New from Germany

Roger Hicks

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Markus-Richter said:
Thank you Roger! Which one of the Leicas would you recommend to a Rangefinder beginner? How about the idea to get a used one?

Markus
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Dear Markus,

I can best quote from a review in (I think) the British Journal of Photography, that if all three current systems were made by the same manufacturer under the same brand, their prices would roughly be the same, and reflect their market position.

Personally, I would recommend (a) the most expensive you can begin to afford and (b) new over used UNLESS you can find a recent (M6 or later) used Leica, or at the least, a used Bessa or ZI from a dealer willing to give a guarantee: many, but not all, defects are the result of user carelessness, so I would hesitate to buy from eBay. But if you don't mind having no meter, any M-serie is likely to prove an excellent camera though it may need a strip, clean and overhaul (CLA in American) if it is old and dried-up. I have 2x M2, which were backups to my M4-P until I got the MP. Bear in mind that the M3 has only 5cm, 9cm and 13,5cm finders, while the M2 has 3,5cm, 5cm and 9cm: if you like 35mm (which is my standard lens) then the simpler, cruder M2 is the easy winner. The M6ttl, M7 and M8 have 'backwards' (contra-rotating) speed dials as compared with all other Leicas. The MP is my favourite.

I have had R, T, R2, R2S and M4-P, MP, M8 (all right, irrelevant) from new and have had no trouble with any of them except the R2 where a fall damaged the rewind crank (easily repaired). That and the black chrome finish on the M4-P which wore so badly that a Leica dealer friend suggested that it should be repaired under warranty, 25 years ago. Now, the M4-P needs cleaning -- the frame selector is sticky, as it is on one of my M2s, almost twice its age -- but it is still more than usable.

Check 'books' on my web-site for the book my wife and I did a few years back on rangefinder cameras.

Hope this helps,

Cheers,

Roger
 
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Markus-Richter

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roteague said:
From my last trip to your wonderful country (2003):

]
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That is a wonderful picure Robert, thank you for sharing it. Where is it?

I'm sure Hawaii must be wonderful too. I've been in many US States, but unfortunately I've never been in Hawaii.

To your first post. I'm from Karlsruhe. To make a crosspoint, I'm around an hour away in the west from Stuttgart and one hour in south from Frankfurt and one hour away in the east of Ramstein.
 

roteague

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Markus-Richter said:
That is a wonderful picure Robert, thank you for sharing it. Where is it?
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Wertheim am Main, along the Tauber River.

I'm familiar with Karlsruhe, but I don't ever remember visiting it. Perhaps, on the next trip.
 

Roger Hicks

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Markus-Richter said:
I fell in love with this one, but the price (!)
It would cost me one arm and one leg!
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Dear Markus,

Aaargh! Point taken! But my standard Leica is a well-worn black paint MP (with Leicavit, it's true) and 35/1,4 pre-aspheric Summilux bought about 25 years ago to replace my first 35/1.4 which was stolen in India. That is normally paired with the old M4-P and new 75/2 aspheric. I'm seriously thinking of selling the M4-P and both M2s to buy another MP. The drawback is that if I sell all three bodies, AND get a press discount, I'll still need to pay some more for the second MP. And my wife wants the 16-18-21 Tri-Elmar (and so do I).

Oh: and Robert: congratulations. Gorgeous pic.

Cheers,

Roger
 
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Markus-Richter

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alien said:
Hi Markus,

I am a German living in the UK!

If you ever travel in the Midlands, give me a shout - we will go for a beer and talk film!

Good to see you here

Ansgar
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Hallo Ansgar!

wo in den Midlands lebst du? Das nördlichste wo ich gewesen bin war Manchester. Wie weit ist es von dort zu dir? Und zu einem guten Bier sage ich nie nein ;-)

Gruß

Markus
 
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Markus-Richter

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Roger Hicks said:
Dear Markus,

Aaargh! Point taken! But my standard Leica is a well-worn black paint MP (with Leicavit, it's true) and 35/1,4 pre-aspheric Summilux bought about 25 years ago to replace my first 35/1.4 which was stolen in India.
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Roger, I see you are a great fan of Leica Seems to me I have to read some reviews and books to learn about all of those special Leica equipment.
I grew up with Rolleiflex.

This one looks interesting.
http://shphoto.de/cgi-bin/shphotod.pl?f=NR&c=10595&t=temartic

Markus
 
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Markus-Richter

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Pinholemaster said:
Guten tag, Markus.

Welcome from the US.

Walter
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Hello Walter,

you're close to Baltimore right? My first true love was from Baltimore, long ago
I loved the Harbor from Baltimore at night and of course "Crabs and Corn"
Just the large beer cans and lots of ice in the beer was very new to me.
Good old times...

Markus
 

Roger Hicks

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Dear Markus,

Quite honestly, I suspect that the M4-P might be the worst-built Leica ever, though there are several models I have never owned or in some cases even used. The viewfinder flares out badly in contrasty light: I used to prefer an M2 for folk concerts, for example, before I got the MP. The cranked rewind is quicker but also more fragile (I had to repair it once in Slovenia, and I've never had a problem with knob-rewind). The 75mm finder of the M4-P is VERY inferior to the MP (and M8) but of course the M2/M3 don't have 75mm built in at all.

If you can live without a meter, I'd go for M2 over an M4-P, and if you want a meter, M6 (pre-ttl, because the shutter speed dial goes in the right direction). The sweetest-moving Ms of all time are M3: I've had three (all bought used at the right price) but I sold them all in turn because of the lack of a 35mm frame. The last one went 10-15 years ago.

Of course I'll sell you either an M2 or an M4-P if you offer me enough money...

Cheers,

Roger
 
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Markus-Richter

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Roger Hicks said:
Of course I'll sell you either an M2 or an M4-P if you offer me enough money...

Cheers,

Roger
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Roger, I really have to read about all the Leica models to find the one which is good for me. I did the same with Rolleiflex TLR. My Grandpa had some and played around with it when I was a young boy, but I couldn't remember them when I was on the point to buy one. There are so many different models. So I read a lot, asked users and at least I decided to get two of the latest models with Selen metering and automatic film loader. Also they have the best lenses. My budget is not too high, because I have to buy for my every day work a new high end digital SLR. The market out there has changed dramatically. When I shot a set, the client wants the images the next day.
The times where film was the first hand solution are over, unfortunately.

Markus
 
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Markus-Richter

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Mahler_one said:
Meine Frau ist aus Hamburg, und fliegen vier balt nach Deutschland. Guten abend und Willkommen.

Edwin
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Hallo Edwin,

vielen Dank für die Begrüßung. Fliegt ihr nach Hamburg? Die Alster ist sehr schön im Herbst und die Ostsee nicht weit. Meine Tante hatte in Pinneberg gelebt, ich habe gute Erinnerungen an diese Stadt.

Ich wünsche eine gute Reise.

Markus
 
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Markus-Richter

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Bob F. said:
Welcome aboard Markus! (I won't try my schoolboy German: the last time I was in Bonn and tried ordering a beer I got a slice of cake instead (nice cake though )...

Have fun, Bob.
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Hello Bob,

when was your the last time in Germany? During the Football World Championship? We had many people from England over here. It was fun.

Good to hear your cake was good, but I prefer a beer instead
When I'm in and around London, I stay with friends in Croydon or up north
in St. Albans. Unfortunately I don't know somebody in Central London.

I hope we can meet up when come over again.

Markus
 

Roger Hicks

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Markus-Richter said:
When I shot a set, the client wants the images the next day.
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Dear Markus,

It must have changed dramatically, if it has slowed down so much. When I started in advertising in the 70s -- with film, motorcycle couriers and 100-200% rush charges for E6 -- they wanted it YESTERDAY. As the old joke went, "I want it yesterday. If I wanted it today, I'd ask for it tomorrow!"

But yes, digital makes life easier for that sort of thing. Even when they'd signed the Polaroids, they'd crop the trannies a different way...

Cheers,

Roger
 
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Markus-Richter

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Soeren said:
Hi Markus
I am a Dane Living in Denmark
Kind regards
Søren
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Hallo Sören, i have to write it with an ö, which means the same like the ø.
I had the pleasure to salute to your Queen in 1995 in Denmark. I was in the military that time and Soldier of the MND (Multi National Division) We made an exercise with the British and Dutch Air Landing Forces. She showed up with a British and Danish Officer. The British Officer told me to explain our arms in English to her. (We had the US Anti Aircraft Missile Stinger). But I was so nervous i spoke anything in German. But she was nice and smiled. I don't forget that day my whole life The people were very nice to us. They gave us place to sleep in barns and hot coffee. It was raining the whole exercise. We couldn't jump out from the planes because of the heavy rain, so we got carried around by British Helicopters. It was nice over there, except the rain.

Markus
 
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Markus-Richter

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Roger Hicks said:
Dear Markus,

As the old joke went, "I want it yesterday. If I wanted it today, I'd ask for it tomorrow!"

Cheers,

Roger
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haha, you make me laugh
Seems to me, clients were the same in the past like they are today.

I don't know if digital is so much easier today. Everyone and everything is in a hurry. Sitting for hours retouching the images in Photoshop etc. i don't like it, but I have to....

it is late now, time for bed and the dog wants to make his round around the house ;-)

good night

Markus
 
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