Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/12

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Subject: [Leica] 400 help
From: Doug Herr <71247.3542@compuserve.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 06:06:55 -0500

On Wed, 11 Nov 1998, Nigel B. Watson wrote:
 
>If you are shooting for your own recreational use and you don't mind
missing some >shots due to lack of AF or a fast motor-drive (R8), then you
can stay with Leica and >enjoy the deep-down satisfaction that comes from
owning the most expensive,
>finely-crafted and arguably optically-superior 35mm SLR system around.  If
you are >shooting for stock, take a look at what 99% of the most successful
pros are using, >and the decision is between Nikon and Canon.  Period. 
Check the statement by Art >Wolfe in this month's Outdoor Photographer
regarding the need for AF and >competitiveness in the field.

Nigel,

Without questioning your success with N**** or C**** equipment, it's
important to recognize that there are other approaches to wildlife
photography than the one used by "99% of the successful pros".  99% of the
photographs I've seen lately made by these successful pros are technically
excellent and IMHO are as interesting as pigeon doo-doo.  Franz Lanting,
for example, has done some excellent work but his recent work using fill
flash IMHO is ugly and what I've seen of his wildlife images that I do like
doesn't say "AF" to me.

I'm not satisfied making photographs that look like those made by 99% of
the successful pros and the technique imposed by the popular equipment
limits me to images like theirs.  I'm not one of the successful pros but
this may be because I'm working full time as a mechanical engineer plus
being a nearly full-time Mr. Mom rather than due to not using the popular
equipment.  If I'm lucky I get 10 hours of time in the field per month yet
my work has been used in several magazines, field guides, calendars and
books.  What's more important is that I'm satisfied with my images and I'm
enjoying my time in the field not burdened with mega-lenses, mega-tripods
and the batteries needed to keep the equipment functioning.  And, aside
from some home-made straps and cases, the equipment is all Leica.

Doug Herr
Sacramento