Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]########### Thanks for all your help and advices on my question about buying a new or used M6. I definitely have a few things to consider here. The best thing is however, like Paul C. Brodek wrote, that I can't go wrong either way! Now that's encouraging :-) Thanks again, this is absolutely the nicest list a have ever signed on to:-) Regards Tommy ########### Tommy, As a long time member of this LUG, I can assure you, that it is not always the nicest of places to visit. The bad is generally outweighed by the good however in a ratio of about 10:1. I've been lurking for some time now, and everytime I consider "uncloaking", the vibes have become "negative", but I can resist no longer. The advice you have already is good, but in the sad abscence of Alf, someone must stand up for the unique qualities of the older Leica lenes, and make a plug for the LTM cameras. You will get no arguments from me on the superb quality of the current crop of Leica products. I use an M6 with 21 asph, 35 asph, 50 noctilux and 90 elmar C [and will "kill" for one of the new 90 apo-asph's if they become a reality], but Alf made many comments about the beauty of some of the older lenes. About a year ago, I had the opportunity to pick up a IIIf black dial and 50 Summitar fully reconditioned with an M series shutter. It fell into my hands as if it were made for them. [I have rather small hands -- took me years not to be too embarrassed and simply start in the female glove section] The viewfinder is un-cluttered, you do not even have a "nasty" focusing patch to disrupt your thoughts, and the shutter release unleashes a gentle whirr of dials and snap of shutter which is very satisfying. You focus the "beast" through a small magnified rangefinder viewer with great accuracy, and then slide you eye over to the finder to compose. Slow? --- perhaps a little, but by separating the activities, you see the composition differently and concentrate on the composition without distraction. So there is an advantage for every disadvantage, something you will discover the longer you are on this group. [A good example is the "electronic" M. There are clear and obvious reasons for having one, but Leica has not gone down that road, and the longer I'm on this list, the more I understand why. The mechanical alternative has many advantages that for most users outweigh the benefits of the electronic wizardary, but more of that from others more expert than I]. So the body of the LTM cameras is a joy to hold, has some quirky but useful advantages, and teaches [yes educates] you through disipline and technique to concentrate on your photographic composition AFTER you have made your technical decisions on exposure, DOF and focus. Now for the best part --- the lenses. The LTM became a standard. It is still used today. Why? Well my guess [and Marc may like to give us the real answer] is that the Leica glass had become the defacto standard for 35mm photography, and so the "followers" of course just fell into line. So these lenes were the very best between and after the WW's, and many of the images we all love were made by them. Here's the rub. You cannot hope to make images which reflect the soft beauty and subtle grade of tone with today's armoury. The Summitar produces wonderful images. I went on to find a DR Summicron [getting a little "new" I know, but another classic lens which you will find has devotee's] and then a 85 Summarex [fantastic lens full of aberations and surprizes ;-) ] and long to pick up good examples of the Super angulon, Hektors [28 to 135], Summaron's, Summicrons, Elmars, Anastigmat, Elmax, Xenon, Summar, Summarit and maybe even the thambar [missed my chance 10 years ago :-( ] in order to explore the world of Leica from the early 20's to late 50's. Learning the limitations and characteristics of these "individuals" will give you another element in your photograph, just as adding a wide angle lens will give you new joys, but if there is one thing I've learn't, it is to delve slowly. I stop myself from buying a "new" lens every week until I feel I've really explored the one before, and I can tell you, I've only just begun to learn about the Summarex. Not that the M series cameras cannot be used with these LTM lenes, but I would offer you the chance to enter the Leica world in a different and parallel way. I like Kodachrome in the M6 and b/w in the IIIf, with a mixture in the M3 [M3 and external meter being the "best" portrait Leica - no I will not explain now, would those who taught me care to fill him in?? ;-) ] So little time so much to do, and work just keeps getting in the way. Cheers Alastair Firkin, http://users.netconnect.com.au/~firkin/AGFhmpg.html