Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/04/06

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Subject: Re: [Leica] hand held focal length=shutter speed rule
From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca>
Date: Sun, 06 Apr 2003 12:44:31 -0700
References: <00eb01c2fc57$9a8d48e0$02000003@dnai.com> <3E90655F.847821AE@hemenway.com>

>>> > Does the "hand held focal length equals shutter speed rule" work for
lenses
> 200mm and greater on a Leica rangefinder body?<<<<

First of all I bet trying to hand hold an M camera with visoflex and a 200
mm lens is more than a handful at the best of times. Not to mention probably
bloody awkward regardless of any rules.

I'd not even consider the 200mm/visoflex set up at the best of times.Heck I
hate using an M camera with a 90, not because I can't hand hold it at an
1/8th of a second, slower or faster, while using an 85 viewfinder, I just
prefer to use the R8 with anything longer than 50.

Much easier to hold and see exactly what you're putting on film. Now don't
jump in with a bunch of accuracy stuff about the 90 is a beauty with the .85
viewfinder, it is. But please keep in mind I've just finished 3 months daily
shooting where the M7 .85 VF and 90 were a daily companion along with the
.58 & 35, the Noctilux on the .72.

And yes the 90 stuff worked fine, however I bet they'd be even better if I'd
worked an R8 instead.

>>>>>Subject: Re: [Leica] hand held focal length=shutter speed rule<<<<<<

This kind of stuff is great in theory & just breakable rules, sometimes
pointless depending on ones experience of handling the equipmnet. Quite
often due to some folks being so ass tight about "doing it by the rule" they
miss many excellent picture opportunities by sticking to the rules. So
fearful of trying something different by thowing the rules out the window
and shoot by how they feel...... instead of "Oh I can't do that because the
rule says!!!".......

Heck it's like the speed limit is just a rule and is generally broken daily.
Well don't you? ;-)  And many of these photo rules were written in ancient
times with slow films and quite often today are completely not worth the
paper they're written on! Let a lone to be repeated as a fact of picture
taking life.

Just some passing thoughts from a shooter who breaks the photo rules daily!
And yes for the book I hand held the 560 slide barrel lens on a motor driven
Leica SL Mot and shot absolutely sharp slides at 1/15th of a second during
the 1972 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremonies because that was the only way
I'd get a picture.

And I wasn't assigned to come back without pictures and a lame excuse of....
"the focal length rule said I couldn't do that hand held so I didn't take
any pictures!"  Let me assure you, if I'd used that sick ass excuse I'd
still be buried in centre feild of the Munich Stadium!

Our photo editor never accepted any dumb ass excuses period and if you came
back alive without pictures and a stupid excuse, you really wanted to be
dead! :-) . :-) Simply because he used to say, "If you come back without a
picture you'll want to wish you came back from the dead!"
ted


































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In reply to: Message from "Roland Smith" <roland@dnai.com> ([Leica] hand held focal length=shutter speed rule)
Message from Jim Hemenway <Jim@hemenway.com> (Re: [Leica] hand held focal length=shutter speed rule)