This Guy Waited 40 Years to Buy an M6

[feenej]

Interesting (kind of) article from the Washington Post. Nikon man buys an M6.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/galleries/essays/072000.htm

 

[icebear]

Interesting read and maybe a typical story nowadays. I'm not sure I agree to the "too difficult for amateur statement" or along the lines at least. To explain the M6 takes 3 minutes max. Ever wondered how long it takes to read at least the short summary of a 300+ pages manual on any of todays D-SLR's 😀.

My wife uses my M6 from time to time and has no problem what so ever, most (>95%) of her shots are properly exposed and in focus and this is her "fault" and not the camera's.

With a M you take the picture and not the scene mode programm of your camera. That's what's all about, being in charge and not just a user. Some get that earlier than others - but it's never too late...

 

[feenej]

That struck me too. Is the average person not able to cope with manual anything now? Who knows, but I think an M6 can do it all, and is not limiting in any way, like he seemed to think (despite having a fairly slow sync speed).

 

[sattva]

Heh, big guy's youth wet dream just came true. Never have read any article about similar situation, but written year or two after the purchase. Probably because these cameras end up sold to next big guy with the youth wet dream...

Besides that, HCB used 50 mm lens, well, most of the time.

 

[steverett]

I also disagree with the argument that an M6 is "one that the average amateur might find too limiting." due to the "hassle" of advancing the film and not having a pop-up flash. Isn't the K1000 supposed to be the ideal students' camera? My first was an AE-1 (used on manual, since I dislike shutter priority).

Overall, he doesn't really say much in the article beside telling beginners not to use Leicas.

 

[steverett]

Besides that, HCB used 50 mm lens, well, most of the time.

And on a Leica III. Between the absence of a meter, knob film anvance, and removable take-up spools, this guy would probably be totally bewildered if presented with one. Unless he's "really into "retro"."

 

[johnastovall]

How could he have waited 40 years to buy an M6 since 1984 was it's first year of production?

 

[feenej]

He started waiting before they were made. I should have said Leica, rather than M6.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Jeez you're a cynical bunch.

 

[TEZillman]

It might help to read this article in context. It was originally published in August of 2000 when the M6 was the flagship of the Leica line, the M7 and MP had not yet been released and digital was in it's infancy. If you read a number of Mr. Van Riper's columns in the Washington Post, you'd find that he does have a lot of interesting things to say. You'll find an archive of his earlier columns at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/essays/vanRiper/riperArchive.htm

 

[edodo]

The M6 can be used without a meter, or with the meter but using your brain.
Unless, IMO if one shoots just following the glowing leds in the viewfinder, he is just obeying another automated exposure guru like the nowadays autofocus autoeverything. Decide the time, decide the DOF, it's your picture, not a 18% gray machine's picture.

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Go whole hog and ignore that automated rangefinder focus patch too. Framelines? Pfft! Leave those to the plebes! A true artist wouldn't allow such an encroachment on the creative process.

Of course, if you really want to be a purist get rid of that burdensome lens and light-tight box technology and just walk around looking at things.

 

[venchka]

It took me about that long to finally get my hands on Bigfoot. No book. No instructions. Load. Point. Focus. Meter. Shoot. It all felt so right.

Funny thing, Bubba came along 9 months later.

 

[januaryman]

The M6 can be used without a meter, or with the meter but using your brain.
Unless, IMO if one shoots just following the glowing leds in the viewfinder, he is just obeying another automated exposure guru like the nowadays autofocus autoeverything. Decide the time, decide the DOF, it's your picture, not a 18% gray machine's picture.

Amen, brother! I have a hard time explaining this to Nikon 60 owners out there who want to dabble in film to get their feet more wet and learn more (not my word, but theirs) by using a [supply your own auto camera make and model, e.g. Bessa R4A, Canonet, Canon AE-1] - it's the same principle. Go back to basics if you want a learning experience.

 

[OurManInTangier]

"..the M6 does not have a pop-up flash.."

Ahh, okay. Just wasted the last two years of ownership looking for it😱😉

Personally I can see what he means about it being a camera to step up to. I think these days 'everyone' is so used to automation and digital that its a steeper learning curve for the amatuer to be able to quickly review their images and play around by turning on and off the automation to see what effect it has.

I grew up with fully manual SLR's and learned slowly, waiting for films to be processed, making notes when exposing and then reading those notes when looking at the returned prints and negs. I don't mind admitting that I learned many new things when I went digital four years into being a pro😱, some twenty years after first starting to take an interest in photography😱😱

 

[Bill Blackwell]

"This Guy Waited 40 Years to Buy a [Leica]"

Maybe the truth is that it took him 40-years to raise the money.

 

[payasam]

Jim, I don't see how using a manual camera can make a person a better photographer. It will only teach her or him to use that particular camera. But what you describe is a common feature in art schools.

 

[kevin m]

Funny thing, Bubba came along 9 months later.

You had a baby with a woman named "Bigfoot!?"

You folks have some strange ways down in Texas. 😀

 

[venchka]

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not quite. But your version is way better than the truth!

Come to think of it, I've seen a few women who could pass for Bigfoot!

 

[AutismKid]

I grew up with fully manual SLR's and learned slowly, waiting for films to be processed, making notes when exposing and then reading those notes when looking at the returned prints and negs. I don't mind admitting that I learned many new things when I went digital four years into being a pro😱, some twenty years after first starting to take an interest in photography😱😱

Agree, frequent and quick feedback is often the more effective way to learn. So I guess the ideal learning tool is a digital camera with only manual controls.

Hmm... am I saying M8 is a perfect beginner's camera.