The Leica course
Posted by: Mick P on 25 June 2003
Chaps
I have just spent the last two days attending a course, at Leica HQ in Milton Keynes, on how to use a M6.
This was a damn good course and I now reckon I have gone from being pretty useless to fairly good. If any of you own a M6, I seriously recommend this course to you.
One of the intersting discussions was on 35mm v digital.
Evidently the feeling within the trade (not just Leica) is that 35mm and digital will co-exist beside each other for many years to come.
The feeling is that customers will continue to buy a decent 35mm SLR and expect it to last for 8/10 years. The digitals are only expected to have a useful life of 4 years but will continue to be outdated or replaced by another model after 8 or 9 months. So most of use will own and use 2 cameras.
Not only is digital improving but 35mm film is also getting better, so it really is a two horse race.
Also the M7 (M6 with auto exposure) is selling well and the new MP (lovely name) which is pure mechanical is also exceeding expectations, so the market in top end range finders is doing well.
I found the course excellent and I was amazed at what I have learned.
I even went out and photographed rusty bits of metal.
I am genuinely pleased that I own a M6 and I suggest you all go out and buy one.
Regards
Mick...now wanting to retire to do more photography.
I have just spent the last two days attending a course, at Leica HQ in Milton Keynes, on how to use a M6.
This was a damn good course and I now reckon I have gone from being pretty useless to fairly good. If any of you own a M6, I seriously recommend this course to you.
One of the intersting discussions was on 35mm v digital.
Evidently the feeling within the trade (not just Leica) is that 35mm and digital will co-exist beside each other for many years to come.
The feeling is that customers will continue to buy a decent 35mm SLR and expect it to last for 8/10 years. The digitals are only expected to have a useful life of 4 years but will continue to be outdated or replaced by another model after 8 or 9 months. So most of use will own and use 2 cameras.
Not only is digital improving but 35mm film is also getting better, so it really is a two horse race.
Also the M7 (M6 with auto exposure) is selling well and the new MP (lovely name) which is pure mechanical is also exceeding expectations, so the market in top end range finders is doing well.
I found the course excellent and I was amazed at what I have learned.
I even went out and photographed rusty bits of metal.
I am genuinely pleased that I own a M6 and I suggest you all go out and buy one.
Regards
Mick...now wanting to retire to do more photography.
quote:
Originally posted by Joe Petrik:
I don't mean to sound rude, but if you shoot Kodak Gold 200 and send it to the local lab for processing, why even bother with a Leica?
I couldn't agree more (although I'd say it's akin to having a big boy system attached to Bose speakers). Perhaps Mick should trade his M6 for a cardboard Kodak disposable.
Mick,
"I like street photography where you have to think on your feet and compose straight away"
If you are going to do Leica style street photography then the only film to use is Tri-X -- an old fashioed contrasty 400 speed B&W film which is a bit grainy but with a lovely smooth even grain that looks great.
You can buy it at online at 7 Day Shop for £1.49 + VAT or at Calumet on Wardour St. Soho for a little bit more. See http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1_101_1012_10125&products_id=6196
It looks like this:
Matthew
"I like street photography where you have to think on your feet and compose straight away"
If you are going to do Leica style street photography then the only film to use is Tri-X -- an old fashioed contrasty 400 speed B&W film which is a bit grainy but with a lovely smooth even grain that looks great.
You can buy it at online at 7 Day Shop for £1.49 + VAT or at Calumet on Wardour St. Soho for a little bit more. See http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1_101_1012_10125&products_id=6196
It looks like this:
Matthew
Joe said "Shouldn't we be discussing this elsewhere?"
Probably. I have a new lens -- my Ultron is an uneconmic repair (its a rare but known fault apparently) and I scuttled around looking for a good pre-ASPH Summicron 35/2 but the going rather seems to be £500+ so I went for another Voigtlander -- although the smaller 35/2.5 Color-Skopar as its cheaper and much smaller then the Ultron and unless you are a wide-open into the sun sort of character not much different (apparently). As 5.6 is about wide open as I ever seem to shoot the smaller lens looked a better bet. Plus its got one of those nifty focusing levers and I've been practiscing focusing at 1m, 1.5 and 3m without looking all day.
BTW There is a new Voigtlander 35/1.2 Nokton as well now. They really are very good at coming up with new products.
Brother's wedding on Friday (hence the rush) and currently deciding if I should take just the Bessa + 35, 50 and 75 or take the Nikon along for back up as well.
Matthew
Probably. I have a new lens -- my Ultron is an uneconmic repair (its a rare but known fault apparently) and I scuttled around looking for a good pre-ASPH Summicron 35/2 but the going rather seems to be £500+ so I went for another Voigtlander -- although the smaller 35/2.5 Color-Skopar as its cheaper and much smaller then the Ultron and unless you are a wide-open into the sun sort of character not much different (apparently). As 5.6 is about wide open as I ever seem to shoot the smaller lens looked a better bet. Plus its got one of those nifty focusing levers and I've been practiscing focusing at 1m, 1.5 and 3m without looking all day.
BTW There is a new Voigtlander 35/1.2 Nokton as well now. They really are very good at coming up with new products.
Brother's wedding on Friday (hence the rush) and currently deciding if I should take just the Bessa + 35, 50 and 75 or take the Nikon along for back up as well.
Matthew
Don't be too har on Kodak Gold 200, sometimes it is all that is available and remember, it is much better to get a shot with a bad film than miss it completely:
(forgive the terrible croping on this scan, I just noticed it. I had a 24x20 enlargement of this made up for a friend of mine, and it misses the bit of railing on the left of the image, makes it much nicer)
[This message was edited by ejt on WEDNESDAY 25 June 2003 at 23:07.]
(forgive the terrible croping on this scan, I just noticed it. I had a 24x20 enlargement of this made up for a friend of mine, and it misses the bit of railing on the left of the image, makes it much nicer)
[This message was edited by ejt on WEDNESDAY 25 June 2003 at 23:07.]