Re: [Leica] R Wildlife shooter

[Doug Herr <telyt@earthlink.net>]

Neil Cotty wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> New to the group! :) An intro - I'm considering getting into Leica from
> Nikon. I shoot mostly close ups and wildlife - predominantly birds (not in
> flight btw) and occasionally large mammals when I can make it over to the
> 'olds' in Tanzania. I use m/f almost all the time, so that and the quality
> Leica lenses are my reasons for considering the (not inconsequential) change
> in systems.
>
> I have never been happy with the manual focusing of the Nikon lenses since
> AF was introduced, and am not a fan of AF for what I shoot. Perhaps it's me,
> but I find the AF Nikkors are 'dead' feeling in that dept. I never end up
> where I want to be, normally just past or just ahead but hardly ever right
> on the button (when it matters of course) and no I don't think it's my
> technique <G>. ;)  My FG & collection of old Nikon MF lenses bare this out.
> I tried an R8 today with a few lenses and was very impressed with the drag
> and feel of the focus rings. Especially on the 100mm macro and the 180mm
> f2.8 tele. Construction quality seems a cut above the rest (as you'd
> expect!! $$).
>
> I'm wondering if there are any wildlife shooters out there who would like to
> comment on the larger tele's in the Leica range, ie the Modular systems and
> the 280 f2.8 & 560 f4 etc. How they handle and which do you prefer ie std
> tele vs modular. I have heard there are quality issues with the Modular
> system wrt module-module fit and that Leica are pulling them - ??
>
> A couple of questions for R8 owners, I'll think of more later <VBG>:
>
> 1. If you spot almost exclusively like me, do you find the spot size too
> large and is a hand held meter a must with this camera? I hear the spot is
> about 12% - ?
> 2. Which pro. flash unit do you recommend for fill flash? I saw a Metz but
> only seems adjustable in full stop increments.
>
> Cheers,
> Neil

  Neil,

I graduated from Nikon to Leica for my wildlife photos 20 years ago (URL
below).  I'm using the older 250mm f/4 and the 400mm and 560mm f/6.8 Telyts on a
Leicaflex SL.  I've also used these lenses with a borrowed  R8.

IMHO, the modular Telyts don't offer as much flexibility as the non-modular
280mm f/2.8 with APO-extenders.

The R8's spot meter is the same size as the SL's meter area and I find this is
excellent for virtually any wildlife subject.  I have no desire to use any other
meter pattern.

Doug Herr
Birdman of Sacramento
http://www.wildlightphoto.com