stunsworth Posted January 19, 2012 Share #21 Posted January 19, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ken Rockwell, who is most definitely a pro of the first order... <fx>splutter</fx> Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 19, 2012 Posted January 19, 2012 Hi stunsworth, Take a look here starting with film, or digital?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
leicaluke Posted January 19, 2012 Author Share #22 Posted January 19, 2012 ken rockwell can begin to be professional when he learns "P" mode stands for program... not professional. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeverettfine Posted January 20, 2012 Share #23 Posted January 20, 2012 Well, obviously naming names can get you in trouble. Regardless, Ken has a lot of great info on his site (some of it isn't entirely up-to-date). I like his photographs and his approach to photography. Back to the topic at hand: you can't go wrong starting with an M6 and a lens or two. As far as lenses are concerned, be aware that a few vintage Leica lenses do not work perfectly on the M7, M8 and M9: among them the 50 DR Summicron, collapsable 90 f/4 Elmar, 21 f/4 Super Angulon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted January 20, 2012 Share #24 Posted January 20, 2012 I like how Ken Rockwell disses equipment he hasn't tried, like the Summarit line and the last version of the 50mm Elmar. He's that good! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted January 20, 2012 Share #25 Posted January 20, 2012 Yeah, stay away from the 50 Summicron DR if you plan to make the switch to digital. I made that somewhat expensive mistake. Then again, it gives me a reason to shoot with my M3 more often. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeverettfine Posted January 20, 2012 Share #26 Posted January 20, 2012 Yeah, stay away from the 50 Summicron DR if you plan to make the switch to digital. I made that somewhat expensive mistake. Then again, it gives me a reason to shoot with my M3 more often. Yeah, my DR stays on my M2..."not that there is anything wrong with that" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaluke Posted January 20, 2012 Author Share #27 Posted January 20, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Does anyone have experience with the 35 summarit? looking for glass under 2000$.. any particular lenses that are especially good on a film body? I have fast nikon glass so speed isnt a huge issue... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted January 22, 2012 Share #28 Posted January 22, 2012 Does anyone have experience with the 35 summarit? looking for glass under 2000$.. any particular lenses that are especially good on a film body? I have fast nikon glass so speed isnt a huge issue... The Summarits are said to be excellent in terms of the quality of the results. For the money, they are a very good buy from all that I have read. If you want Leica M glass for under $2000 per lens, that is definitely possible. Look for good used lenses, particularly Summicrons. The extra f/stop of the Summiluxes drive the prices of lenses up significantly. Camera West and Sherry Krauter are good places to shop for used M lenses in my experience. In terms of bodies - take a hard look at the M4-P. They are extremely reliable and are priced well within reason. Also look at clean used M6 bodies. Unless you plan on using flash alot, go with the classic M6 rather than the M6TTL (just my honest opinion). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted January 22, 2012 Share #29 Posted January 22, 2012 Does anyone have experience with the 35 summarit? looking for glass under 2000$.. any particular lenses that are especially good on a film body? I have fast nikon glass so speed isnt a huge issue... The 35mm Summarit is an excellent lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeverettfine Posted January 23, 2012 Share #30 Posted January 23, 2012 The Summarits are said to be excellent in terms of the quality of the results. For the money, they are a very good buy from all that I have read. If you want Leica M glass for under $2000 per lens, that is definitely possible. Look for good used lenses, particularly Summicrons. The extra f/stop of the Summiluxes drive the prices of lenses up significantly. Camera West and Sherry Krauter are good places to shop for used M lenses in my experience. In terms of bodies - take a hard look at the M4-P. They are extremely reliable and are priced well within reason. Also look at clean used M6 bodies. Unless you plan on using flash alot, go with the classic M6 rather than the M6TTL (just my honest opinion). I would go with a 80's-90's vintage 35 Summicron on a film body. You really can't go wrong. The f/1.4 Summilux, however, is a different animal. I have seen 80's 35 Summilux's sell for under 2K. Wide open, they produce a dreamy kind of image rather different than the Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted January 24, 2012 Share #31 Posted January 24, 2012 Sadly there do seem to be quite a few with the means who, despite knowing little to nothing about photography, think it appropriate to buy only the most expensive gear. I guess it is part of the hubris and arrogance that often comes with having a large disposable income.I've noticed that, too. Leica gear (new, anyway) seems to mostly attract two types of buyers: 1 - The "rich and fabulous" who barely know top plate from bottom plate but have a need to show everyone that they ooze wealth from every pore, and 2 - Those who are passionate about photography and don't give a rat's ass about status - people who are willing to auction off body parts to afford Leica gear because photography and image quality matters that much to them. My photographic friends and acquaintances fall into the latter category; as for the former category, I (thankfully) have none of those. The category two folk are most easily identified by the fact that they drive ratty, fifteen year old cars that are limping and wheezing down the road on borrowed time while carrying a camera bag whose contents could easily buy them a new Camry if their money had been spent at a Toyota dealer rather than at a Leica dealer. It's great to know people who have their priorities straight. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted January 24, 2012 Share #32 Posted January 24, 2012 I've noticed that, too. Leica gear (new, anyway) seems to mostly attract two types of buyers: 1 - The "rich and fabulous" who barely know top plate from bottom plate but have a need to show everyone that they ooze wealth from every pore, and 2 - Those who are passionate about photography and don't give a rat's ass about status - people who are willing to auction off body parts to afford Leica gear because photography and image quality matters that much to them. My photographic friends and acquaintances fall into the latter category; as for the former category, I (thankfully) have none of those. The category two folk are most easily identified by the fact that they drive ratty, fifteen year old cars that are limping and wheezing down the road on borrowed time while carrying a camera bag whose contents could easily buy them a new Camry if their money had been spent at a Toyota dealer rather than at a Leica dealer. It's great to know people who have their priorities straight. Sounds like you need to get out in the world and meet some new people. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Messsucherkamera Posted January 25, 2012 Share #33 Posted January 25, 2012 Sounds like you need to get out in the world and meet some new people. I hope to one day travel to Tibet and meet some new people there - and to introduce them to my M4-P. That is but one of the places on my list of must see cultures and locations. : Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeverettfine Posted January 25, 2012 Share #34 Posted January 25, 2012 I like how Ken Rockwell disses equipment he hasn't tried, like the Summarit line and the last version of the 50mm Elmar. He's that good! Last comment on this: Ken Rockwell does not "diss" the Summarit line, he just says he prefers other lenses: To quote him concerning the 35 Summarit: "I haven't used this new lens, but the other Summarit-M lens I used had superb optical quality with sub-par mechanical quality" He isn't claiming to know things he has not experienced first hand, just making a comment based on his experience with another lens. Namely, his review of the 90 Summarit. He gives it a "superb" rating optically etc, but prefers the 90 Elmarit-M. What's wrong with that? Everyone of us has their own preferences as to equipment. I doubt he would look down on anyone who owns and uses one of the Summarits any more than he would look down on someone who likes to photograph with a Holga. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicaluke Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share #35 Posted January 25, 2012 Ken Rockwell...being mentioned as a valid source.. in a LEICA forum... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sterlinstarlin Posted January 26, 2012 Share #36 Posted January 26, 2012 Last comment on this: Ken Rockwell does not "diss" the Summarit line, he just says he prefers other lenses: To quote him concerning the 35 Summarit: "I haven't used this new lens, but the other Summarit-M lens I used had superb optical quality with sub-par mechanical quality" He isn't claiming to know things he has not experienced first hand, just making a comment based on his experience with another lens. Namely, his review of the 90 Summarit. He gives it a "superb" rating optically etc, but prefers the 90 Elmarit-M. What's wrong with that? Everyone of us has their own preferences as to equipment. I doubt he would look down on anyone who owns and uses one of the Summarits any more than he would look down on someone who likes to photograph with a Holga. "I haven't used this new lens, but the other Summarit-M lens I used had superb optical quality with sub-par mechanical quality. I wouldn't buy one of these. For less money you can get a used 35mm SUMMICRON lens of whatever vintage you like, including the current ASPH, or get a 1960's SUMMARON f/2.8 which ought to do about the same thing for a whole lot less." —Ken Rockwell Here he recommends many lenses over a lens he admittedly hasn't used... pretty dismissive if you ask me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted January 26, 2012 Share #37 Posted January 26, 2012 I hope to one day travel to Tibet and meet some new people there - and to introduce them to my M4-P. That is but one of the places on my list of must see cultures and locations. : It is certainly worth the trip however you may be dis-disillusioned about shooting closeups of people as I was when many indivduals you meet in Tibet will want to charge you to take their photo. Some dress up their kids in colorful costumes, thrust them in front of you, and insist you take their photos and pay them. Old women with interesting chiseled features will hold out their hand and say "for the hair" as they keep some gold or jewelery there and want you to contribute to it. You can sneak photos but they won't be happy if they catch you and they really won't care what brand camera you use. Tibet is a great place to shoot panoramas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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