Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/12

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Newbie to be -- My experiences with G2 / M options?
From: COLBYG@ULV.EDU
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1998 20:53:28 -0700 (PDT)

Hello, Daniel,

	I, too, am a recent "M" convert. After years of squinting through the
ever-darkening F viewfinders I took a peek through the M. It was a *miracle*! I
could *see*...

> While making a picture, my neurons fire in a way such that using my F2 or
> other manual cameras is intuitive and using AF is actually more difficult..
> Having lurked for a while, I feel it may be safe now to come out and ask a
> few questions...

	This is a remarkably supportive list, isn't it? I've stuck around
longer than with most.

> I am thinking of either trading in the G2 or supplementing
> it with a M series camera...

	I was distracted momentarily by the G2, while looking at the M cameras.
In the end I turned away from the G2 partly for the reasons you cite. The G2
viewfinder hosts that bright green data screen which was a distraction. Also, I
was drawn to the mechanical simplicity of the M's shutter; the G2 needs four
electric motors to work according to its design.

> What is the best combo for me to get as a user?  The variations seem
> endless.

	I chose this one...

> - new M6

	...and this one...

> - 35mm last generation Sumicron

	...and I'm very satisfied. I hadn't realized how much I was missing in
compositional moments; the bright-line viewfinder allows you to see beyond the
margins of your composition, allowing for quick composition moves. The M6 with
that little 35mm f/2 attached is compact and hardly noticeable in a crowd. I've
watched the guys with the Hasselblads on tripods get all the attention while I
drift about unnoticed (no matter what they say about the red dot). The lens is
sharp. That I should refine my technique to match its capability gives me
something to look forward to.
	The metering system took no time to learn and the little red read-out
pointers are unobtrusive in the viewfinder (although I read someone here
complain mildly about them being a little too bright in the M6HM. The meter is
drop-dead accurate in my brief experience; with my usual 'chromes and
black-and-white negatives.
	The M6HM would definitely be helpful with the 90mm lenses, but somebody
here recently mentioned that it was easy with the 35mm as well. 
	By all means go to Erwin Puts' fantastic technical evaluations at...

	http://www.imx.nl/photosite/leica/m/lenses/pages/choices.html

	Good luck! You won't regret the purchase, whatever decision you
make. The product line delivers exactly what it promises.

- -Gary Colby