stevelap Posted August 26, 2009 Share #41 Posted August 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Good advice Nicole. Information sharing is certainly one of the purpose of any forum but most people, I suspect, would consider that basic research such as browsing reviews, instruction manuals and the manufacturers web-site ought to come first. Jason, if you're still considering an M8, or any other Leica, stick around. There is plenty of good advice and information to be found here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 26, 2009 Posted August 26, 2009 Hi stevelap, Take a look here Loads of new user questions. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
giordano Posted August 26, 2009 Share #42 Posted August 26, 2009 Information sharing is certainly one of the purpose of any forum but most people, I suspect, would consider that basic research such as browsing reviews, instruction manuals and the manufacturers web-site ought to come first. When I feel that's the case - as early in this thread and in another one about Indian mains sockets - I prefer to post a link to a page where it's easy to find the information requested. Can save a lot of aggro and electrons:cool: and gives more time for serious questions like how many M9s will fit on a Pythian tripod. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted August 26, 2009 Share #43 Posted August 26, 2009 When I feel that's the case - as early in this thread and in another one about Indian mains sockets - I prefer to post a link to a page where it's easy to find the information requested. Can save a lot of aggro and electrons:cool: and gives more time for serious questions like how many M9s will fit on a Pythian tripod. Yes, I noticed your post with the link. LOL on the electrons and M9's:D. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasoniburn Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share #44 Posted August 26, 2009 As the OP I'd like to put all of this behind me. It doesn't pay to take your ball home so I'd like to invite everyone round to my house for a cup of tea and a toffee cream cake. Any time after 6.00 tomorrow would be great. Bring some M8's so that I can have a look. Perhaps a group hug might be in order? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 26, 2009 Share #45 Posted August 26, 2009 Oh alright, but no tongues, eh?. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 26, 2009 Share #46 Posted August 26, 2009 As the OP I'd like to put all of this behind me. It doesn't pay to take your ball home so I'd like to invite everyone round to my house for a cup of tea and a toffee cream cake. Any time after 6.00 tomorrow would be great. Bring some M8's so that I can have a look. Perhaps a group hug might be in order? :D There are enough Norsemen around here to make that come true Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted August 26, 2009 Share #47 Posted August 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) "There is nothing like a Dane..." Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted August 26, 2009 Share #48 Posted August 26, 2009 As the OP I'd like to put all of this behind me. It doesn't pay to take your ball home so I'd like to invite everyone round to my house for a cup of tea and a toffee cream cake. Any time after 6.00 tomorrow would be great. Bring some M8's so that I can have a look. Perhaps a group hug might be in order? Welcome Jason I'll be there about 7.30, but I'd rather have a beer! Any more questions? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Pope Posted August 26, 2009 Share #49 Posted August 26, 2009 It doesn't pay to take your ball home... Good call - definitely the right decision to stay. I'm glad you did. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted August 26, 2009 Share #50 Posted August 26, 2009 Jason Welcome! There are a few things you need to know about this group. Many, are very old school, and only use digital as a last resort. Many are the most brilliant in the field of Photography. Some know it and are very touchy. Leica by it's nature, include old and new school, it is quite a mix. I myself have feet in both film and digital, but am still learning much about both, and have asked (sometimes not knowing) questions not at the caliber of this group... but I rely heavily on the knowledge base, even the prima-donna's here know there stuff (for the most part). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted August 26, 2009 Share #51 Posted August 26, 2009 Wow, I've been out all day (US time) and just caught up on the show...includes the introduction of cast, the battle, the love scene, the apparent reference to a sequel...has it all. Welcome, Jason. If you stick around for 100 posts, you'll get a forum title promotion, which will entitle you to kick around the newbies a bit:) Seriously, though, having been new here myself not too many months ago, I've found this an extremely helpful, and often amusing, place to visit. I think you will, too. Can you mail cake? Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasoniburn Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share #52 Posted August 26, 2009 Wow, I've been out all day (US time) and just caught up on the show...includes the introduction of cast, the battle, the love scene, the apparent reference to a sequel...has it all. Welcome, Jason. If you stick around for 100 posts, you'll get a forum title promotion, which will entitle you to kick around the newbies a bit:) Seriously, though, having been new here myself not too many months ago, I've found this an extremely helpful, and often amusing, place to visit. I think you will, too. Can you mail cake? Jeff Sorry Jeff I heard you weren't coming so I ate your piece. If it makes you feel any better it was one piece to many and I feel a little sick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted August 26, 2009 Share #53 Posted August 26, 2009 Well, I'm sorry that my ill-considered one-liner has stirred up a hornets nest of bad-feeling. I admit I mis-read your post and thought you had already bought one. Others have been more welcoming and I'd now add my own; if you decide to buy an M, you'll find it a unique and special camera but there's a learning curve to get the best out of it. If you could master it in an afternoon, where would the fun be in that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted August 26, 2009 Share #54 Posted August 26, 2009 Sorry Jeff I heard you weren't coming so I ate your piece. If it makes you feel any better it was one piece to many and I feel a little sick.Hmmmmmm - so my piece of cake has disappeared as well ???? Depressing:( And welcome! I forgot that last time in the heat of the battle. As Mark says it is a unique and special camera, the same holds for the people in the forum that are a weird and wonderful bunch. Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_newell Posted August 27, 2009 Share #55 Posted August 27, 2009 Goodness, what a read. My suggestion to the OP: find a dealer who is in the "Test Drive" rental program and spend a little to rent one for a day or a week. Rangefinder photography, if you haven't experienced it, is so different than SLR photography, that it'd be money well invested IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
footnoteblog Posted August 27, 2009 Share #56 Posted August 27, 2009 I laughed, I cried. Jason, you should pick up a film rangefinder and get used to that style of shooting. It's a lot more work on the capture end (but worth it). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbaron Posted August 27, 2009 Share #57 Posted August 27, 2009 Another thing to bear in mind is that most of what we communicate is non-verbal. We can't hear the tone of voice used when someone types, unless they use full caps or bold type. In Australia the phrase; "have a go," normally results in tears. Here it might just mean, "by all means, please try it". BTW, welcome! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Valdemar Posted August 27, 2009 Share #58 Posted August 27, 2009 Well, I happen to think Norton was correct in his original post. "jasoniburn" sounds like [beeeep] and the last thing he needs is a $5000 Leica M8 (without even buying lenses) that he will be unable to comprehend even if he buys one and attempt to play with it for ten years. As as for the putting it on "point and shoot" mode for his wife, I don't buy that. The avid Canon DSLR owner with complicated equipment does not put his camera in "point and shoot" mode and hand it to his wife. The wife will have her own SD1100s or some such other pocket camera. His questions could have easily been answered with the most rudimentary Google search and it is the act of an arrogant idiot to demand that forum members spell the answers out for him as if he were a child in a "special needs" class. Sorry Jeff I heard you weren't coming so I ate your piece. If it makes you feel any better it was one piece to many and I feel a little sick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 27, 2009 Share #59 Posted August 27, 2009 Sorry, this post is out of line imo. Jason would be quite justified to object to this one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonadam Posted August 27, 2009 Share #60 Posted August 27, 2009 Your questions were answered already so I'll tell you a short story that might interest you. When I was a kid my dad gave me a Minolta and taught me the basics of how to use it with aperture priority mode. Manual focus was a snap for me, even as a kid. Getting my head around shutter speed and aperture openings was much more difficult. My dad, who took great photos and loved photography never explained it to me properly. I think he himself did not even understand it entirely, at least well enough to teach me. I have now been shooting for over 2 decades, been through art school, many photo classes, and owned many, many cameras. I eventually moved from those older manual/auto metering cameras to much more automatic cameras. I then embraced digital and went that route for many years. Less than a year ago I decided I wanted a digital Leica M8 and the M7 for some regression back to film. At first I thought I made a mistake. I was screwing up every shot even with the Auto mode for shutter speed. I had just gotten the Canon 5D Markll also and I considered dumping the Leica/s and just use what gave me the shot each and every time. Luckily I did not sell the Leica/s. I stuck with the M8 and eventually, after being unsatisfied with the results the A mode was giving me, I started shooting entirely manual. It was then that I had this sort of "Karate Kid, wax on wax off moment." Before focusing a shot I would quickly set my best guess for aperture and shutter speed only to find that the meter inside was telling me I was right on the money. Sometimes I would still be unsatisfied with what that tiny screen showed and I would take another shot or 2, either opening or closing the lens aperture or increasing or decreasing the shutter speed. My point is that you have to use a camera, (for a long time) to become familiar with it. Each and every digital camera behaves differently. Exposure meters on more automatic cameras or point and shoot tend to get better readings pointing the camera at someones feet to lock the exposure/aperture in before composing on the subject. many of these tricks are not in any manual. You just need to use the camera and figure out how to get the best results with it. In addition to all this you need to be taking the shots that you want to take. Many talk of lens clarity, sharpness and all that. I myself am making art. I like playing with focus, depth of field, and interesting subject matter. So much is personal and subjective that you need to decide best for yourself what to get and use. If funds are limited take your best guess. If you have a bit more money buy 2 cameras. I would definitely recommend waiting for the M9. Either a high end Nikon or Canon will give you the opposite end of the digital spectrum. As far as film goes, you can get many, many great film cameras on Ebay now. I just screwed around with a Hasselblad all summer only to decide it is too cumbersome, expensive to develop, and troublesome to get shots that the M7 can capture with much more ease. I will be selling the Hasselbald in the next few weeks on Ebay. I'll probably get back most if not all of my money. The way I see it, I was basically borrowing it until I decided if I wanted to keep it. Everything that is said about how great Leica cameras are is true. More than anything they help connect you with your image and put you in complete control. I hate how expensive they are. I do not like that they draw attention from strangers sometimes. Damaging one or loosing one with a lens would be a 5 thousand dollar disaster. Those are the downsides. Eventually I loosened up and began to bang it around just like every other camera I have owned. The last 7 or 8 months as a Leica user have been bliss. How I am going to get 8 grand for the M9 body is the only thing causing me angst right now. happy shooting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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