Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/07/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]G'day all, yesterday I wrote a wonderful comment on the M7, which seems to have gone missing in the ether: well you are not spared, so here we go again, only now I'm so flu ridden, it may not make any sense at all ;-) Clearly the M7 is a wonderful camera. Doubtless it is expensive, and perhaps, it will hold its value and deliver wonderful service over so many years that it will more than pay back it owner. Perhaps the M7 was slow in coming into the world, but its here now, and provides an alternative for those who want it, but beware!!! When I came to Leicas, I had a CLE and M3. I'd bought the M3 because it was born the same year I was, but I'd hardly used it --- what could one do with a camera without a lightmeter? The CLE had convinced me about the quality and versatility of the rangefinder system. Then on my 40th, Helen got me an M6 with 35 summilux, and the back balance has never looked the same ;-) I joined the LUG, and learnt all sorts of things. Automation was clearly not everything. I had learnt from the meterless Bronica/Hasselblad experience, that slowing down, thinking, & metering carefully led to a definite improvement in my photography. Of course I now had to learn how to handle street scenes etc, so I delved into the comments made on HCB, and some personal advise from Fred Ward. Soon I was pre-focusing, I was surveying the scene around me more acutely, I was getting myself increasingly aware of the changing light, the combination of shadows, and how it would affect exposure. I learnt to judge light, and began to use and external 50mm finder. I was going backwards, but my photography was going forwards. Pre-focusing meant I was fast, pre-judging light meant that I was having fewer and fewer exposure problems, and by using an external finder, I was composing the scene WITHOUT centreing on the rangefinder patch. The M6 meter was useful in lower light conditions and especially with the Noctilux, but in daylight, I can usually hit within one stop. I'm sure the first time I wrote this it was more "intelligent", but what I'm trying to say, is that it is ok for Ted to use automation -- he knows how to use it. For me, automation had lead to laziness, and there is a lot to be learnt by keeping out of automation. This is why the R8 now suits me. It is designed to be used on Manual, in fact the first stop on the dial is "m". By all means, buy the M7, but remember the lessons the M3/6 can teach you, or you will fall into lazy habits. Cheers --- does this make sense ??????? Oh well - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html