Leaving Leica

S

sqjaw

sqjaw = Mr.Lauren MacInto
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After about 6 rlls of film and disconcerting results , I figure its my Eyes or I am not for the Rangefider camera and I should stick to SLR's and TLR's and thats about it; I thank all of you for your time and helpfull ness with my questions and thinking with this stuff : so going up for sale are all my leica stuff: if your interested let me know at sqjaw at verizon dot net : will place ad as soon as I have fotos of my stuff:
 
If you have decided, that's it. However, my experience with deteriorating vision was that I had far more trouble with SLRs than with RFDR cameras.
 
Good luck, feel comfortable, and enjoy photography the way you prefer... In the end, the camera doesn't matter... 90% photographers in the world prefer SLRs, and 90% RF users use SLRs too... Maybe you'll use RFs again later...

Cheers,

Juan
 
payasam said:
If you have decided, that's it. However, my experience with deteriorating vision was that I had far more trouble with SLRs than with RFDR cameras.
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Agree here. Rangefindering...once learned is far more approiate for deterioating (older) eyesight than manual focus SLR's / TLR's are.

I remember my Dad preferring RF when I was a young-en who swore by his Pentax SV, but now, "I understand"...

...
 
Hmm, that's too bad, but six rolls is probably enough to make that call.

Maybe you should consider a more modern RF, not just SLRs? You can pick up fixed lens cameras for very little money. My first recommendation would be a Vitomatic, or you can trade in build quality for features and get a more recent Japanese one. There's a thread around here about the "best" $50 Ebay camera to get you started.

I agree with Mukul (payasam) et al. above that you may not be happier with an SLR if the problem is with your vision.

Whatever you decide, take your time to get a good price for the Leica kit. If it's in good shape and you weren't fleeced when you bought it, aim to get back what you paid.
 
I can somewhat relate to your decision although I'm not ready to give up on my Leica/Zeiss combo. My Canon DSLR is just such a powerful full featured, auto-focus, auto-exposure system that it makes the old fashioned Leica M6 TTL seem like a bit of a kludge.

However, I am still enamored by the charm of the Leica so I'm not quite ready to give up on it yet.
 
My eyes aren't the best since I am 56 and wear glasses. However I don't have problems shooting outdoors. Just indoors. So I use both SLR and rangefinder. I'd have to be blind before giving up my Leicas..
 
The only thing that would TEMPT me into leaving 'Leica'
is a mamiya 6 & the 50mm

though I'm not sure I want the Hassle of less shots on a roll
and having to buy a scanner...:eek:
 
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It's called an eyepiece diopter.

But I agree, I find an SLR or TLR easier to focus than a rangefinder, and I like that the view you see is "live". But the rangefinders have their charms, mainly that you get a choice of wonderful, classic manual cameras, the lenses are as good as anything in 35mm photography, and the cameras and lenses are generally light and small.
 
I don't know what looking through the viewfinder of a Leica M is like compared to my Bessa R, my vision is pretty crappy, but compared to my Canon AE-1 program which, according to KR is the best of the slr's, my Bessa R blows it away. When I'm so old that my Bessa R fails me I'm glad I have my Bessa L to stand with. It's scale focus & with the 25/4 pretty much everything is in focus. The bright line finders on the Voigtlander wides are the best period! All I will probably need are some reading glasses to read the scale on the lens. :)
 
sqjaw,

what cameras did you shoot? I read about your recently acquired 1936 Leica III and it is by no means exemplary for the brilliant rangefinder cameras you can use. Using an M3 will be a completely different experience, for instance. Or, have a look at a Bessa RF camera, with even a 1:1 finder.

If not willing to take a plunge financially, you can always have a look at this Zorki-3 from Fedka.com. Cameras sold there are in excellent condition, I can vouch for Yuri!
 
Lauren (right?), I've just revisited some of your earlier posts. Did you have all those rolls developed and scanned at Walgreens? That could explain your unsatisfactory results right there...

In my experience it's possible to get good developing service at drugstores, but I may just be lucky.

I do all my scanning at home because the one or two times I did try the drugstore service for that, it wasn't even worth the $2 or whatever they charge. Dreadful. Don't make a decision on your cameras based on those scans.
 
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CLE-RF said:
Or, have a look at a Bessa RF camera, with even a 1:1 finder.
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Good suggestions from Johan but allow me to point out that the Vitomatic (50/2.8 lens) will be about 1/10 the price and has a 1:1 finder, as well... This means you can leave both eyes open when you shoot.
 
I can relay to that. I've bought a Leica and i love it but when i get the pictures back i am not happy with the results.... The keepers i take are more often with the Zenit but i don't feel like selling the Leica (yet).
 
batterytypehah! said:
Lauren (right?), I've just revisited some of your earlier posts. Did you have all those rolls developed and scanned at Walgreens? That could explain your unsatisfactory results right there...

In my experience it's possible to get good developing service at drugstores, but I may just be lucky.

I do all my scanning at home because the one or two times I did try the drugstore service for that, it wasn't even worth the $2 or whatever they charge. Dreadful. Don't make a decision on your cameras based on those scans.
Click to expand...

yes walgreens Did all the developing and only the last roll did have them scan the negatives out of 24 got maybe 12 good ones and maybe 4-5 keepers I do better with my 6x9 folding camera ? : Lauren
 
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Be advised that all the stuff in on this classified section: Thanks for all your comments : Lauren
 
i thought my leica was messed up based on the developing and scanning that walgreens did.
then i shot a roll of velvia, sent it out to fuji and learned to keep the stuff i like away from them.
 
I saw the ad, just posted.

I think you mean the 85mm F2.8 Culminar, which is far more desirable than the 135mm Culminar.
 
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