The Leica curse..
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Al Kaplan
Veteran
"I'll take a few Vicodin if you got 'em." Valdemar, then you wouldn't be able to feel the Leica "feel".
Lately I've been wandering about town shlepping my M2 with a 21/3.4 Super Angulon. My shoulder keeps telling me that it'd be a lot happier carrying the much lighter Bessa L with the 15mm Heliar. The Bessa "feel" is distinctive though, and you can hear as well as feel the film wind/shutter cock as you move the lever. Then everybody can hear the shutter release but only you can feel it. Life is just so full of difficult choices!
Lately I've been wandering about town shlepping my M2 with a 21/3.4 Super Angulon. My shoulder keeps telling me that it'd be a lot happier carrying the much lighter Bessa L with the 15mm Heliar. The Bessa "feel" is distinctive though, and you can hear as well as feel the film wind/shutter cock as you move the lever. Then everybody can hear the shutter release but only you can feel it. Life is just so full of difficult choices!
T
tedwhite
Guest
I'm on the verge of purchasing my first M6, assuming all goes well. My friend handed me his the other day and asked me to photograph him shooting a rifle at a shooting range. Naturally at a place like this everyone wears somewhat expensive ear protection that mutes any sound over a certain decibel level. I shot several pictures of him with the M6 while wearing these earmuff things. I could hear no sound, nor could I feel for sure that the camera had actually taken the picture, but it had - I could tell by looking at the frame counter.
Anyway, I got to the end of the roll, put the camera down, grabbed my bessa R and continued taking pictures of him. You can guess what's coming: I could not only hear the Bessa's shutter releasing, but I could feel it.
Later he and I were taking pictures of a totally unrelated event and we were within a few feet of each other (best angle). I couldn't hear his Leica, but we both could hear my Bessa.
My choice to buy an M6 is not based on some misty adoration for the camera, but more on its ability to not intrude because such an intrusion immediately changes the situation. If people don't know they're being photographed they continue doing whatever they were doing, but if they hear that off-putting CLACK, it's a different scene entirely.
Reminds me of a situation recently when I was photographing a woman for her portfolio. I was using my Rolleiflex which is perhaps even more silent than an M6. She wasn't looking at me as I photographed her so she couldn't see me advance the film. Finally she said, "I'm getting a stiff neck, when are you going to take a picture?" "I've already taken seven," I replied.
Not to take anything from my Bessa R, which has performed yeoman duty for me, has a brilliant viewfinder and an excellent meter, and aside from the somewhat stiff rewind has never failed me.
Anyway, I got to the end of the roll, put the camera down, grabbed my bessa R and continued taking pictures of him. You can guess what's coming: I could not only hear the Bessa's shutter releasing, but I could feel it.
Later he and I were taking pictures of a totally unrelated event and we were within a few feet of each other (best angle). I couldn't hear his Leica, but we both could hear my Bessa.
My choice to buy an M6 is not based on some misty adoration for the camera, but more on its ability to not intrude because such an intrusion immediately changes the situation. If people don't know they're being photographed they continue doing whatever they were doing, but if they hear that off-putting CLACK, it's a different scene entirely.
Reminds me of a situation recently when I was photographing a woman for her portfolio. I was using my Rolleiflex which is perhaps even more silent than an M6. She wasn't looking at me as I photographed her so she couldn't see me advance the film. Finally she said, "I'm getting a stiff neck, when are you going to take a picture?" "I've already taken seven," I replied.
Not to take anything from my Bessa R, which has performed yeoman duty for me, has a brilliant viewfinder and an excellent meter, and aside from the somewhat stiff rewind has never failed me.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
P. Lynn Miller
Well-known
Ted,
My sentiments exactly. My Bessa R2 is great little camera that is heaps of fun to shoot, but ended up with a Leica M for the very same reasons, I want a camera that is a unobtrusive as possible. And what amazes my is how often these situations unexpectedly come up. One minute shooting in deafening traffic, the next trying to capture a candid in a quiet coffee shop. I just found that the Bessa ended getting too much attention.
My sentiments exactly. My Bessa R2 is great little camera that is heaps of fun to shoot, but ended up with a Leica M for the very same reasons, I want a camera that is a unobtrusive as possible. And what amazes my is how often these situations unexpectedly come up. One minute shooting in deafening traffic, the next trying to capture a candid in a quiet coffee shop. I just found that the Bessa ended getting too much attention.
djonesii
Well-known
Dear all;
The M6 arrived. Got it off the classifieds here, it's some where better than user, and nowhere near mint, that is something that I can take out on the street and not worry about it.
First roll, could not get to load right, ...
Second roll, Oh, that's what that little lever with "R" is for, get out the tweezers.
Third roll is sitting on the dresser waiting to be developed. Been using the cheap fuji 400 Costco branded for the learning experiences so they are not painful. I have another studio shoot coming this weekend, and if I'm lucky, the fellow that I shoot with will let me compare his 35 summilux to my 40mm CV 1.4.
Having had the Bessa -R before, I had some idea what I was in for, but I never seriously thought I would be getting out the gaffer tape and using it to tape the M6 to my forehead while I sleep. Having the camera in the bed annoys my wife a bit, but she will get used to it.
I can't wait to use this thing under fire, right now, I have no regret of all those lovely Nikon lenses that were sacrificed to get the M6.
Dave
The M6 arrived. Got it off the classifieds here, it's some where better than user, and nowhere near mint, that is something that I can take out on the street and not worry about it.
First roll, could not get to load right, ...
Second roll, Oh, that's what that little lever with "R" is for, get out the tweezers.
Third roll is sitting on the dresser waiting to be developed. Been using the cheap fuji 400 Costco branded for the learning experiences so they are not painful. I have another studio shoot coming this weekend, and if I'm lucky, the fellow that I shoot with will let me compare his 35 summilux to my 40mm CV 1.4.
Having had the Bessa -R before, I had some idea what I was in for, but I never seriously thought I would be getting out the gaffer tape and using it to tape the M6 to my forehead while I sleep. Having the camera in the bed annoys my wife a bit, but she will get used to it.
I can't wait to use this thing under fire, right now, I have no regret of all those lovely Nikon lenses that were sacrificed to get the M6.
Dave
Prosaic
Well-known
Or better, buy a swiss watch.
Bavaricus
Established
Yes, people might, but not photographers .... :angel:
T
tedwhite
Guest
Oh, pooh-pooh. I'm a photographer and I use a Bessa all the time. I also use a DSLR, a Rolleiflex, and a Pentax Spotmatic (when I want to use 135 to 300mm lenses).
Do I want a Leica M camera? Of course, who wouldn't. But until then I'll use whatever gets the job done. The viewfinder/meter on the Bessa is outstanding, but I don't believe the body will last anywhere near as long as a Leica body. Leicas seem infinitely rebuildable also. With the Bessa you simply buy another body.
Do I want a Leica M camera? Of course, who wouldn't. But until then I'll use whatever gets the job done. The viewfinder/meter on the Bessa is outstanding, but I don't believe the body will last anywhere near as long as a Leica body. Leicas seem infinitely rebuildable also. With the Bessa you simply buy another body.
T
tedwhite
Guest
Cher did, indeed.
And, by the way, I just bought John Gleeson's M6 that was in the classified's a few days ago. Now I need adapters for my my two M39 lenses (color skopar 35/2.5 & Canon 50/1.8).
If anyone has any please PM me.
(now I don't have to buy another body).
And, by the way, I just bought John Gleeson's M6 that was in the classified's a few days ago. Now I need adapters for my my two M39 lenses (color skopar 35/2.5 & Canon 50/1.8).
If anyone has any please PM me.
(now I don't have to buy another body).
Symeon
Established
Same hat
Same hat
like your hat though, I have one too but much cheaper and I never take it out when I leave home. 😱 Regards
Same hat
like your hat though, I have one too but much cheaper and I never take it out when I leave home. 😱 Regards
SergioGuerra
Well-known
Hmmm if you don't mind if I take this thread back to my doubts, I would like to pose another question...
Yes I admit. I am cursed. and now I need the cure, and it will come by one of these means:
A M2 or a M6.
Is the 28mm frame line and light meter worth the price difference? I never handled a M6, but already used a M2, and I liked its solid feel... the smooth advance, the ultra-quiet shutter...
Will I find all of these on a M6?
Oh my... once again tough decisions....
😉
Yes I admit. I am cursed. and now I need the cure, and it will come by one of these means:
A M2 or a M6.
Is the 28mm frame line and light meter worth the price difference? I never handled a M6, but already used a M2, and I liked its solid feel... the smooth advance, the ultra-quiet shutter...
Will I find all of these on a M6?
Oh my... once again tough decisions....
😉
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kevin m
Veteran
By and large, yes. The differences are there, but they're subtle.
FrankS
Registered User
I much prefer seeing just one set of framelines at a time in the M2, and had no need for the 75 and 28mm framelines anyway. I've had and sold an M3, M2, M6, and M5. Then I bought 2 M2s which I have now.
SergioGuerra
Well-known
And since a M2 costs less than a M6 I could buy a 35mm Skopar to go along with it :>
I miss my previous M2 so much 😉 hmmmmmmm
I miss my previous M2 so much 😉 hmmmmmmm
T
tedwhite
Guest
Just got my first M6, but curses, no M-mount lenses. My Color Skopar 35/2.5 M39 is yearning for an adapter. FrankS: You have an extra you'd like to sell?
FrankS
Registered User
Hi Ted! No, sorry. Adaptors aren't difficult to come by though.
maddoc
... likes film again.
You guys make me thinking more and more about the M2 ... 😱 resistance is futile ... 😀
thomasw_
Well-known
Gabor, I will post a shot of my M2 for you when it returns from a visit to digitalintrigue in TX.
telenous
Well-known
The singular framelines of the M2 are a bonus but not something you cannot replicate in the M6 by removing the framelines you don't use. What can not be replicated in any metered body is the accuracy (and smoothness) of the release (no meter detent) of the M3/2/4. Granted though, if you use slide film the absence of the meter will slow you down.
Life's a menace sometimes 😀
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