My Leica M3 doesn't......

P

paparazzi mano

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Hi Fellow RFFers,

I was just thinking my shutter and f-stop doesn't adjust in increments of 1/2 or 1/3. Does it mean that evil SLRs are better and more accurate than my M3. I normally shoot Tri-X and Velvia 50.

Would like to hear your comments.

Cheers
 
From the M3 manual:

Marked speeds are indicated by click-stops, and continuous intermediate speeds may be set between 1/50 and 1/1000 second.
Click to expand...

So for 1/50 and faster, you can set 1/2 stops, 1/4 stops, or 1/100000 stops, however accurate you can make it. Same goes for the aperture of all your lenses. So For most speeds, your M3 is more accurate than your SLRs...
 
B.J.Scharp said:
From the M3 manual:



So for 1/50 and faster, you can set 1/2 stops, 1/4 stops, or 1/100000 stops, however accurate you can make it. Same goes for the aperture of all your lenses. So For most speeds, your M3 is more accurate than your SLRs...
Click to expand...

love your avatar!
 
I would propose that your M3, SLRs and any other camera you have hidden away are all equally inept. It is the photographer's job to properly expose and make an image, not his tool.
 
The M3... It is what it is. Simple, Robust and Reliable.
I've never found it lacking in any way.

(I use the aperture of the lens to fine tune the exposure when using a meter)
 
Gotta admit, I never worried about whether my M3 adjusted in increments. I just set a roughly appropriate exposure per my meter (or guess) and SHOT.

Since I was shooting live concert stuff, I really didn't have time to work out exposure increments. And since I was using either B&W or color print film, I didn't have to worry about the exposure being microscopically precise. In fact a little overexposure was never a bad thing....:)
 
Your M3 doesn't...

have AF
do AE
make coffee
print slides
scan film
call home
bite the hand that feeds it
irritate your nerves
cheat on you
make you cheat
burn your bacon
get your goat

Your M3 DOES...

shoot as told
keep its settings
not freeze
not have batteries die
not become a paperweight
advance and expose film
not make any noise
have some heft
deliver results

Take care! :)
 
M lens apertures are always analog, infinitely variable. There may be no click stop, but use you head.

I have a shutter speed checker so I can read the real speeds.
If DAG sets it up, they are perfect. If not compensate.
 
SolaresLarrave said:
Your M3 doesn't...

have AF
do AE
make coffee
print slides
scan film
call home
bite the hand that feeds it
irritate your nerves
cheat on you
make you cheat
burn your bacon
get your goat

Your M3 DOES...

shoot as told
keep its settings
not freeze
not have batteries die
not become a paperweight
advance and expose film
not make any noise
have some heft
deliver results

Take care! :)
Click to expand...


Well, said! ;)
 
If you're worried about micro f-stops, get one of the Russian lenses that doesn't have click stops. Infinite f-stop control! Need F3.72, you've got it.
 
You know...in all my years, I have never heard of anyone worrying about these micro-stops. I am quite sure none of the old Master Photographers did either.

So, what brought this up, one of your friends with the latest and greatest D3EXTRAMEGABUCKS computerized wonder?;) If one has to worry about setting the exposure perfectly, then, I guess film has NO lattitude? Remember, this is NOT digital. Even with slides, it should not be a problem. Not one I have ever run into anyway.

My advice is forget about it. Just shoot the beast! You'll get over it.:)
 
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Well, taskoni, there's a difference between slight overexposure and bullet-proofing a negative (not that I haven't done that).

BUT, as i learned the hard way, when you're dealing with musicians wearing black clothing, against a black background, under less-than-perfect stage light, a little overexposure on your (print) film can be the difference between getting that shadow detail in the final print, or merely having a set of disembodied hands and a disembodied face.

Just sayin'.....:)
 
Dave......

Dave......

I guess it was one of the moments when someone says that they have 200 exposure points, with 6fps film transport, shutter speed and f-stop of 1/3...... well to honest the best I can do on the film transport on my DS is maybe 2fp 2 seconds?????

My question is how much does technology improve my photographic skills? Does the ability to correct measure the exposure to 1/3 stop accuracy mean anything to the negative or positive?

Cheers


dave lackey said:
You know...in all my years, I have never heard of anyone worrying about these micro-stops. I am quite sure none of the old Master Photographers did either.

So, what brought this up, one of your friends with the latest and greatest D3EXTRAMEGABUCKS computerized wonder?;) If one has to worry about setting the exposure perfectly, then, I guess film has NO lattitude? Remember, this is NOT digital. Even with slides, it should not be a problem. Not one I have ever run into anyway.

My advice is forget about it. Just shoot the beast! You'll get over it.:)
Click to expand...
 
For Tri-X, there is enough latitude that setting the aperture halfway between two stops is good enough. Velvia 50 is another matter, as the exposure is more critical. Many photographers shoot this film at EI 40. A few shoot it at 32. So here's an idea. When an even f-stop is not right, then set the lens where you think it should be: half a stop for instance; and then open just a tiny bit more. Probably the worst that can happen is that you will have exposed at the equivalent of EI 40 or 32, and still be within limits. Personally I think 32 is "a bridge too far," but I find 40 to be OK. So I would suggest when in doubt, try opening up just very slightly more with this one film.

At least, you could try this idea by bracketing an extra exposure to see how it looks.
 
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