Leica Hove books (Compendium & Leica M6 to M1)

[alexz]

I'm considering the Hove series book on Leica I've been offered:
Leica Compendium and Leica M6 to M1.

Would like to hear your opinion on these ..
Do you think those are an interesting reading on Leica worth of their price (about 25-30% off the new one) ? What are they all about ?

Best, Alex

 

[telenous]

I have the Compendium. Personally I find it interesting although by no means indispensable. The first three chapters cover historical ground and some optical quasi-techno stuff. Chapter four (the chunkier one) is a detailed overview of every single lens with Puts' assessment.

Have a look on his website, if you don't mind his style (I don't mind it) you will like the book.

PS. If you are only interested in the lens evaluations section you may want to have a look instead to the slimmer Leica Pocket Book by Dennis Lanney.

 

[alexz]

Thanks Alkis.
What website ?

 

[telenous]

Sorry Alex, I went away for a while. Here's the link to Erwin Puts site:

http://www.imx.nl/

 

[alexz]

Thanks, understood.
I have no problem with Erwin's style, even like it, but I guess if this is kind of info covered in the book, I'd better to spend my cash onf an incident meter that I need also and when getting into Leica history will refer to a dedicated literature, while I'm sure Leica camera optics lines are covered pretty much by Erwin or on other dedicated resources...

Thanks once again, Alex

 

[normclarke]

Hi Alex,

Having read and owned most of the Leica books I think that the outlay seems difficult to justify with the extent of material available on the web. I understand Erwin has most of his work on his website as the results of some spat with the publisher. Worth a look.

Cheers,

normclarke

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[visiondr]

Magus,

What kind of illustrations (MTF, photos, block diagrams) does the Compendium have? I have the downloadable PDF Mr. Puts offers for free. However, it is without illustrations.

Ron