MelanieC
Well-known
Hello all,
I realized I haven't properly introduced myself here, so here goes.
Short version is that I recently rediscovered a beautiful M3 that belonged to my father. Having taken nothing but snapshots with point-and-shoot cameras, I remained afraid of this camera for a long time, but finally determined that I would use it, and learn about photography (as opposed to "taking pictures") in the process. So far I have put 1.5 rolls of film through the camera, but haven't seen the results yet. I will be picking up the first batch of pictures the camera has taken in over 20 years later this week (black and white, of course... it seemed appropriate).
Being on a limited income I am forced to be a minimalist Leica user -- the M3, its one lens, and that's it. So far I have splurged on a case and a strap, and film. Working within the limits of what I have may be educational in and of itself. (Through my job, I will be getting a Nikon digital SLR, and hopefully I will learn something from that camera too, but likely not the same things.)
Finally, the M3 is not the only classic camera I have. My father loved and appreciated quality, and if he could have the best, that's what he would try to get. So the other camera is a Rolleiflex 2.8F. I remain completely intimidated by this particular camera, so using this one is going to have to wait until I have at least kind of figured out the Leica.
The funny thing is that for a person who barely understands how to compose pictures, I have a lot of cameras. In addition to the M3, Rollei, and D70s (on order), I also have a Nikon Coolpix 950 (bought for taking research photos way back when) and an Olympus Stylus P&S film camera. Not sure the last two count as real cameras, though.
Anyway, I anticipate learning a lot here.
Thanks, Melanie
I realized I haven't properly introduced myself here, so here goes.
Short version is that I recently rediscovered a beautiful M3 that belonged to my father. Having taken nothing but snapshots with point-and-shoot cameras, I remained afraid of this camera for a long time, but finally determined that I would use it, and learn about photography (as opposed to "taking pictures") in the process. So far I have put 1.5 rolls of film through the camera, but haven't seen the results yet. I will be picking up the first batch of pictures the camera has taken in over 20 years later this week (black and white, of course... it seemed appropriate).
Being on a limited income I am forced to be a minimalist Leica user -- the M3, its one lens, and that's it. So far I have splurged on a case and a strap, and film. Working within the limits of what I have may be educational in and of itself. (Through my job, I will be getting a Nikon digital SLR, and hopefully I will learn something from that camera too, but likely not the same things.)
Finally, the M3 is not the only classic camera I have. My father loved and appreciated quality, and if he could have the best, that's what he would try to get. So the other camera is a Rolleiflex 2.8F. I remain completely intimidated by this particular camera, so using this one is going to have to wait until I have at least kind of figured out the Leica.
The funny thing is that for a person who barely understands how to compose pictures, I have a lot of cameras. In addition to the M3, Rollei, and D70s (on order), I also have a Nikon Coolpix 950 (bought for taking research photos way back when) and an Olympus Stylus P&S film camera. Not sure the last two count as real cameras, though.
Anyway, I anticipate learning a lot here.
Thanks, Melanie
Film dino
David Chong
Welcome Melanie
Welcome Melanie
... one M3 with one lens concentrates the mind.. Hope the forum will be useful (or at least entertaining)
David
Welcome Melanie
... one M3 with one lens concentrates the mind.. Hope the forum will be useful (or at least entertaining)
David
taffer
void
Welcome Melanie ! Congrats on your 'rediscovery' of such a great machine. Let me add that your father had an extremely good taste for cameras.
Don't be afraid of having only the M3 and one lens, in fact, that's quite a good thing, it will force you to try to get the best out of what you have. If you're in the need for a manual for either the M3 or the Rollei I'm sure somebody here will point you in the right direction.
And yes, the M3 deserves some real black and white film
Good light !
Oscar
Don't be afraid of having only the M3 and one lens, in fact, that's quite a good thing, it will force you to try to get the best out of what you have. If you're in the need for a manual for either the M3 or the Rollei I'm sure somebody here will point you in the right direction.
And yes, the M3 deserves some real black and white film
Good light !
Oscar
F
Frank Granovski
Guest
Welcome to Rangefinder, MelanieC!
ChrisN
Striving
Welcome Melanie - I envy you discovering your father's camera - my father gave away his cameras to others! You'll have a lot of fun learning to use the M3 - don't worry about other lenses - just use the one your father used and learn what it works best for and enjoy the camera for that. Keep that Rollei' in a safe place too - I'll bet with once you've developed your confidence with the M3 you'll want to give that a try too - they're fun but very different!
S
Skinny McGee
Guest
welcome to RFF. Your Leica set up is very versitile and you are not just stuck shooting B+W with that lens it will take great color...
Do you have a Meter? If not this posted here by someone it is useful to have a around even if you do have a meter.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=13479
Good Luck
Skinny
Do you have a Meter? If not this posted here by someone it is useful to have a around even if you do have a meter.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=13479
Good Luck
Skinny
Biggles
My cup runneth amok.
''...I am forced to be a minimalist Leica user -- the M3, its one lens, and that's it."
People have probably won Pulitzers with that set-up. If you like the pictures you get, you may never need to look at another lens. Don't let the Leica nor the Rollei intimidate you, either. Both are really very simple mechanical devices with two basic adjustments- for hole size, and for the amount of time that the hole is open. (I don't even count focusing as an adjustment, since, depth-of-field issues aside, it's more intuitive than technical.)
As far as additional equipment goes, people have done well for a hundred and fifty years by eyeballing exposures, but you might eventually want to look at inexpensive hand-held light meters if you decide Sunny-16 eyeball metering gives you trouble. Or, you could do what someone here does, and tape the exposure suggestions from the inside of the film box to your camera back. That would be truly minimalist.
The Stylus sure as hell counts as a real camera in my book. I have a grubby little black & white picture on my wall, taken with a first-model Stylus, that won its category in a national contest. That camera has never let me down- as long as I kept it above -25°C.
Anyhow... welcome, ma'am, and best of luck.
People have probably won Pulitzers with that set-up. If you like the pictures you get, you may never need to look at another lens. Don't let the Leica nor the Rollei intimidate you, either. Both are really very simple mechanical devices with two basic adjustments- for hole size, and for the amount of time that the hole is open. (I don't even count focusing as an adjustment, since, depth-of-field issues aside, it's more intuitive than technical.)
As far as additional equipment goes, people have done well for a hundred and fifty years by eyeballing exposures, but you might eventually want to look at inexpensive hand-held light meters if you decide Sunny-16 eyeball metering gives you trouble. Or, you could do what someone here does, and tape the exposure suggestions from the inside of the film box to your camera back. That would be truly minimalist.
The Stylus sure as hell counts as a real camera in my book. I have a grubby little black & white picture on my wall, taken with a first-model Stylus, that won its category in a national contest. That camera has never let me down- as long as I kept it above -25°C.
Anyhow... welcome, ma'am, and best of luck.
regit
Established
Welcome to the RF world and enjoy
lido
Established
Hello Melanie, and welcome to RFF. Your father left you a really nice camera and lens, you will have lots of fun exploring the possibilities.
John
Well-known
Welcome Melanie, you have come to the right place. My daughter will be in your position someday. I am trying to show her a few pointers now so she won't be intimidated and gets a chance to "enjoy being a part of the shot"; as opposed to shooting away with a huge memory card. She already knows how to do that.
VinceC
Veteran
Welcome.
The M3 and one lens is probably ideal for learning and mastering photography. If you haven't got one, a handheld light meter would be a good accessory. Incident meters are unintuitive until you get your "Aha! That's how it works!" moment. Then they become indispensible.
The Olympus P&S is one of the best pocket cameras ever. My wife and I were newspaper photographers through the 1990s, and when we went on vacations we sometimes took to just carrying a non-zoom Olympus Stylus as our only camera, just to get away from work (and the incessant desire to match the perfect lens with the perfect shot instead of relaxing and enjoying the Chianti).
As has been noted, a 50mm lens or its equivalent has probably shot nearly all of the world's most important photographs up until the rise of the SLR era in the early 1960s.
The M3 and one lens is probably ideal for learning and mastering photography. If you haven't got one, a handheld light meter would be a good accessory. Incident meters are unintuitive until you get your "Aha! That's how it works!" moment. Then they become indispensible.
The Olympus P&S is one of the best pocket cameras ever. My wife and I were newspaper photographers through the 1990s, and when we went on vacations we sometimes took to just carrying a non-zoom Olympus Stylus as our only camera, just to get away from work (and the incessant desire to match the perfect lens with the perfect shot instead of relaxing and enjoying the Chianti).
As has been noted, a 50mm lens or its equivalent has probably shot nearly all of the world's most important photographs up until the rise of the SLR era in the early 1960s.
Welcome Melanie,
You have some fine cameras there. I think the best advise one can give is to just have fun with them. Intimidating? Perhaps, but I think you will soon find them to actually be pretty simple machines.
Good luck, I look forward to your contributions here.
You have some fine cameras there. I think the best advise one can give is to just have fun with them. Intimidating? Perhaps, but I think you will soon find them to actually be pretty simple machines.
Good luck, I look forward to your contributions here.
JoeFriday
Agent Provacateur
hey Melanie.. welcome to RFF
I suppose that M3 will get the job done what lens is on it?
oddly enough, our camera collections are nearly identical.. I've got an M3, Rolleiflex, Nikon D70, had an Oly Stylus Epic.. but then, I have about a dozen other cameras, too.. some day I also hope to learn to take photos, as opposed to snapshots
keep at it, and eventually you can move up into the 'good equipment'.. of course I mean Holgas!
I suppose that M3 will get the job done
what lens is on it?oddly enough, our camera collections are nearly identical.. I've got an M3, Rolleiflex, Nikon D70, had an Oly Stylus Epic.. but then, I have about a dozen other cameras, too.. some day I also hope to learn to take photos, as opposed to snapshots
keep at it, and eventually you can move up into the 'good equipment'.. of course I mean Holgas!
ducttape
Established
Welcome Melanie
Reading your post and the replies and it dawned on me: sometimes I spend more time fidgeting with lenses when the really much easier and 'better' thing to do would be to just move my feet and change the perspective!
Some how or other, when I leave the house with one lens, I always seem to get the shot I was envisioning when I put the camera up to my eye.
IN fact, I've had my 21 Voigt glued to my Epson lately, and have been traveling around with a 35mm in my pocket for a shot I might 'need' for the RFF contest. Otherwise, everything seems to work with the one lens.
Use what ya got!
David
PS, if you get into rangefinder photography, you will REALLY get into it. It grows on you.
Reading your post and the replies and it dawned on me: sometimes I spend more time fidgeting with lenses when the really much easier and 'better' thing to do would be to just move my feet and change the perspective!
Some how or other, when I leave the house with one lens, I always seem to get the shot I was envisioning when I put the camera up to my eye.
IN fact, I've had my 21 Voigt glued to my Epson lately, and have been traveling around with a 35mm in my pocket for a shot I might 'need' for the RFF contest. Otherwise, everything seems to work with the one lens.
Use what ya got!
David
PS, if you get into rangefinder photography, you will REALLY get into it. It grows on you.
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
You have a fine combination there, Melanie. The finder of the M3 is so close to life size as to make little difference, and being able to keep both eyes open is a definite advantage. To the exposure meter of which others have spoken, I'll add a couple of things. Get a hood for the Summicron if you don't already have one. Equipment which has not been used for twenty years is almost certain to need skilled attention. You'll need to look through the lens very carefully, and you'll need to check the accuracy of all shutter speeds. The M3's finder is known to go yellowish over time, though that is not necessarily a problem.
Ben Z
Veteran
Melanie, here's something that might help you with the Rolleiflex 2.8F . I have one (and an M3 as well) these are the creme de la creme of their respective genres. There's nothing perplexing about either camera, definitely not in comparison to the buttons, dials, screens and menues of "modern" cameras, not to mention digitals. Now you've got to start developing your own b&w film!
Welcome aboard.
The M3 and Summicron lens is a fine combination; one of the best cameras ever made.
Once you get used to shooting with it, there are some very inexpensive portrait-range lenses for it. The 90mm F4 Elmar is one lens, and adapters are readily available to use thread-mount lenses on it. The "Unframed" viewfinder will give approximate view for a 40mm or 35mm wide-angle lens. It is a fine camera, and getting good lenses is not as bad as what list prices indicate.
The M3 and Summicron lens is a fine combination; one of the best cameras ever made.
Once you get used to shooting with it, there are some very inexpensive portrait-range lenses for it. The 90mm F4 Elmar is one lens, and adapters are readily available to use thread-mount lenses on it. The "Unframed" viewfinder will give approximate view for a 40mm or 35mm wide-angle lens. It is a fine camera, and getting good lenses is not as bad as what list prices indicate.
ywenz
Veteran
Am I safe to assume that there are very small numbers of M3 users who wears glasses while shooting? That .91x just seems waaay too big.
ywenz said:
Oh, so misguided.
Wonderful, not waaay too big.
I actually have a diopter I screw into the finder too so I don't have to worry about scratching my lens.
I can see the 50mm framelines though with my glasses on.
GeneW
Veteran
Welcome to RFF, Melanie. The M3 with 50mm lens is a classic combo. You'll have fun with it. The Rolleiflex looks intimidating, but it's actually easier to load than the Leica, and just as much fun.
Gene
Gene