Re: Leica M6 with Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH

[Lucien_vD <Lucien_vD@compuserve.com>]

Pascal wrote:

<Having jumped on the Leica-M since the end of March after 15 years of
Nikon
<SLR use, I am now seriously thinking about selling my Leica M combination,
<with regret because of the nice lens. But was good is lens quality if you
<are hampered by the body? Maybe for others this combination works well,
but
<for me it is not.
<I will certainly never go back to the rangefinder concept: simply too many
<limitations.

** 10 years ago I had the same feeling, it take me some time (2 years) to
be really accustomed to the Leica M, mostly because I am still using reflex
cameras.
But now if I had to keep only one camera, it will be the Leica M.


<The big problem is this: the Leica M falls between two chairs:
<- if you want compactness: go for a high-end compact camera such as Nikon
<35 Ti or Leica Minilux (will cost you about 1.000 USD), and you will have
<all the goodies that come with them (excellent lens, flash, sometimes
<matrix metering, manual override possibilities, built in silent motor).

** If you compare with a Leica and only one lens, but the Leica M is much
more versatile , and the weight of a Leica M6 + 35/2  + 50/2 + 90/2,8
(tele-elmarit) is nothing to compare with the same lenses and a reflex or
even two good quality zooms (2,8). The only camera offering the same
versality was the Minolta CLE (except with the 90mmm).
Did you already use a 35TI or a Minilux: good lens, but poor flash system
and limited top speed.

<- if you want maximum possibilities and quality: go for a SLR system. My
<choice would be Nikon F5 or Leica R8. I do not like Canon EOS although
they
<also give good results. I don't like the Nikon F90x either, too much
<plastic. In the end, its all a question of subjective feeling: the camera
<must become one with the photographer as has been written by someone on
the
<LUG list. You must immediately feel comfortable with the camera. This is
<not the case for the M6 (for me!).

** If you really want to be confortable with a Leica M, take it with you
during your next vacation with maximum 3 lenses and no reflex camera.

<I have tried out both Nikon F5 and Leica
<R8 in a shop in Brussels, and am pleased with either of them. They have a
<solid feeling. The choice is between AF or not. If I go for Nikon I could
<use the FM as a second (mechanical) body. If I go for Leica R, I will sell
<the Nikon SLR equipment.

<The advantage the R8 has over the F5, are the classic controls (much like
<Nikon FM) such as aperture setting on the lens and shutter speed with a
<classic wheelbutton. You have to use two small turning wheels on the F5 to
<do just that, on the front and on the back of the camera (you can set
<aperture on the lens, but than you have no reading of the opening in the
<viewfinder display!).

** My personnal advice : If you want a reflex and intend to make
photography of people (reportage, wedding etc..), buy the F5 + SB 26 +
80-200/2,8 ( if you don't care to be noticied).
If it is for landscape or studio use a LEICA R8. 

Lucien
BELGIUM