When people talk about Leica, they almost always refer to the M. The R system are not held in such high regard or with equivalent passion. Why is this so? Could it be that other manufacturers make much more exciting SLR and there is no competetion in the field of rangefinders? I have been using an SLR with a clear screen with grids. I like the possibility of fucusing and composing at the same time. But when I switch over to the M, I have to fucus using that rather small focusing patch and then compose the picture. Is there a better way of doing things. I tried prefucusing but not always successful. Any comments from other M users to improve my technique will be most welcome. Thanks.

-- Steven Fong (steven@ima.org.sg), June 05, 2000

Answers

I feel that you were correct in that the Leica M, for the longest time was the only serious rangefinder camera, thus it was the king of that type of camera. I personally use Nikon as my SLR to supplement the M rangefinder. Using Leica for both types of cameras allows no advantage since there is zero ability to cross utilize lenses. As far as focusing, if you find that you are focusing every shot, then perhaps you might review hyperfocusing techniques. I find that an SLR works best after 50mm, but a pre-focused wide angle, stopped down a bit is faster than auto focus, you almost "steal" pictures... the camera does not spend much time at the eye. There is a difference in philosophy when using an SLR and a rangefinder. If you choose the wide lenses with the focusing tab, it won't be long before you find your left index finger positioning the tab to the correct angle for the distance to the subject... one of the "secrets" of the speed of the Leica M. Choose a lens, live with it for a while, and your speed will improve.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), June 05, 2000.

The M and the R systems both have wonderful lenses but the M system is (was - now with the Hexar RF and Bessa R) very different from anything else available. When you look through an R camera it is similar to any other SLR (early Leicaflex, SL, SL2 and the new R8 have very bright screens compared to other SLRs) but the view through an M camera is a revelation! It is like walking around with a pair of cropping "L"s. You see the entire view, side to side and fore to background with no hindrences. Many of the lenses also alow you to see outside the picture area as well. For me it was like turning on the lights in a dark, cramped, mostly blurred SLR room. You learn to judge DOF and, as Alan Smith points out, you can shoot much quicker and more in control with a zone focused M than with an autowunderkamera.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), June 05, 2000.

Unfortunately, at real working distances you only see 80% of the actual image-on-negative, so you might as well close your eyes and point it in the general direction. The Imarect gives you 100%.

-- Bill Mitchell (bmitch@home.com), June 14, 2000.