Re: [Leica] Expectant proud new M6 owner

[John Coan <jcoan@alumni.duke.edu>]

Simon,
I am feeling much the same as you.  Yesterday I purchased a 1991-made M6 on
ebay, and from another guy, a fairly newish Summicron 35 asph.  I'll keep my
8008s too, until I upgrade to perhaps an F100.  I also have a Contax 645,
which I'll keep too.  I've always wanted a Leica rangefinder though... as
you say, it will do things the others won't.  I an eager to get my stuff and
go at it!

One  unfortunate thing ... I have no instruction book.  I'll figure it out I
guess and seek out a book from somewhere.

I'm wondering if the first roll I shoot ought to be black and white.  The
Leica just seems like it will do wonders in available light ... and with B&W
I won't have to worry about color temperature problems.  I really don't want
to carry around a flash with it.  Heck, the flashes are  too big and if I
wanted a big rig I could use the Contax/Metz or Nikon/SB-28.  I think I want
to live with the limitations of available light and the 35mm lens for a
while.

Anyway, Simon, congratulations on your purchase.  I know you will enjoy it.
And one thing... the folks on this list were very helpful to me when I asked
a question yesterday.  I think I will enjoy hanging around here for a while
and getting to know folks.

John

Simon Lamb wrote:

> Hello everyone
>
> Another lurker surfaces and faces the inevitable!  I have phoned the
> camera shop and will be picking up my chrome M6 .85, 90mm f/2 APO ASPH
> and Tri-Elmar 28-50mm f/4 on 2 May.  Just by way of introduction, I am a
> Nikon user (F5, 80-200mm f/2.8 AFS, 85mm f/1.8 AF-D, TC20-E etc. etc.).
> I love two types of photography, wildlife and portraits (particularly of
> my two girls ages five and two - they are the subjects for the portraits
> although sometimes the wildlife!).  I really wanted a camera that would
> enable me to take protraits with more creative control and in a less
> stressful way for the children.  The F5 with SB28 flash and big 85mm
> lens can be very overpowering for children and it is difficult to take
> candid portraits with such a big camera, even when using it handheld.  I
> have followed the newsgroup and believe that the M6 will be the ideal
> camera for portrait work, especially with the 90mm f/2 in available
> light.  I did consider the new Nikon S3 2000 rangefinder but it is very
> much priced for the collectors market and did not make financial sense.
> I also believe that the 90mm APO ASPH lens will be better than the 50mm
> that Nikon will initially offer with the camera.
>
> I will keep the F5 as I do not believe that the M6 will be able to catch
> the action wildlife shots that the Nikon makes possible.  The F5 is an
> amazing camera, as is the M6, and I believe that each can offer me some
> major benefts in the type of photography that interests me.
>
> One thing is for sure.  I have seen all the posts from new users and I
> hope I have learnt many lessons, especially how to savour opening the
> boxes and loading the first roll of film.
>
> I will, as appears customary, let you all know how my first days go with
> my camera and hopefully become an active member of the newsgroup.  One
> immediate question.  I take most of my portraits with Kodak Portra 160
> NC.  Does the ISO dial on the back of the M6 allow 160 to be set?  I
> notice some small increments between 100 and 200 and assume that these
> are increments of 20, so that I can set the dial at three increments
> past the 100 mark.  Is this a correct assumption?
>
> That's all for now.  Sorry it ended up so long.
>
> Simon