Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/06/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Greg J. Lorenzo wrote/asked: >> I wonder if someone could provide me with some newbie pointers on >shooting with a super wide angle lens? > > I just acquired a Voigtlander 12 mm for my M6 from Dr. Yao and having > never used any lens wider than 28 mm I'm finding the perspective > provided through the supplied finder rather daunting. Hi Greg, If you use the M6 meter and there's lots of sky area, trust me there's going to be, which I'm sure you've already learned with the 12mm! ;-) The chances are you'll under expose unless you point the camera down eliminating about half, if not more of the bright area. Line up the red light and or arrowheads and that's your starting exposure. If you have a hand meter, incident preferably or whatever you're accustomed to, and use it at least at the beginning until you get the feel of onboard M6 readings with that wide angle lens. In this fashion with the hand meter you'll have a better success ratio of OK exposures. No question on this one..... make sure the camera is as close as you can get it..... horizontally and vertically straight!!!!!!! Otherwise you'll have leanies and bendies the likes you've never seen. ;-) That is, unless you want them. As this lens can provide the wildest distortions you can imagine, very effective under some circumstances for wild looking scenes. Although I work my 15's, both M and R lenses hand held, it takes some practice lining the camera up straight. Because the slightest tilt any direction can wipe out your pictures. And with the 12mm if I were using it, the chances are 99% would be on a tripod with a level. One little trick while hand holding that works rather effectively for me. I set the shot up through the wide viewfinder, pick the centre spot. Then I change my eye to the camera viewfinder making sure I'm still on the identical centre point, then use the edges of the viewfinder to ensure the camera is held straight using any vertical or horizontal lines in the scene. Then shoot! 99% of the time it works and the lines are straight! Apart from this, the rest you'll learn on your own about not having your feet and fingers in the frame! ;-) Good luck with it as you're about to embark on some very wide and wooly picture taking. :-) Actually you'll love it and start looking for every possible situation to make completely different looking pictures than any other guy on the block, unless they have a 12mm super wide. Have some fun, shoot lots. ted Ted Grant Photography Limited www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html