dave lackey
Veteran
Tell me, what is the smallest lens (besides the 45mm pancake) that any of you have used on the F6? Thinking that the Series E 50mm might make a fairly compact package....
DavidKKHansen
Well-known
Perhaps the new Voigtländer pancake lenses? 20mm, 28mm and 40mm?
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
When using the F6 in the street I wouldn't contemplate having it on a strap around my neck ... that's when a camera becomes really obvious IMO. It is very easy to hold the F6 by it's excellent grip and hold it at arm's length down by your side ... no one really notices a camera when you carry it like this. Bringing it up to your eye and taking a shot takes no time at all ... the camera meters and focuses instantly and it's down by your side again in an instant.
It's not hard to use a camera like this in the street without being any more obvious than you'd be with a rangefinder. Unless you're zone focusing you'll probably have the rangefinder up to your face longer than you would with a camera like the F6.
Horses for courses as they say ... but the Nikon is the more versatile horse IMO.
It's not hard to use a camera like this in the street without being any more obvious than you'd be with a rangefinder. Unless you're zone focusing you'll probably have the rangefinder up to your face longer than you would with a camera like the F6.
Horses for courses as they say ... but the Nikon is the more versatile horse IMO.
dave lackey
Veteran
Well, that certainly makes sense to me...so the F6 is not really all that large of a camera then?:angel:
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Not with a compact lens on it no ... the 35mm f2 AF is not huge!
I'll happily shoot street with a Crown Graphic though!
Seriously ... people worry way too much about the type of camera they use when shooting street!
dave lackey
Veteran
Would love to see a photo of the F6 with the 35mm f2 AF lens on it!
Paul Jenkin
Well-known
Some great photos on this thread. I've been falling out of love with my Leica M6TTL for a while as, aside from my Mamiya7, I've realised that 35mm rangefinders aren't really my cup of tea, ergonomically speaking. I'm much more of an SLR person - I just like to see exactly what's coming through the lens - without the lens itself blocking out a quarter of the frame.
Anyway, last night, I traded by M6TTL and a couple of M lenses for a "mint" F6 and an equally mint 28-70m f2.8 AF-S Nikkor. The lens is a birthday present for my wife who uses my old D700. I tend to use small primes (24, 35, 50 and 85) + an AIS 20mm wide and 180mm f2.8 if I ever need anything a bit longer.
I had the option to buy the battery pack for the F6 but decided against it on the basis that I seldom need to shoot on "continuous" mode - let alone at 9 frames a second, or whatever... Part of the reason I'm flogging the F5 is because it's just a bit too big and bulky.
I now have an F2 Photomic, F3HP, F5 (which a mate of mine is buying off me) and an F6. I stll love the manual focus cameras and the Ai / Ai-S lenses. However, my wife and I are hoping to go to Cuba (or somewhere with an equally interesting culture) later this year and I wanted something auto focus but still reasonably discreet.
Anyway, last night, I traded by M6TTL and a couple of M lenses for a "mint" F6 and an equally mint 28-70m f2.8 AF-S Nikkor. The lens is a birthday present for my wife who uses my old D700. I tend to use small primes (24, 35, 50 and 85) + an AIS 20mm wide and 180mm f2.8 if I ever need anything a bit longer.
I had the option to buy the battery pack for the F6 but decided against it on the basis that I seldom need to shoot on "continuous" mode - let alone at 9 frames a second, or whatever... Part of the reason I'm flogging the F5 is because it's just a bit too big and bulky.
I now have an F2 Photomic, F3HP, F5 (which a mate of mine is buying off me) and an F6. I stll love the manual focus cameras and the Ai / Ai-S lenses. However, my wife and I are hoping to go to Cuba (or somewhere with an equally interesting culture) later this year and I wanted something auto focus but still reasonably discreet.
Anthony Harvey
Well-known
Paul [Jenkin]: I bought a mint F6 last month for similar reasons. I love everything about Leica rangefinders except the fact that they are rangefinders. I've known ever since I bought my first Leica, an M4-P, in about 1990, that I actually far prefer to see the intended picture surrounded by black space. For me it makes part of composing more automatic - I can spend more time thinking about what's in the picture and getting that right.
I've been very lucky with my two Nikon 24-85 AF-S 3.5-4.5 lenses (non VR), one for the F6 and one for D700, in that both are great samples, and they perform superbly well, but I've been sorely tempted, no doubt in an irrational pursuit for perfection, to get the 24-70 2.8 even though it's bigger and heavier. Do you think that in actual practice, working to the requirements of the pictures I take (people, no landscapes, b/w printing to 7x5 and sometimes 12x18, D700 for colour and to screen only) there would be noticeable advantage to the 24-70?
(I tried the 50 1.8 AF-S D lens and have been very disappointed for shots at larger apertures, even at 2.8. My 24-85 out performs it at wide open. Perhaps it's a bad sample. I did consider the 50 1.4 AF-S D but I'm a bit wary after my 1.8 experience.)
It would be good to know how you both get on with the D700/F6 combination on the holiday you're planning, especially with the 24-70 2.8. Have a great time.
I've been very lucky with my two Nikon 24-85 AF-S 3.5-4.5 lenses (non VR), one for the F6 and one for D700, in that both are great samples, and they perform superbly well, but I've been sorely tempted, no doubt in an irrational pursuit for perfection, to get the 24-70 2.8 even though it's bigger and heavier. Do you think that in actual practice, working to the requirements of the pictures I take (people, no landscapes, b/w printing to 7x5 and sometimes 12x18, D700 for colour and to screen only) there would be noticeable advantage to the 24-70?
(I tried the 50 1.8 AF-S D lens and have been very disappointed for shots at larger apertures, even at 2.8. My 24-85 out performs it at wide open. Perhaps it's a bad sample. I did consider the 50 1.4 AF-S D but I'm a bit wary after my 1.8 experience.)
It would be good to know how you both get on with the D700/F6 combination on the holiday you're planning, especially with the 24-70 2.8. Have a great time.
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Yes.
I had the F6 for a while, before i went 'back' to the F100. I use/d the 50/1.8 Series E on both. It's my favorite lens and definitely makes either camera a nicely handling package.
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
I completely agree. Well, no, it's sorta also about the cameras. Any film camera is more satisfying to use than any digital, even though i love the immediate feedback thing.... But, yeah — it's the look of film. As much as i try to recreate it, it's just not 'real.'
Keith — what film/developer were you using? Especially on the shot of the two women sitting at the outdoor table?
Paul Jenkin
Well-known
Hi Tony.
The lenses you have seem to get good press and, if the loss of a couple of stops of speed isn't an issue for you, the improved portability / weight reduction is also a bonus. Add the fact that with a bit of judicious sharpening / post-processing you can wring every drop of quality out of your kit, I'm not sure the extra cost is necessarily "worth" it.
However, whether it's "worth" it, depends on how much you want (rather than need) the 28-70mm or 24-70mm f2.8 lens. My wife (formerly a point and shooter and not really interested in photography or associated kit) has become a fully-fledged lens speed junkie and the opportunity to get her the pro lens she craved was too much to ignore. The 24-120 non-VR lens she had was okay - but the 28-70 f2.8 is a superb lump of glass.
The lenses you have seem to get good press and, if the loss of a couple of stops of speed isn't an issue for you, the improved portability / weight reduction is also a bonus. Add the fact that with a bit of judicious sharpening / post-processing you can wring every drop of quality out of your kit, I'm not sure the extra cost is necessarily "worth" it.
However, whether it's "worth" it, depends on how much you want (rather than need) the 28-70mm or 24-70mm f2.8 lens. My wife (formerly a point and shooter and not really interested in photography or associated kit) has become a fully-fledged lens speed junkie and the opportunity to get her the pro lens she craved was too much to ignore. The 24-120 non-VR lens she had was okay - but the 28-70 f2.8 is a superb lump of glass.
Flat Twin
Film Shooter
Findus
Established
Keith, great shots! Love them!
Riverman
Well-known
dave lackey
Veteran
Thank you, Flat Twin!!