Re: [Leica] Few questions and comments

["onetreehillclw" <onetreehillclw@compaq.net>]

Victor,

          At the time I think the film speeds were---6,8,and a fast 25iso.

          Good idea on the 15mm. I'm still getting used to it.

          Watch your fingers on those nikons!

Chris Williams
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=106765

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Victor Wek" <photvictor@hotmail.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2001 5:45 PM
Subject: [Leica] Few questions and comments


> I have few questions:
> - How to focus and compose picture on old rangefinders? I use Zorki 4k
with
> 135mm lens, and sometimes 35mm lens on my M3 with Russian extra viewfinder
> (28-35-50-85-135 for ~15$). First I focus and then compose. Is this a
proper
> order? It really helps to know the lens coverage.
> Bessa T can be good in situation one lens one camera. If Bessa T is light
I
> will consider 'T' model for my hiking trips.
> - What special about black/white photography? A lot of Leica users prefer
> this type of pictures. Any time I see B/W picture I wish it will be a
color
> one. Even weddings or funerals look better in color then B/W. Slight color
> changes, look great in color, differences in gray tone do not appeal to
me.
> - Does anybody use new film without wet processing? Does it really compare
> to regular film? The new film was presented on last Phokina.
> - What was typical film speed in Uhr Leica time? 100ISO, 50ISO or 800? A
lot
> of old Barnack's photos have grain. I saw two small photos in 'Leica
> Photographie' made with current 'Uhr' camera and I noticed grain too. Is
> this matter of film used or old lens design?
> - Does anyone do multiple exposure on M Leica, by playing with R knob? Can
> this cause any damage to the wind mechanism?
> - I read Erwin review about R 50mm/1.4 Lux, other people opinion like
Tom's
> 'The Nocton 50/1,5 is sharper than the Summilux'. I have a feeling Leica
> will do modification to the M Lux (late 50-ies design). They modified
almost
> each lens in last couple years, but no M 50mm lens was
> change (maybe Elemar with M6J production?). I think increase in production
> quality is not enough for M Lux. Does anyone have information or
predictions
> about redesigning 50mm M line by Leica in the next 1-2 years?  I like to
> have one fast lens, 50mm/1.4 will be perfect.
> - Does the current Sumilux have similar, artistic characteristics as
> Noctilux? I run few rolls,but Noctilux is too heavy to me. Noctilux paints
> pictures, it does not make them, they look like pastel art paintings,
sharp
> and soft at the same moment. Everything is there: slight color changes,
> color clarity, light modification, sharp objects. With aperture 1.0, the
> depth of field looks bigger then 2mm, on portrait shoot.
>
> Few comments:
> - I use 15mm Heliar, finally I discover how to use 15mm viewfinder
properly.
> Finder has no frame like Leica 24mm finder and I had to judge lens
coverage
> base on external window. External viewfinder body frame gives me proper
lens
> coverage. To be precise I change angle I look through to see exactly where
> the external viewfinder window is. I never focus this lens, my aperture is
> 4.5 to 5.6 range and I always use hiperfocus. Good lens for portraits, my
> friend on horse looks like
> 'Don Kichote'...
> - Recently I used my Nikon FM2, and I almost broke my thumb. To advance
the
> film takes such an effort comparing to M6.
> - I did some lens testing. Couple years ago I borrowed Tri Elemar, and I
saw
> differences mainly in grass or sand shoot between Leica and Nikon
> lenses.When I bought my new M6, 35 and 90mm lenses I did additional
> comparison. 1st different look, the Leica lenses 'cut' the film, I can
count
> grass, someone hair, on Nikon is blur. 2nd out of focus
> area changes dramatically when Nikon lens is use, and focus area
disappears
> very slowly when Leica lens is use (35/2 or 90/2).  3. Color are smoother
> with Leica lenses. Places with lot of light are often washed out with
Nikon
> lenses, but the same spots with Leica lenses still have some color
> gradation. 4. There is no dark area on Leica pictures. The lens can always
> bring some light which exists in dark areas, the same spots on Nikon
photos
> are dark. For testing I use M6 and Nikon
> FM2  with mirror up (timer) on tripod, and the same lens type from both
> brands.
> - Everyone is surprise on the wedding in church, where pro use Canon Eros
or
> Nikon F5 with flash, and I do not have to use flash. They have fast lenses
> 2.8 etc and I use my M lenses and aperture 2-2.8, they have to use flash I
> do not. I use Reala or Superia 200 and I have times 1/15 - 1/60 sec.
> - In Poland I bought my Russian equipment Zorki 4k with 50mm (~20$), and
> 135mm for ~16$.  Actually I bought few lenses but bad ones  I throw away
(it
> does not matter when you buy by kilograms). Lenses are inconsistent in
> quality, I found bad and a good lenses. Zorki sometime raps my film. If
> anyone have time to find working equipment it can be great camera. When I
> finally got good Jupiter lenses, my photos are technically better.
> I bought this camera because of smell. It has special leather-oil type of
> smell, no camera has that!
>
> Cheers,
> Victor
>
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