[Leica] LTM (old Leica) Bashers; WAS "new user" LONG

[P2CON@aol.com]

Keep it up guys, (BD, Martin, Slobodon, Kyle, & the rest), if you are 
successful in altering the mindset of those who would attempt photography 
with an old, and obsolete camera system, then maybe the prices for these 
wonderful cameras will come down to more reasonable levels. ;-)  

Seriously though, I think you are preaching to the choir.  Those of us that 
actually use the old screw-mount cameras seem to do just fine, and get a big 
laugh out of your complaints.  
My own experience with all-mechanical, meterless cameras spans some fifty 
plus years starting with a little Retina folder that you had to focus using 
the distance scale and then set little levers and dials for aperture and 
shutter speed, and a manual cocking lever.  Right now on my wall there are a 
few prints from the Kodak slides that were taken with that camera in 1953.  
Exposure was set using the guide on the film box.
The most "modern" camera in my stable is an EOS-10S from the mid-90's.  I 
haven't used it in the more than three years since rediscovering the joy of 
using these gorgeous little mechanical marvels, the screw-mount Leica and 
Canons.  I will admit to being a bit of a gear head, and do use other cameras 
for special needs where the rangefinders are less handy, (macro and tele use 
with or without motordrive).

Just this past Sunday there was a Concours de Elegance nearby showing classic 
cars and motorcycles. It was total eye-candy for a casual photo outing.  I 
carried a Leica IIIf with a CV 15mm and a Jupiter 3, 50mm, exposing a couple 
of rolls of 400 speed print film and one roll of Elite II, 100 speed.  No 
meter, and in bright sun to deep shade.  I may have missed five exposures out 
of the 100 shots.  Most shots were super close with something in the finder 
at 1 meter with the 15mm and around 5 - 10 meters with the 50mm for cars and 
motorcycles parading up to the trophy stand.  Talk about love of the great 
things from yesteryear, these people spend fortunes and years of their spare 
time on restoration of the best of the past. Cars and motorcycles from waaay 
back looking like they just came out of the showroom.  Ferraris, Aston 
Martens, Corvettes, Thunderbirds, Lamborginis, Panteras, Porches, Arials, 
Vincent, Triumph, Matchless, BMW, Harley Davidson, Pierce Arrow, and more.

It would have been sacrilegious to photograph the show with and F5 or even 
R8. The LTM cameras are easy to use and a delight to carry, and most 
certainly a decent entry to the Leica family.  If you buy one that works, it 
will probably keep working, and if not they are actually easy to get into 
good shape.

Just my opinion of course,
Paul Connet
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