Accepted the inevitable

[shenkerian]

My thanks to kshapero, telenous, Kyle, and everyone else who gave me sound advice in my first thread here. I accepted the inevitability of an MP and decided just to buy one and save a couple years of agonizing about it. I've been shooting with it and a 50 Summilux ASPH for about two weeks now, and I don't see myself using anything else in the forseeable future -- they could be a fixed-lens camera as far as I'm concerned.

Still, I can't say my purchase was rational or that the camera and lens are perfect. But they offer me the best set of compromises currently available for what I consider important to my photography.

 

[Rafael]

Congratulations on the purchase Shenkerian! That's a great looking kit. But it's not one that many would associate with "compromise." Out of interest, what compromises are you thinking of?

 

[kbg32]

Ah, MP3. Great! Enjoy it!

 

[back alley]

very cool!!
congrats and enjoy.

joe

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

It may not have been rational, but it looks lovely 🙂

congrats!

 

[shenkerian]

Congratulations on the purchase Shenkerian! That's a great looking kit. But it's not one that many would associate with "compromise." Out of interest, what compromises are you thinking of?

Thanks Rafael! I don't mean to put down the MP at all -- I meant compromises within all of photography. 35mm rangefinder systems in general strike a particular balance among such traits as size, durability, convenience, and image quality. I happen to prefer this balance to that of, say, medium format SLRs, but there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to both.

But even within just 35mm rangefinders, the MP makes compromises. Take its shutter as an example example: its near silence comes at the expense of faster shutter speeds, and its independence from batteries comes at the expense of extreme accuracy. In both cases I prefer what the MP offers, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't prefer both -- 1/8000th would let me open up the Summilux in sunlight.

But you're right, I didn't mean to come off as complaining about the MP at all. I only wanted to note that there's no single perfect camera for everybody let alone just one person, but the MP comes closest for me.

 

[amateriat]

Startng at the top, when it's possible, certainly isn't a bad move. Other than the possible desire for AE operation, I don't see much in the way of compromise here!


- Barrett

 

[Topdog1]

Compromise? Well, it would be nice to be able to slap a digital back on that sucker with no change in size or weight. 😀

/Ira

 

[Rafael]

But you're right, I didn't mean to come off as complaining about the MP at all. I only wanted to note that there's no single perfect camera for everybody let alone just one person, but the MP comes closest for me.

Oh, I didn't think you were complaining. I was just interested in your thoughts on the camera. It is, afterall, spectacular. I now better understand what you were trying to communicate. Enjoy the MP3!!🙂

 

[shenkerian]

Thanks everyone for the kind words.

Telenous -- I tried listening to your advice, but as I was looking for a clean M6 I found myself still thinking about how long I'd keep it before getting an MP. As mervynyan put it so well in that thread, I'd have just kept "dancing around and always looking for the newer and better thing."

Topdog -- you understand precisely what I meant, except maybe you were joking. But why not? A line of fixed-lens cameras with Leica lenses in front of cloth shutters and full-frame sensors optimised for each lens might be even closer to perfect for me.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

A line of fixed-lens cameras with Leica lenses in front of cloth shutters and full-frame sensors optimised for each lens might be even closer to perfect for me.

Well, if you want that experience in 35mm, try the Hexar AF next. Fixed 35/2 lens, silent leaf shutter.

 

[shenkerian]

Heh, that's actually what I'm considering if I ever feel the need for a 35. Then I can look for a Ricoh GR1 to fill in the 28!

Why did I need an interchangeable-lens rangefinder again?

 

[LADP]

1/8000th would let me open up the Summilux in sunlight.

Forgive me if I'm suggesting the obvious, but an ND filter would be an alternative way to achieve this, albeit with the added hassle of screwing a filter on. An ND .9 would let you open up 3 stops, and if you can find one, an ND 1.2 would give you 4 stops.

B+W, and Schneider are good sources to try.

 

[MadMan2k]

Why have three different bodies when you already have the nicest mechanical RF you can get, and it uses the Leica M lens line-up, most of which fit into a jacket pocket?

 

[shenkerian]

LADP -- thanks, I've looked at B+W ND filters, but I've never seen Schneider filters. That's the Schneider of Schneider-Kreuznach?

MadMan2k -- you've got a good point of course. But again there are trade-offs in having multiple lenses compared to a dedicated body for each lens. And the Hexar gives other interesting possibilities without sacrificing much, if anything, with the lens.

 

[LADP]

LADP -- thanks, I've looked at B+W ND filters, but I've never seen Schneider filters. That's the Schneider of Schneider-Kreuznach?

Yes that Schneider. However, upon further investigation, it seems that B+W is a division of Schneider. I didn't realize that until now.

http://www.schneideroptics.com/ecommerce/CatalogSubCategoryDisplay.aspx

 

[shenkerian]

Heh, that's pretty funny. I'm sure I'll eventually pick up an ND filter, but it gets dark so early now in New York that I won't need it for a while. Thanks for the information though.

 

[kevin m]

An ND .9 would let you open up 3 stops, and if you can find one, an ND 1.2 would give you 4 stops.

LADP, your movie roots are showing. An ND .9 is more commonly referred to as an 8X ND in still photography.

I used to work in a movie camera rental house, and it took me awhile to make the switch myself. 😀

 

[peter_n]

Congratulations shenkerian that is certainly a fine looking combo. Use it in good health! 🙂 As an M7 fan myself I'm hoping that Leica will see fit to putting the M8 shutter mechanism into an M7 and raising the top shutter speed to 1/4000...

BTW, I assume your MP has a 0.72 mag VF? Depending on focal length preference (wide or long) you might want to consider a 0.58 mag or 0.85 mag for your next MP body. I have 0.72 and 0.85 mag M7s and really love the different magnifications. 🙂

 

[shenkerian]

Congratulations shenkerian that is certainly a fine looking combo. Use it in good health! 🙂 As an M7 fan myself I'm hoping that Leica will see fit to putting the M8 shutter mechanism into an M7 and raising the top shutter speed to 1/4000...

Hi Peter, thanks for your kind words and your advice earlier also. As for the M7 and M8, it's funny -- I'd prefer the exact opposite. I'd rather the M8 get the M7's shutter mechanism, complete with manual winder. Not that I'm in the market for an M8.

Depending on focal length preference (wide or long) you might want to consider a 0.58 mag or 0.85 mag for your next MP body.

You just made my wallet cry.


But seriously, I'm considering the 1.25x magnifier. If I had a Noctilux there'd be no question, but I'm not sure that I need it for the Summilux. Does anybody have any suggestions?