[Leica] Summer vacation report

["Richard F. Man" <richard@imagecraft.com>]

How I spent my (first of the) Summer Vacation :-)

Grandparents made a surprise appearance, and I dragged my wife screaming 
into having fun, despite she wanting to stay home and cast armors. All hell 
broke loose, and I just grabbed my M7 with 35'lux, and 50'cron, and the 
OM-4T with the 90/2 and 135/2.8. I thought about taking some wide angles 
with the OM, but why bother when I have the M7? (uh oh...)

Next day, we were at the Mono Lake. I raised the M7 to my eyes and.... dead 
batteries! Arrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... Of course in my pocket I have 
spare batteries for the OM but not for the M7 since the local camera store 
was out of the CR1/3 last time I was there.

Quick, lets see - Sunny 16! So I took a few shots using the 60th and 125th. 
In fact, I ended up taking at least 2 1/2 rolls on the M7 using either 
Sunny 16 rule or when I got smart, used the OM-4T's meter reading. So I 
have limited choices with the apertures, but it works. Next day, while 
hiking in the Bristlecone Pine forest, I lost the battery cap! Double 
arrggghhhh.... the day afterward, on Monday, we finally were able to buy 
replacement batteries at the store in Bishop. Having no battery cap, we 
improvised by using sports tape and small cardboard pieces. The ultimate 
cheap-look camouflage for the Leica! So do you think Leica will send me a 
replacement battery cap if I ask? The camera is still under warranty. I 
even have the USA Passport but the camera is only 3 months old. Getting new 
batteries mean I can shoot in auto mode again, so I chose to shoot mainly 
in manual mode! From previous years experience, I am finally remembering 
that the sky is much brighter and can fool the meters easily. So I took 
some meter readings, and switched to manual mode. Much easier to use than 
the exposure compensation dial.

Another point of the visit is to see the Mountain Light Gallery of the late 
Galen and Barbara Rowell in Bishop. I know some people don't think much of 
his photos, but he is my cup of tea. Definitely if you wonder about the 
limit of the 35mm system, check out some of the large digital enlargements 
hanging there. I think the largest one they have on display is something 
like 30x40". Sure, it can't compare to larger format cameras' output side 
by side, but it looks quite amazing nevertheless.

I used to think the OM-4 and the 90/2 macro is fairly heavy and all, and it 
still is, but I was hiking a lot with both cameras at the same time! I 
never thought I would do it like that, but it is sort of convenient to have 
a camera with wide angle and the other one with a medium telephoto. Just 
for good measure, I took a few macro shots just to make it worthwhile to 
carry a macro lens.

All in all, a very interesting experience. the Zuiko 50/2 and 90/2 are 
optically as excellent as anything. Unfortunately, the Zuiko wide angles 
cannot compare to the 35 'lux. Otherwise, I can relegate the Leica for low 
light indoor convention shots, and the OM for hiking. Oh well, life is not 
perfect....

The first 4 of the 6 rolls will be back tomorrow. We will see whether there 
are any good pics in the mix....

// richard <http://www.imagecraft.com> 
<http://www.dragonsgate.net/mailman/listinfo> 

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