Re: Leica M6 and Contax G2

[Paul Schliesser <paulsc@eos.net>]

>Paul, maybe there's a balance that could be struck between all mechanical
>and all electronic bodies. Look at the Nikon F3. Solidly built, manual
>focus, all manual controls, aperture priority if you want it, but not a lot
>of useless features. It's probably the last pro-SLR that will be built that
>way. AND they still make it. I consider the F3 to be one of the highest
>quality SLRs being built today.

Ben,

I'm not hung up on using all-mechanical stuff, although I do like 
mechanical cameras for the reasons outlined below. I also use Contax 
SLRs, which are manual focus, have conventional controls and elecronic 
shutters (except for the mechanical S2).

I have never been interested in letting the camera do things for me. I 
want to know exactly where it is focused and what the exposure settings 
are. Because I generally meter carefully with either a built-in spot 
meter or an incident meter, there is not much point to autoexposure for 
most of the shooting I do. I don't want the camera doing things behind my 
back--I want to be sure of what I'm getting. If I shot sports or 
motorcycle racing, I might feel differently about autofocus.

The reason I like the M bodies is that they are very basic and simple to 
use. Feature-wise, they don't lack anything that I particularly want, 
which is not to say that I think they're perfect. I like the purity of 
purpose they have. I was really excited when I first started hearing 
about the Contax G cameras, since they always refered to them as 
rangefinder cameras. I thought it was pretty cool if Contax was going to 
re-enter this market.

The problem I have with the Contax G bodies and many other electronic 
cameras is not that they are electronic, but that they are hightly 
automated and are clumsy to use manually, the way I prefer to work.

I'm in my early 40s; reading my own message, it sounds like I may be 
reaching "old fart" status a little early.

May I assume from your signature that the serial numbers are back? Thanks!

- - Paul