Three Legged Cat Posted July 5, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 5, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Everyone, I'd just like to introduce myself to the Forum, having just recently joined after many months of lurking... Last July I took delivery of not only my first Leica - an M240 - but my very first camera ever, having never really taken any photos before. After much research, I decided that if I was to get serious about photography, I should 'start at the top' so to speak, and since receiving my Leica the last year has really been an exceptional, life-changing time for me. Not only have I had to learn about the 'Science' of photography, but also how to use a Range-Finder, how to use a Mac after years of PC use, and hardest of all - how to make Lightroom do what I want it to! Above all, the 'Art' of photography has by far been the most fun but most difficult skill to develop - a skill I happily expect to spend the rest of my life working on. Fortunately I've learned a great deal from the many contributors to this site since I first discovered it, and now after a year of hard-learning I feel that I might at last be in a position to 'contribute back'. Although my camera goes nearly everywhere with me, I still haven't yet settled on a favoured 'style'. I started with a 35 Cron for 'street' photography, added a 75 Cron to explore portraiture, then a 21 SEM for Landscape/Travel. I added a 50 Lux for low light situations, then last week the 90 Macro Elmar plus adapter to see how Macro Photography might suit me. Overall I think I now have all the lenses I'll ever need (...famous last words!), and I look forward to having a long and rewarding hobby once I've found my niche. I'm still a bit 'shy' to share my work outside of family & friends, but that should change over time as I gain more confidence. However good or bad my photos eventually turn out to be, I realise that I've really come to love taking photographs with my Leica! With Best Regards, Three Legged Cat Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 5, 2014 Posted July 5, 2014 Hi Three Legged Cat, Take a look here Hello From UK Leica Novice. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Jeffry Abt Posted July 6, 2014 Share #2 Posted July 6, 2014 Wonderful, I'm glad you are enjoying photography and the Leica M. They also, have given me much pleasure. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
k_g_wolf ✝ Posted July 6, 2014 Share #3 Posted July 6, 2014 Welcome to the forum! Try NOT to buy too much too fast in future. In the old days people had a chance to improve their abilities with their growing gear, got one lens and used that for ages before another one lurked around the corner. Use the 35mm lens (i. e.) for some weeks and get familiar with it, before you move to another lens for some time to find your favourite ones eventually. If you feel like it, don´t hesitate to post photos in the photosections of this site. Have a good time with your LEICA. Best GEORG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Legged Cat Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted July 6, 2014 Welcome to the forum! Try NOT to buy too much too fast in future. In the old days people had a chance to improve their abilities with their growing gear, got one lens and used that for ages before another one lurked around the corner. Use the 35mm lens (i. e.) for some weeks and get familiar with it, before you move to another lens for some time to find your favourite ones eventually. If you feel like it, don´t hesitate to post photos in the photosections of this site. Have a good time with your LEICA. Best GEORG Thanks Georg - that's great advice... I definitely want to be a photographer, not a gear-collector! Kind Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted July 6, 2014 Share #5 Posted July 6, 2014 Hi TLC, As another UK Leica novice (purchased my M240 in May) I think the advice you're getting from others here is wise. I went out and bought four lenses in quick succession and am having some, albeit very mild, second thoughts over two. I wonder if I should have bought a 35 Summicron rather than the 35 Summilux on the grounds of size and price, and an APO-Summicron 75 rather than the APO-Summicron 90, because maybe the 75 would have been a little more flexible as a portrait lens. Overall, however, I'm a very content Leica owner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Legged Cat Posted July 6, 2014 Author Share #6 Posted July 6, 2014 Hi TLC, As another UK Leica novice (purchased my M240 in May) I think the advice you're getting from others here is wise. I went out and bought four lenses in quick succession and am having some, albeit very mild, second thoughts over two. I wonder if I should have bought a 35 Summicron rather than the 35 Summilux on the grounds of size and price, and an APO-Summicron 75 rather than the APO-Summicron 90, because maybe the 75 would have been a little more flexible as a portrait lens. Overall, however, I'm a very content Leica owner. Hi Jennifer, Its nice to hear from another Leica novice... I think your lens choices would be widely regarded as flawless, and inspire 'gear envy' in many!. My initial motivation was to have the smallest/lightest possible lens combinations possible without making any major sacrifices; I deliberately chose the 35 Cron over 50 Cron, and a 75 instead of 90, just to minimise size & weight, but I realise now I could easily have started with a 50/90 combination. The 50 lux happened later 'by accident' following an unexpected Bonus, and the recent 90 Macro Elmar really intrigued me before the new one came out in May - but to be honest, it was a bit of an 'impulse buy'... Anyway, I'm very happy with my choices, and I'm glad you're very content with your Leica too - how lucky are we?! Happy Shooting & Kind Regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mca Posted July 6, 2014 Share #7 Posted July 6, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Fantastic start I think! Not everyone has a chance to 'start at the top' as you say and many don't even get there after many years of photography. I'm glad you can and I hope you get around to learning photography and your Leica. It seems a lot to learn at the same time (photography, rangefinder, mac and lightroom) but if you are willing to invest time in it then you will probably be successfull. My advice is to follow your vision and heart and don't get caught in gear reviews, gear acquisition, gear discussions or gear anything. They are just tools and it seems to me that you already have all the tools you will ever need The advice given previsously of concentrating on one lens for a period of time is good advice in my opinion. Work with it until it's second nature to you, and only then move to a different focal length. It might take months though, so be patient Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffry Abt Posted July 7, 2014 Share #8 Posted July 7, 2014 Hi TLC, As another UK Leica novice (purchased my M240 in May) I think the advice you're getting from others here is wise. I went out and bought four lenses in quick succession and am having some, albeit very mild, second thoughts over two. I wonder if I should have bought a 35 Summicron rather than the 35 Summilux on the grounds of size and price, and an APO-Summicron 75 rather than the APO-Summicron 90, because maybe the 75 would have been a little more flexible as a portrait lens. Overall, however, I'm a very content Leica owner. I have rarely regretted buying lenses ...only selling they. In selling them, move very slowly! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted July 7, 2014 Share #9 Posted July 7, 2014 I have rarely regretted buying lenses ...only selling they. In selling them, move very slowly! None of the second thoughts I might be having would induce me to sell any of the lenses I've bought. Add maybe, sell never . I made that mistake in the past when I sold a whole slew of Leica glass along with my late lamented M6. I was at a friend's party yesterday with my 90mm Cron and, though I say it myself, from a brief initial inspection the results seem pretty good. My only niggle is that maybe a 75 would allow me to get closer in and more engaged. Probably more to do with my own psychology in taking the photo than the resulting IQ, but with the 90 I feel too remote and detached from the subject if it want more in the frame than just his or her head. Strange really as I can't remember feeling the same way with the 90 I had on my M6 back at the dawn of time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Legged Cat Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted July 7, 2014 None of the second thoughts I might be having would induce me to sell any of the lenses I've bought. Add maybe, sell never . I made that mistake in the past when I sold a whole slew of Leica glass along with my late lamented M6. I was at a friend's party yesterday with my 90mm Cron and, though I say it myself, from a brief initial inspection the results seem pretty good. My only niggle is that maybe a 75 would allow me to get closer in and more engaged. Probably more to do with my own psychology in taking the photo than the resulting IQ, but with the 90 I feel too remote and detached from the subject if it want more in the frame than just his or her head. Strange really as I can't remember feeling the same way with the 90 I had on my M6 back at the dawn of time. Hi Again Jennifer, I've been thinking about your comment above on & off today, and I suspect I might have felt the same way in reverse... I think if I'd bought the 90, I'd be wondering what the 75 was like, and having bought the 75, I found myself wondering about the 90... I think it might just be human nature at work here, and your 90 shots are probably just great. Put it down to psychology, and just enjoy your lens! Best Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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