Re: [Leica] M6 Unboxed

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@home.com>]

Dan Honemann wrote:
> 
> Sorry, Kyle, despite my attempts to muster up more willpower, the temptation
> was simply too great and I finally succumbed and unboxed my new M6.<<<<<<<<<<<<

SNIP and a bunch more on a virgin unwrapping! :-)

Dan,

Nice post with emotion. :-)

But you haven't yet enjoyed the real reason for mounting the M6, taking
pictures!  And if you get orgasmic while unwrapping and feeling it, just
wait until you reveal the true meaning of playing with a new M6! :-) 
Burning film.

> The whole experience reminds me of cinammon toast.  You know, it's so good
> you just _have_ to eat it, but it's bittersweet, knowing that with every
> bite you are consuming the very object that is bringing you pleasure.  Joy
> contains the seeds of its own destruction.  The M6 will never be new again.<<<<<<<<<<<

There'll be others to take her place. A lens here, a body there, another
as smooth as silk, but the  memories of the first encounter will always
be remembered as the best. :-)
 
> Well.  I managed, somehow.  I followed the advice on
> http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/4472/using.html and carefully pasted
> my felt (velcro) strips against the concave sides of the neckstrap tabs to
> prevent them from scuffing the body.  I stopped short of building the
> make-shift lens hood from the two B+W UV filters that Hoyen recommends--I'll
> rely on the telescoping hood for now. (I decided against a protective filter
> as well.

Don't mess with 'er son, use what she came with and don't sweat the
Mickey mouse stuff of the non-users.  Trust me, you wont even think
about the neck strap unless it lets go and drops the camera!   The
almost invisible litte markings of a neck strap are marks of a veteran
shooter, a badge of honour that you really use the camera as a
photographer and it's not a piece of the Holy Grail to be constantly
wiped, admired and kissed.

The most important thing to keep in mind, of course with affection for
your M6, that it's a fine piece of gear to be worked hard with piles of
film hammered through it doing what it was meant to do, record
outstanding pictures seen by your creative eye.

> Next came the Summicron.  Unzipping the case for the very first time,
> feeling the weight of the lens in the hand, unscrewing the plastic
> protectors on the M6 body and the lens, then matching up those red dots, and
> twisting it into place with that re-assuring "click" of the frameline
> selector.  Ahhh.<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Your description sounds like removing his or her pants for the first
time. :-)
 
> Holding it up to my eye and focusing on a lamp.  It felt good, it felt
> right.  The meter wasn't lit.  I cocked the shutter and tried again.  No
> joy.  Oops: no battery.  Ok, easy now, you can do this... get the battery
> into the camera without touching either side.  Done.  And at last, the
> moment of truth... the little red arrow pointing right.  All is well.<<<<<<<

Just remember to turn it off each time you put her in the bag or you
wont see those pretty red arrows, her battery will be dead!

> Of course this phase won't last long.  It's like a new romance.  It's all
> slow-mo for now, every detail absorbed in fascination, every nuance
> appreciated.  Soon enough, I'll be thoughtlessly carrying the M6 around my
> shoulder without much regard for it, focusing instead on what to photograph.<<<<<<<<

Spoken like a true shooter! Go get 'em tiger!

>>>>>>Even the lens cap must be placed on the lens so that the brandname
appears rightside up.  These things are of grave importance.<<<<<<<<<<

Get over kissing that lens cap and leave it in your bag, as one of two
things will happen:  

A. You'll lose it. Then want to spend a fortune for a new one so you can
do the same thing twice! :)
B.  Forget it's there when a mind blowing opportunity pops up and you'll
be rewarded with a blank          						          
     frame of what could have been! :-( 

Trust me, many a lens cap has great images recorded on it simply because
the user worried too much about a smidgen of dust that can be blown off
or can create interesting effects like a softar filter.

> Do I dare risk spooling a roll of film just yet?  Oh, let it wait. <<<<<<<<<<<<

Now don't blow yer user credibility here son, get yer butt out the door
and blast a roll or two real quick, as that M moma wants to be well
fondled and used hard.  Now git! :-)

ted