[Leica] New M8 + cold fingers + nighttime = a tough first day

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

Ryan Scott Bardsley OFFERED:
Subject: [Leica] New M8 + cold fingers + nighttime = a tough first day

Ryan me old son,

Lad yer making a fight out of it instead of having a wonderful love affair 
with a beautiful camera. A joy to hold and play with! :-)

First thing wrong was taking it out on a cold winter night to play with in 
the dark! Lad what were you thinking? You should have sat in the warmth of 
your hotel, a comfy chair, music quietly playing, a glass of Lagavulin 
single malt Scotch to enhance the moment and just played with the damn 
thing! ;-)

You could have clicked every corner of the room, read the manual in a comfy 
fashion and you wouldn't be having the "situations" you are. They're not 
problems, they're just getting to know and learn the feelings and buttons to 
push with a new mate!

Given it seems you've never used a Leica rangefinder nor any other 
rangefinder, then you switch from an SLR? That's near giving you heart burn 
without taking it nice and easy getting the feel and the focusing act down 
pat. I've worn glasses for at least 30 years and have only one good eye to 
see with in any event and it's a piece of cake focusing.... even in dark 
areas.... always look for a highlight on the subject and that's your focus 
point. A small highlight in a subjects eye, a reflection off a glass or any 
item at your focus point, and its' a piece of cake. Hell even under ground 
in a mine! ;-) Watch for a highlight and you can focus even with only one 
eye! :-)

With the M8 you only need to set it up once and start clicking away and 
every shot should be near as perfect as you can get. Don't keep fiddling 
here and there because it's a Leica and only needs a one time fiddle to get 
it going. Learn the feel of the camera in your hands, turning the focusing 
will become as natural as breathing after you've played with it for a bit of 
a time.

Shooting and looking at the screen, then start farting about re-setting 
things you don't have a clue what they do nor what they're for will drive 
you crazy. Like I said.... the crew here can help square you away setting 
the camera the first time.... oh they'll let you come back a couple of 
times. But trust me you better follow the plan or they can get really mean 
and ugly on dark nights. ;-)

Then just go shoot a couple thousand photos..... obviously always have a 
spare battery in yer pocket! WHY?  Well you just never know! And for heavens 
sake lad.......... do a bunch in broad daylight and forget the night 
affairs.  They come later when you really look like you know what yer doing 
and offer:  "hey honey I can get you in the picture show! "  :-) :-) click 
click! :-)

g'night,
Dr. ted