Re: [Leica] An Introduction, and a plea for wisdom

[Rick Dykstra <rdandcb@cybermac.com.au>]

Hi Jack,

Great intro - thanks.  I'm jumping in late on this one, but I'm with 
Ernie.  It sounds like an MP would be fully appreciated in your hands.  
A less expensive way would be an M6 'Normal'.  I have one of these and 
an M6TTL and I much prefer the look and feel of the Normal.  I do use 
flash a bit though and the TTL is very good at that.

As for lenses, one of Leica's cheapest and best is the 50 Summicron.  
With a 35 Summicron and a pre APO 90 Summicron you'd be well on the 
way.  The later APO and ASPH lenses are truly stunning, but their 
predecessors are beautiful in their own right.

Regards, and please pass on how you go.  Rick Dykstra, Australia.


On Sunday, July 20, 2003, at 01:08  AM, Jack McLain wrote:

>
> Greetings:
> By way of introduction; I am a new subscriber to this Leica user list. 
>  I've
> lurked long enough to think I've got a handle on the tone and tempo 
> and how
> y'all behave.  Great list..... I've gained tidbits on subjects varying 
> from
> Irish sausage, , the evils of NIkon, the virtues of Islay Malt Whisky 
> (I'm a
> Bruichladdich and Ardbeg man myself) and the Degree of watch fetish 
> that is
> typical here.  Mixed in with this eclectic (but useful) chatter there 
> has
> also been enough Leica lore to keep me reading the lenghty digests.
>
> I am a life-long photographer.  My only commercial efforts have been
> photographing babies and dogs for awhile back in the early 70's, some
> gallery sales in the late 80's, and the occasional print when someone 
> really
> whines for one. Otherwise I am in this thing for myself. I've got a 
> day job
> which pays for the toys.
>
> I started back in the 50's , under my grandfathers guidance. He was a 
> stiff
> old German with Zeiss Ikon and Leica gear.  My first camera was a 
> Leica IIIf
> (still got it).  He introduced me to the magic of the darkroom.
>
> A stint in the military got me to Hong Kong in 69' on a R&R where I
> purchased my first Nikkormat (still have it too... one of the best 
> cameras
> of all time, I dragged that thing off and on helicopters, dropped it 
> in mud,
> let it out in monsoon rains,, and it still works!) and where my love 
> affair
> with the "Nikon System" took root.  Soon followed the F2, F3, F4... a 
> huge
> basket of glass, tripods, tubes, and other had-to-have crap. Somewhere 
> in
> this mess there was a Bronica too.  Off and on over the years I felt 
> the
> urge to get back to the simpler (may I wax poetic and say purer) 
> photography
> that turned me on in the first place.
>
> Maybe ten years ago I fell into a bit of cash and bought a M6, and a 
> set of
> lenses.... I was primed for the switch... alas.... at about the same 
> time I
> discovered Fuju Velvia and macro photography.  The Leica sat unused 
> and I
> sold it and bought my F4 (for the spot meter mostly). For ten years I 
> have
> been a slave of hyper-color, macro, tele, and graduated neutral density
> filters.... and has it ever gotten boring!
>
> So...a second attempt at rebirth...  I bought a Contax G2, 28, 35, 50 
> and 90
> Zeiss lenses thinking this was the way out of the woods (literally).  
> I've
> shot on and off with this camera for a year now.  The glass is just 
> simply
> terrific.. but.... (and this is the BIG but), the damn thing is 
> auto-focus.
> Granted the auto focus works very well, and I knew this going in of 
> course,
> and I thought I could get used to it.  I still instinctively try to 
> twist a
> non-existent focus ring when composing. I feel like I am shirking my
> photographic responsibility (and before you point out that I already 
> own a
> F4... I only own one auto-focus lens, a 35-135 zoom which I almost 
> never
> use - and never in autofocus mode).
>
> I have also recently sworn off color.  I bought a mess of Tri-X, Delta 
> 400,
> a developing tank, and chemicals and have set up shop in the bathroom. 
>  I
> also recently got sucked into the photoshop, scanner, and Epson 2200 
> thing
> (this is begining to get expensive!... purity does not come cheap!)
>
> next step a week ago.... I just bought a Leica CL with 40 and 90 lens; 
> my
> rational (which of course was just bullsh*t  to justify the spending 
> spree )
> is that I can carry this camera in my brief case and be ready for 
> anything.
> The truth is that I always carry the G2 anyway, and what I really want 
> is to
> focus... I want to focus MYSELF. I want to participate.
>
> OK... now for the plea for wisdom.  And yes - before you chastise - 
> over the
> past two weeks I have read FAQs, web sites and every damn line I could 
> find
> regarding lenses, bodies, and other leica-toys. Lots of graphs, 
> tables, text
> and varying opinions which have confused the hell (ooops... I mean 
> h*ll...
> sorry) out of me.
>
> I can see where this odd-esy is going.  I am already lusting for a 
> proper
> Leica body and lenses.  My quandry is which body and which lenses.
>
> I have made a commitment to off the Nikon stuff (except for a battered 
> F3, a
> 105 macro, a normal 50, and a 24mm wide that I just love).  I plan on
> packaging this mess off to K&H within the month.  The proceeds will go 
> quess
> where!?
>
> My lust occelates between a cherry M4 or a M6 Classic (I loath 
> flash...no
> need for any TTL nonsense).  I could dig out my old Luna Pro with the 
> M4 or
> use the onboard meter in the M6.  I've never really handled a M4.  Is 
> the
> tactile experience markedly different from the M6 (which like I said
> earlier, I did own at one time)?  I really like nice things,, I like 
> the
> gestalt of stuff.  I like All Clad pots and pans, I like my BMW, I like
> bamboo flyrods, I like tube analog stereo gear... I'm sure this 
> admission is
> standard SOP on this group and will be understood.  If I'm going to do 
> this
> I want the best bang for the buck. I realise that either body is just a
> platform for the lenses.... but which model is likely to give greater 
> feed
> back and pleasure in it's own right.  Is this too obtuse a question,,,?
> maybe.
>
> While the new APO and aspheric lenses sure sound nifty, I dont think I 
> can
> afford to go this route.  Can anyone recommend a specific set of 28, 
> 35, 50
> and 90mm lenses that are esthetically rewarding in construction,
> sufficiently modern in design and glass to produce great images, 
> actually
> available, and yet not so expensive to kill my bank account?  I guess 
> this
> sounds like a naive question,,, sorry.  I am looking for opinions of 
> those
> list members, who for the sake of argument, if they lost everything in 
> ...
> say... a tornado (or divorce, or repro-man interaction), and had to 
> replace
> their Leica kit in real-world conditions; what would they buy to get
> re-started?.  This make sense?  Hope so.
>
> so... thanks for hanging in there with this tome of a post.  I'd sure
> appreciate your feedback.
> cheers
> Jack McLain
> Tucson, AZ
> http://jackmclain-photography.dotcommunity.net
>
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