Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/10/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> > Another impression of the M8: the rangefinder has the typical Leica > brightness, but a bit less than the MP it seemed: the central patch > was somewhat dimmer. The varifinder is big indeed, but when you > hold the camera and look through it, it's OK. Very bright. Locked > to 21mm ATM, no framelines ATM (don't know if that will be a > feature, but I always like being able to see more than the actual > frame), impressive paralax correction. But not very handy: you need > 3 hands or a lot of time to focus, correct paralax and fire the > shutter. > Just my 2 cents. > Philippe >> >> Philippe Orlent wrote: >>> You all know what is being/has been presented on Photokina, so I >>> won't >>> bother you with that: other folks ar far more technical gifted >>> than I >>> am and all the news is already out. >>> >>> A little impression of a first timer is all I can give you. >>> >>> 1) The fair is huge. If you go on saturday, and if you want to see >>> everything, be prepared to be in the middle of a buzzing herd of >>> people that want exactly the same as you. >>> In other words: if you can, don't go on a saturday. >>> >>> 2) It is a fair for boys that like big toys: a lot of 10 pounders >>> hanging around people's necks, all showing that they have a big >>> lens. >>> Let's say that these combo's replace the Coke bottle that >>> adolescents >>> sometimes put in their trousers to impress... >>> >>> 3) The big ones (Canon, Nikon, Epson, Panasonic and a little bit >>> behind that Olympus) have huge stands where everything is digital: >>> everyone is showing screens with shots that show how much detail the >>> sensors can get and how much detail the printers can print. Rest >>> assured, they all perform perfectly in these circumstances. Whether >>> these are the same as yours at home, is nother question ofcourse. >>> They also all create 'photo opportunities' with whether a 'model' >>> contest, some dancing show stuff, or -for the real Chimps out there- >>> bodypainted nude ladies. Very succesful, so if you want to shoot >>> that >>> kind of stuff, bring a massive tele, a little ladder and post >>> yourself >>> a bit further away: you'll get the shot that you were looking for. >>> Unless you want to feel like a paparazzo with your camera above your >>> head and the lcd screen tilted down. >>> >>> 4) Speaking of massive teles. Remember that Zeiss 1700 of which >>> photos >>> have already been posted on this list? On screen it looks big. In >>> real >>> it's huge: imagine a full size atomic submarine and park it next to >>> the Zeiss: it will be hard to see the size difference. >>> >>> 5) Which brings us to the Zeiss, Hasselblad, Alpa, Mamiya and Leica >>> floor. That was yummy. >>> >>> 6) Leica: a lot of interest for the M8: everybody (waiting times >>> up to >>> 10 minutes to get a -too short- grip on one) wanted to hold and use >>> it. Opinions about handling the camera were unanimous: it looks like >>> an M, it feels like an M, it shoots like an M. The shutter sound >>> didn't bother me: a short snappy and dry sound that wasn't too loud >>> either. I fires away at the 3 images at 2 secs rate, which is >>> pleasant, but not necesseraly needed IMO. It has some buffering >>> problems though: if you fire away, you have to wait a bit to see the >>> shots appear on the LCD. Good ergonomics: as intuitive as the >>> Digilux >>> 2. Everything points itself out. >>> Which cannot be said of the Digilux 3. There are so many buttons on >>> this one that you need a day or so to memorize the manual. Which is >>> too much for me. >>> I'm not into the R, so I can't say much of that: the crowd was a >>> little smaller, but a lot of interested folks nevertheless. Same >>> thing >>> for the V series. >>> Overall feeling: Leica is back on track, and I have hopes for them. >>> Not high hopes yet, but the future looks brighter than a year ago >>> IMO. >>> Funny little anecdote: a German guy next to me at the M8 stand asked >>> if he could attach his rapidwinder to the M8... >>> >>> 7) Most impressive stands for me were Zeiss (the smart guys: once >>> they >>> focused on their lenses and cover a very large market now) and >>> Hasselblad (huge, as if they really know that's it's now or never >>> again for them -to many very good alternatives, esp. in digital >>> backs- >>> so they really had to impress. Which they did.) >>> >>> 8) Most yummy? Alpa. But I'm afraid that will always stay a dream >>> for >>> me... >>> >>> 9) Smartest stand? Leica. Esp. the 'grandstand' they created where >>> every model was glued to a tripod and where you could really fondle >>> them. A massive success. >>> >>> 10) Did I see people I knew? Lucien tapped on my shoulder at the >>> Leica >>> stand and we had a good chat. He told me that Solms was planning an >>> only B&W M8, as had been suggested on the LUG here. Which is a great >>> idea IMO. >>> We both said we'd wait a bit before buying one, though: the first >>> model of a launch is always a bit tricky... >>> Then I wandered on in the vain hope of seeing other LUGgers, but >>> with >>> so many people, it's hard to spot a familiar face, esp. if only >>> known >>> via photos. Red Leica roses in our button holes might have been a >>> good >>> idea. Or nail down a 'quiet' meeting point and meeting hour. Lesson >>> learned for next time. I did see some LHSA members at a distance, >>> though. >>> >>> 11) I spent the most time at the first hall, where photo exhibitions >>> were held and books were sold. A lot of good work to see there, esp. >>> in the Kodak Nachwuchs F?rderpreis corner. And some good books, >>> which >>> I brought home. >>> >>> 12) Will I come again in 2 years? I don't know. It is one of those >>> events that you crave for, go to, say never again once you're there, >>> and 2 years later the itch is back and there you go again. So >>> probably >>> yes. >>> >>> 13) Don't forget to visit the centre of K?ln when you're there. A >>> beautiful town, good food, good beer, with an impressive cathedral >>> (the Dom) and plenty of photo (and shopping) opportunities. >>> Except for >>> the Ludwig Museum, which is wonderful if you love Picasso and post >>> 50's art, but where you're not allowed to take photographs. And they >>> do take that very seriously! Must be that famous Deutsche >>> Gr?ndlichkeit... >>> >>> 14) So did I take any? Yes, I did. But you'll have to wait for those >>> because I only shot film: I wanted to try out my new Biogon >>> 2,8/28 on >>> my MP. When the lab has developed them, I'll certainly post them >>> for >>> your viewing and maybe for your pleasure. >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Philippe >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > >