of trying to do the job nice)

 

Chris: many friends answered before me: Of course it is a leather from www.cameraleather.com The strap is an Olympus OM braided strap but I have also seen the same in white or black leather under the names of Alpa and Benser. The fact is that for me it is the BEST strap, very light, always straight and easy to fold, beautiful too.

 

About how easy or difficult is the installation: I have the feeling that it also depends on which leather you will buy. Mine was sooo easy to be stretched and this makes things more difficult.

Here she is! It was the first time that I did it.

 

 

Was it easy? > NO!

 

Quality was good? > Yes

 

Cutting was precise? > Yes (although you will doubt about it some

times)

 

Will I do it again? > I think sooo

 

Am I satisfied finally? > YES

 

Will it last? > Ask me in 6 months

Dear Mr Roldan,

 

Apparently you have NEVER been to Greece!

 

"reputation of lax security, run for your life from thieves, terror concerns or just a crowd control problem"??? HA-HA-HE-HE-HE !!!!! Oh, dear, that WAS really funny!

 

Tip for all: Athens and big cities are as safe as all the big European cities (if not safer). Villages are so safe that you can sleep with your doors open. Generally, logical precautions will be more than enough.

 

Just one thing: Athens can be MELTING in July and August! 38 and 40 usually but even 41 or 42 degrees C. Forget about wondering around in Athens with a bag of 10Kgr stuff!

 

Best regards from Athens,

Mine does the same and everything looks smooth and normal, so, I think it should be normal.

By the way, I really adore this baby, what about you?

 

Jordan.

Erm... Where is Annapolis?

It is always late here too (Greece)

Because even a humble "softie" deserves some vacations in the Greek islands after been so "pressed" :O)

The most interesting post so far and no answers yet?!?

 

I am IN Travis, thanks for a really good idea! I hope that many others will join too. (Maybe you should put a FS in the header, just in case :O)

Hey, hi Bill! How are you?

Dimitri, where in Athens you live? Maybe we could have a coffee and nice chat one day :O)

Here in Greece things are exactly the same: It is just a matter of luck! My experience is about 150 boxes from outside EU and normally, a parcel from outside the EU that has a declared value of US$ / �100-300 will pass through the customs without any added taxes. Still, some times they put taxes (=18% VAT + expenses of all kinds = a total of 25-30% depending of the factor value/expenses). This happens mostly when the declared value is higher ($200 or $300) and rarely under $100. To my opinion, it depends of the customs people having lots of other jobs to do or not. If they are bored, they just start playing with the cheap stuff!

I had a few, Pentax zoom and Silvestri 10X among others. Silvestri is the best so far, but I am still not 100% happy.

 

I wish I could find the quality of the 5X Leica loupe in a 10X loupe. Any ideas?

Of course it is awkward!

Nobody is perfect though... She's a great lovely little camera :O)

Ok... Seriously now... (although it wasn't a joke at all!)

 

Shoot some slides and check them with a good quality 10X loupe. This will help you to locate the stage that the problem gets into your work: before or after the "click".

You can't imagine how bad the printing can be -especially with 1 hour labs-

 

(BUT... If you are an amateur and you usually make prints to size A4 and you already own a computer, then the easiest way to improve your results is a digital camera. Even a 4 MP model combined with a Epson Photo printer and Photo paper will give you VERY good results. I hate saying this but it is true) :O(

I noticed that many Leica users complain lately about stiff focusing on brand new lenses. I join them now: My new 3E has a stiff focusing ring. Not very stiff, but stiff. Of course it is absolutely even throughout the range and -to be sincere- when the lens is on the camera and I use it I don't really have any problem because of the stiffness.

 

Why Leica makes the focusing rings stiff? Is there any particular reason? Are there less and more stiff lenses in the same batch and -if yes- why?...