Just a simple CLA...

[bill]

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So...

 

Here is my story.

 

I went into Wey Cameras just before I went off to France to drop off my IIIc for a CLA. An intermittent shutter stutter (Try saying that three times quickly) finally got the better of me. While there, a 25mm Summilux jumped into my camera bag and refused to leave.

 

Later that same Saturday I booked a trip to Singapore and Vietnam - I'll be going in the second half of September.

 

I sat on a French beach planning the kit I would take, and decided that I could do with a bit more pull at the top end. The logic went - 1) I have an Olympus E-400, so I shall find an old Oly/Nik/Can/M42/Contax/Leica 180-200mm prime and mate it with one of those 4/3 adaptors that seem to infest eBay like a rash.

 

Fast forward three weeks, and I get a call to say that my IIIc is ready to collect. Off I go again, back to Weybridge.

 

My mistake was looking in the window before I went in. They had maliciously started a sale while I wasn't looking.

 

It didn't take long. I walked out with my rejuvenated IIIc (clean, lubricate, adjust, shutter, rangefinder, botox, tummy tuck) humming like a bird. I can't believe how much better it feels - can't wait to see the results.

 

...I also walked out with a 180mm 3.4 APO Telyt-R. That will convert into a splendid 360mm 3.4 on my E-400.

 

...it was mated to a Leicaflex SL...

 

Now, I have always resisted the siren lure of the R-Series SLR. "Not for me" I said. "I don't know my Rs from my elbow" I said (don't know if this pun will work with those for whom English is a second language - please let me know if unclear). It's for artists like Doug Herr, I thought...

 

But.

 

God, it's hewn from a solid block of heavy black stuff. The viewfinder is brighter than Stephen Hawking. it goes CLUNK in that pre-digital, mechanically superlative way that things built before "Eastenders" have a habit of doing. It is about as stealthy as a Hummer. It is more characterful than an episode of Midsomer Murders. Ideal for hand to hand combat, it takes pictures too. It's a weapon of mass imagery. It feels like it'll outlast my great-grandchildren.

 

Luvly.

 

I have blown away the smoke, and rubbed my credit card with Sudocrem to ease the pain.

 

This has been an expensive month - and all I went in for was a CLA...

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[S. Wong]

As I am a gearhead too, I try to keep my cards far away from the camera shop, or just steer clear of them completely

I checked out a 180/3.4 apo, and found it too dark to use, and too close to the 135.

I'm happy for you, but oh how empty your wallet must be, and how full your photo albums (hard drives) will be

-Steven

[samwells]

Oh, Bill! I know the feeling...been meaning to take the M7 in for a CLA for some months now, but am terrified that the dealer will take me to the mountaintop and I shall be sorely tempted.

Sam