[Leica] Newbie wades in, lured by the Noctilux

[SonC at aol.com (SonC@aol.com)]

Um, Leica photography is not a club that you can buy the right gear and be a 
member. Looks like you are trying to seek approval for your plans.  

Just do whatever you want to do, and show us some pictures.  Some people are 
impressed by equipment lists. Some people are impressed by pictures  They 
are 
the ones who count.

Regards, 
Sonny
http://www.sonc.com
Natchitoches, Louisiana
Oldest continuous settlement in La Louisiane
?galit?, libert?, crawfish
 


In a message dated 10/27/2004 10:59:09 PM Central Daylight Time, 
jklu@sas.upenn.edu writes:
> Hi.
>
> After reading numerous Leica FAQ's and M guides, I submit the 
> following:
>
> I believe I'm what you'd call a budding Noctilooney.  I have never 
> used an M camera, but right now I'm deep in my Web researches to 
> select and buy my first one solely to harness the Noctilux.  I'm the 
> first to admit that I'm smitten and not exactly rational.  Here I am 
> poised to spend upwards of three-thousand dollars just so I can create 
> images which appear as though they were made by a large format camera. 
>  Is shallow depth of field really something to loose your head over?  
> Maybe.  Maybe not.  I find it intoxicating, others find it nausiating 
> (Nausilux).  All's I did was look at some Noctilux image galleries on 
> the Web and my quest was born.  If this is folly, would you snap me 
> out of it?  Otherwise, could I trouble you to read my questions below 
> and offer some advice?
>
> First, the body:
>
> The M3's stand-out EBL makes it a contender, but the improvements to 
> the M4 make it more desirable to me.  Am I missing something 
> important?  I think I'm willing to sacrifice some EBL to gain the 
> rewind crank and the speedier film loading.  I thought I'd sooner have 
> the 4 than the 4-2 or 4-P.  I would have to add a hot shoe, but I'm 
> willing to do that just to have the slightly better (?) VF/RF.  Yes, I 
> see the 6 Classic and TTL bodies are practically clogging eBay these 
> days, but I thought the 4 could still be had for less.  My prior RF 
> experience is limited to Graflex press cameras, stereo cameras, and 
> the Texas Leica (Fuji's GS690).  I have always preferred SLR's, but 
> I'm willing to give up their framing/focusing convenience just to 
> shoot the Noct.
>
> Next, the Noct version:
>
> I'm chasing the first incarnation 'cause it has the slightly smaller 
> filter size.  I have this notion that overall barrel could be a tad 
> more svelt than that of the subsequent versions (why I think that, I'm 
> not sure - if all of them have the same glass, shouldn't they all have 
> the same dimensions?).  Will I end up paying a premium for the first 
> Noct?  Perhaps the bargain specimens tend to be the second version.  
> Can you confirm this?  I read that a retailer in LA will rent you a 
> Noctilux for the weekend for a cost of $100.  That seems reasonable, 
> but I live in the midwest.  As crazy as it sounds, I may just have to 
> buy a whole outfit just to experiment with this lens.  But I wouldn't 
> call it pure extravagance 'cause I look forward to shooting the 35/1.4 
> and the 21/3.4 also [some day].
>
> Lastly, if anyone has a body or lens to lend (sell) to my cause, I 
> would love to hear about it.
>
> Thanks for your attention, and thanks in advance for any/all advice!
>
> Sleighteem