Clearly Doomed

[shadowfox]

We clearly live on the same planet. If one was ever were to look at my web site, you'd definitely see that I buy cameras to take photographs. Lots of them.

If one was to look at the types of many of my photographs (and my proximity to my many of subjects), one might gain a greater appreciation of my concern for the sound the camera I use makes.

Yikes, you got some killer images in your portfolio 🙂, one that I like a lot is this:

http://www.david-keenan.com/displayimage.php?album=33&pos=28

 

[shadowfox]

The "clearly doomed" of the title refers to me not the camera - as in I am not destined to be the proud owner of working, reliable, no issues (other than those well known) M8. I know that some people have probems with watches going haywire - maybe that just it for me and the M8.

Nah, you're not doomed.
In the next 2 years, there'll be a 20-Mpixel M9 (can only produce black and white, no more color casts problems, guaranteed 😉 ), and by that time, a used M8 would be stable and cheap... 😎

 

[Gid]

Nah, you're not doomed.
In the next 2 years, there'll be a 20-Mpixel M9 (can only produce black and white, no more color casts problems, guaranteed 😉 ), and by that time, a used M8 would be stable and cheap... 😎

If I could find some way to strap a Coolscan 5000 to the back of an MP I'd have that already and full frame to boot - might need a sherpa to carry it though 🙂

 

[shadowfox]

If I could find some way to strap a Coolscan 5000 to the back of an MP I'd have that already and full frame to boot - might need a sherpa to carry it though 🙂

Gid, if I ever owned an MP, I may be able to declare "I'm done" like Frank S. did <hehehe>

I just post this question on another thread today, wouldn't it be cool if Leica adopted the approach that the MF camera makers took with digital or film swappable back?

 

[Sailor Ted]

Gid, if I ever owned an MP, I may be able to declare "I'm done" like Frank S. did <hehehe>

I just post this question on another thread today, wouldn't it be cool if Leica adopted the approach that the MF camera makers took with digital or film swappable back?

Leica DMR- film or digital

 

[jaapv]

Ok, would you share with us what you *don't* like about your M8? There has to be something you don't like about it 🙂

Sure: I would like it to have an external power feed, I would like it to have a different covering, more like the old leatherette, I would like to see a real "reset" button, I would like the actual aperture to show up in exif, I would like to have a seperate "off" switch , oh dozens of things. But it does not stop it from being the most satisfying camera I ever owned.

 

[shadowfox]

Leica DMR- film or digital

Oh my! that thing makes the R (which to me already looks like a monster) even bigger 😱

What I had in mind is a version of the DMR that is designed for M7 and it doesn't double the body size.

 

[TJV]

I'm waiting for my dealer to get back to me - he's having a word with Leica about the problem. As I have said I would dearly love a "fixed" M8, but my confidence has been severely dented. There's nothing else that I need to spend the money on, I just don't want to put £3000 into a camera I only get to use occasionally and maybe can't rely on. At the moment I want my money back, but could probably be persuaded otherwise, which is a testament to potential of this camera. I'll keep you posted.

I'm only a third through reading this thread, so forgive me if what I write is subsequently talked about to death...

I totally agree with what you are writing here. I'm awaiting my FOURTH M8 and am expecting it to arrive tomorrow. I've chewed through 3 cameras in one week. Two exhibited the same fault and one was probably rather random but a real problem none the less. If the next camera bands or the like, I will move back to film and spend my M8 money on an MP. BUT, looking at the images I've taken that didn't exhibit problems, be them IR related or otherwise, I'm impressed with the results. That's why I'm waiting and not jumping the gun and demanding money back. I've just piced up a 20x30" print from an M8 file and it looks great. 10mp may be at the lower end of what I'd prefer, but it certainly is enough for most of what I do. And besides, a canon MK3 will be more than twice the price of the M8 and tripple the size! And again, I'm really impressed with how I've been treated lately. Both by the store I bought the camera from and the distributor.l Very professional and encouraging.

I'm trying to be positive!

Tim.

 

[AusDLK]

>Yikes, you got some killer images in your portfolio

shadow --

Thank you very much. I'm trying to make a name for myself as a street photographer.

Have a portfolio review at my Santa Fe workshop in a few hours. The image you like is included. One of 20...

 

[shadowfox]

>Yikes, you got some killer images in your portfolio

shadow --

Thank you very much. I'm trying to make a name for myself as a street photographer.

Have a portfolio review at my Santa Fe workshop in a few hours. The image you like is included. One of 20...

That makes you one of my heroes then 😉
I am fascinated with street-photography as it continually challenges me, right now I am in the middle of a "project" capturing Downtown Dallas using old cameras that I have, it's not strictly a street-photography, it's more of a celebration or sort 🙂 I'd appreciate it if you take a look at it here

 

[ywenz]

Leica DMR- film or digital

A hefty amount to pay to buy into a system that has been discontinued by the manufacture..

 

[AusDLK]

>That makes you one of my heroes then ...
>I'd appreciate it if you take a look at it

shadow --

I did run through your images in Flickr.

I have to say that most would not pass the first requirement for "street photography".

That requirement is -- to have people in the pictures.

And the photographer needs to be (very) close to these people -- at least some, if not most, of the time.

Then the picture needs to tell a story, or there needs to be a funny or odd juxaposition, or there needs to be some tension, or it needs to convey some emotion or mood.

Color, in my opinion, just doesn't lend itself to effective street photography. Some will disagree and there certainly has been some great work (far, far beyond my own) produced in color but I just think it is harder to achieve the above in color.

Also, again IMHO, America just isn't well suited for traditional street photography. Again, there are exceptions (Lee Friedlander) but I think our less crowded streets, our automobile culture, our homogenious glass and concrete cities, our multitude of Starbucks and McDonalds, are just flat out boring.

I sure that you noticed that all of mine street photos are from Europe. I try here but cannot find the inspiration that hits me just about every time I head out a door when I'm over there.

Dunno if this helps but photograph more people, go with b&w, get close (use a 50mm lens or shorter), and look for the unusual, and I think that your goal to become a better street photographer will improve immediately.

 

[shadowfox]

>That makes you one of my heroes then ...
>I'd appreciate it if you take a look at it

shadow --

I did run through your images in Flickr.

I have to say that most would not pass the first requirement for "street photography".

Yes, that's why I "warned" you that the set is not strictly street-photography 🙂 I should've created another set with people shots in it.

That requirement is -- to have people in the pictures.

And the photographer needs to be (very) close to these people -- at least some, if not most, of the time.

I often wondered about this, to me, although people will always add to an image, I've seen very effective street-style images that are bereft of people. So maybe it's like a good piece of music, sometimes it's the unexpected silence/pause (like the absence of people) that adds to the impact delivered. What do you think?

Then the picture needs to tell a story, or there needs to be a funny or odd juxaposition, or there needs to be some tension, or it needs to convey some emotion or mood.

Color, in my opinion, just doesn't lend itself to effective street photography. Some will disagree and there certainly has been some great work (far, far beyond my own) produced in color but I just think it is harder to achieve the above in color.

Fully agree, no arguments here.

Also, again IMHO, America just isn't well suited for traditional street photography. Again, there are exceptions (Lee Friedlander) but I think our less crowded streets, our automobile culture, our homogenious glass and concrete cities, our multitude of Starbucks and McDonalds, are just flat out boring.

I'll give you that in Dallas at least, it's quite disheartening when you are out in the middle of downtown at noon and you don't even see a single person for minutes. That being said, I am still the weakest link, I've seen scenes involving people that will make a killer street-style image, but I didn't have the guts to break out my camera and shoot. I think we can still do traditional street-photography in the US. I've seen street-photographers that I consider successful shooting in their locale in the US, granted, almost all of them live in SF, NY, or Boston.

I sure that you noticed that all of mine street photos are from Europe. I try here but cannot find the inspiration that hits me just about every time I head out a door when I'm over there.

Dunno if this helps but photograph more people, go with b&w, get close (use a 50mm lens or shorter), and look for the unusual, and I think that your goal to become a better street photographer will improve immediately.

Thank you for the crash course and guidance.

 

[Se44]

I love my M3, am actually using it with 15 mm cv. Came back to the M3 after using almost everything. No camera I used has the perfect balance of the M3 no camera is as silent and with the same precise shooting. I do not want to convince anybody, just sharing the great pleasure only a Leica can give. Mine is from 1959, and remained unused from 1980 when the original owner passed away to 2006 when I realize it was the only alternative to 4x5, BW or slides. All digital cameras have only 2 aperture. Kind regards. Sergio

 

[AusDLK]

>but I didn't have the guts to break out my camera and shoot

Teach yourself the angle of view of your lens(es), use hyperfocus, realize depth of field is your friend, and shoot from the hip, waist, from next to your thigh.

Many of my pictures are taken without looking through the VF. You'll probably miss more then you get -- but the keepers can be killers.