Twilight Posted September 21, 2014 Share #1 Posted September 21, 2014 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Despite all the tempting photokina announcements, me as an amateur photographer, I would really appreciate a "Leica M photography" book. For(D)SLR users a lot of dedicated photography books are available, but for the rangefinder I could not find a great book...yet. An ideal book for me, thé "Leica M photography" book, would cover: 1. history of the Leica M and the Leica lenses including some basic lens technology, benefits and losses with different optical designs (Mandler, Karbe designs,spherical, aspherical..) 2. a very extensive photo technique part covering - the rangefinder, the parallax,... - optimal techniques for handholding the M, focussing the M, DOF control (zone focussing,...), - optimal techniques for exposure tailored to the M. Rules like the sunny 16 rule, using the central weight light meter,adapting exposure to the subject,... The book "understanding exposure" by Bryan Peterson I found really instructive but it would be nice to have something comparable but than applied to the M metering. Also I would like some in dept explanations . E.g. As a beginner I searched a very long time to find a book explaining why for example a small aperture generates more dept of field (it is always shown in examples but never explained what physical reason is behind it). - white balance - body setup(s) depending on use (maybe here some "tips from..." could have a place) - flash on the M basically a user manual "plus" Basically this chapter should embody everything an M user now has to find on the net. 3. a photo development chapter - film scanning for the filmcamera's - development in lightroom & efex pro , C1pro & photo ninja looking (only) into profiles, color management - some dedicated insights in optimal black/white development and for the MM 4. portfolio of some famous M photographers in past and present, inspiring the M user When this would be done beautifully, I would pay a premium price for it. Maybe it could be included in future purchases of M bodies? I think that if Leica made such a book, it would sell great. Another option would be to make an online book here on the forum. Edited September 21, 2014 by Twilight Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 21, 2014 Posted September 21, 2014 Hi Twilight, Take a look here The "Leica M photography" book is on my wish list. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bocaburger Posted September 21, 2014 Share #2 Posted September 21, 2014 There are a multitude of books that fulfil most of your requirements. The Leica Manual (Morgan), Leica M Advanced Photo School 2nd Edition (Osterloh), The Leica M Compendium (Eastland), Leica M Photography (Bower). None of them cover the digital era, but most of what you seek doesn't involve that. Leica M Digital Photography: M8/M9 (Bower) is the only one I'm aware of that has been updated since digital. It's difficult, because every few years there's a new model, and Leica books have a rather small market. All of those books I found available on Amazon, either used or new. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted September 21, 2014 Share #3 Posted September 21, 2014 The market would be very small for a book of the quality and completeness you seek. That does not stop you getting inspiration and practical help from the books mentioned above. There is something satisfying about holding a quality book and obtaining some level of satisfaction and enjoyment which is why many have shelves full of such books. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 22, 2014 Share #4 Posted September 22, 2014 If you browse this forum, just about everything you mention is covered extensively here (except the portfolio by famous photographers, but you would be served better by separate books there), the search function is your friend... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Posted September 22, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted September 22, 2014 If you browse this forum, just about everything you mention is covered extensively here (except the portfolio by famous photographers, but you would be served better by separate books there), the search function is your friend... I know... I found a lot of bits and pieces here and elsewere on the net or in some of the older books. Maybe it is nostalgic of me to hope for a manual "manual" kind of book. Nevertheless I am convinced there would be enough readers to make some profit out of it when it would be well written, beautifuly illustrated and crafted. In my field of work everything is also in constant evolution and we have a kind of online books/apps being updated constantly/regularly. Some kind of Leica-app covering this would be a nice alternative, maybe coupled to userinputs. The FAQ part of this forum could be in the "comment" session of the particular chapter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Almulla Posted September 22, 2014 Share #6 Posted September 22, 2014 I would really appreciate a "Leica M photography" book. Remove the "Leica M" part and your problem would be solved. Photography is photography and its easier to experiment now with the digital age since you won't be losing a few hundred or thousand rolls of film learning. Our limitations are dictated by the boundaries we create for ourselves. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bherman01545 Posted September 22, 2014 Share #7 Posted September 22, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) There is a new book entitled: Leica M Type 240 by David Taylor, ISBN 978-78145-039-0 available, and it is pretty good, albeit for only the Type 240. I bought one and like it quite a bit. I purchased it on Amazon from SpeedyHen, based in the USA, but there are numerous sellers in the UK as well.Approx. $20.00US Brad Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Posted September 23, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted September 23, 2014 There is a new book entitled: Leica M Type 240 by David Taylor, ISBN 978-78145-039-0 available, and it is pretty good, albeit for only the Type 240. I bought one and like it quite a bit. I purchased it on Amazon from SpeedyHen, based in the USA, but there are numerous sellers in the UK as well.Approx. $20.00US Brad I have his book on the M9. I like to see his as an expanded manual. It would be nice to have more extensive practical information. Composition, focussing and exposure with the M9 for example. Off course they are not so different from dslr's but more specific and more explanations and examples would be great. The other chapters I mentioned could be covered too. I agree that almost everything is already written and I have read a lot yet, but in so many different places and at several moments in time. Having all this information -or most of it- available in one book / ebook / app would be great. I do not think I am alone in this since all the topics I want to see covered are very often looked after on the web and in forums. But the question is are there still many people wanting this in the format of a book... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted September 23, 2014 Share #9 Posted September 23, 2014 Look at the books from Erwin Puts. I think his last two cover what you are looking for. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted September 27, 2014 Look at the books from Erwin Puts. I think his last two cover what you are looking for. Got his book. It is a very interesting book but it does not focus on the practical aspects of using the M (exposure, focussing). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted September 27, 2014 Share #11 Posted September 27, 2014 Got his book. It is a very interesting book but it does not focus on the practical aspects of using the M (exposure, focussing). It sure which of his many books you have, but that's exactly what Leica Practicum covers, released earlier this year. http://www.imx.nl/photo/blog-2/leica-practicum.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted September 29, 2014 Share #12 Posted September 29, 2014 Just ordered Erwin's practicum and the M240 book by Taylor. First new additions to my photography book library in a long time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted October 1, 2014 It sure which of his many books you have, but that's exactly what Leica Practicum covers, released earlier this year. Leica Practicum | The TAO of Leica Got that one. I like it a lot but still some aspects (practical approach to exposuring certain situations for example) are less explored. Maybe some additional books from him will come. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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