Worth every penny

[venchka]

Don't misunderstand. The attached photo and crop aren't the best photographs ever. Far from it. They do illustrate the potential locked inside the lens and camera. Now if I can just find the key to unlock that potential.

And now, for the rest of the story...

I'm sure many of you have similar stories. You dreamed, schemed, wished & hoped of someday owning a Leica camera and lens. That day arrived for me, after far too many decades, last May. I purchased "my old M5" from Ray Harms through this Forum. Thank you Ray. Thank you RFF.

Many folks here at RFF spoke very highly of the 50mm DR Summicron. I purchased a very nice example from The Leica Boutique in Montreal. My results with the lens were encouraging. I have a long way to go, but I was pleased with the lens.

Last week we had a death in the family. My wife's brother passed away after a lengthy illness. We brought all of the flowers home after Chuck's memorial service. I asked my wife if she wanted pictures of the flowers and she agreed. Frankly, neither of us were exactly chipper and alert at the time. We all handle grief differently. I needed anything to take my mind off of the events of the day. The M5 loaded with Reala and my Weston meter were the perfect tonic. Several minutes, probably more, later my wife gently suggested that I had taken enough photographs and I should be a gracious host for our guests. She was right as always. I was feeling much better.

Now, for the good news. I do ramble, hey? There is good news.

I love this lens! I only hope that in some small way I can do it justice.

Thanks for looking. Thanks for allowing me to ramble.

All the best!

Oh, I almost forgot. Ray, that "old M5" is doing just fine!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I'm sorry to hear about your brother-in-law.

Good thing you've found your combo a great pair. I like the M5, really like how it fits in my hands and how the dial is designed. I'm just too paranoid about that metering arm breaking, that's all. Hence my choice for the M6.

But the M5 is fine indeed. Congrats.

(Edit: corrected omission)

 

[FrankS]

Nice story. Thanks for sharing, and continued good luck with your camera and lens!

edit: by "nice" I don't mean that your brotherinlaw died, just your experiences with the camera/lens

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

sorry to hear about your brother Wayne

best regards

 

[vrgard]

I would say that you are doing it, and your brother, justice. Keep shooting!

-Randy

 

[Rich Silfver]

Sorry to hear about your brother-in-law's passing.

 

[venchka]

Thanks everyone. It was my brother-in-law although I knew him almost as long as I've known my little brother. 😀

On a much lighter note, I know y'all can't see the original hi-res scan, but I am totally blown away by the detail in the ferns. The Weston meter in incident mode saved the day as well. I know what I'm trying to say here: for a few minutes I lost myself in photographing these flower arrangements. I feel like the hardware took over and freed my mind from all the technical issues as well as everything else going on around me.

Frank, I feel like I was "in the zone" once more. I haven't felt that way in ages. Feels good!