Many, if not most, Leica M shooters also own a 35mm SLR. In what situations do you choose one over the other? In my case, I've noticed that my SLR is mostly accumulating dust, except for occasional close-up or longer telephoto use. This seems backwards to me. The SLR is obviously much more versatile, but I only pick it up for specialized tasks.

I'd be interested to know from others, when do you find yourself using an SLR versus a rangefinder? Do you use an automatic SLR as a complement to the manual rangefinder, or is your SLR also a manual camera?

-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), August 05, 2000

Answers

For a while I was doing a lot of how to articles for a car magazine, and need the macro and ttl flash features of my SLR to show the steps involved. I like macro work in general, and that is where most all rangefinders fall flat. I do have the DR Summicron for my Leica, and it does pretty good at close ups, but nothing like a real macro. The other time I use my SLR is when I'm doing the type of shooting where a Zoom lens is better suited. But for traveling, hiking, and low light hand held shooting, I like the M3 or my Minolta CLE the best,

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), August 05, 2000.

Joe,

A few years ago, I read an interesting article in the now defunct "Photo Pro" magazine that addressed this issue. There is definitely a lot of cross over, in which either type of camera would be fine, but the article mostly covered the "philosophical" differences. The overall premise was that you use a rangefinder to TAKE pictures and an SLR to MAKE pictures.

The rangefinder photographer mostly wanders until the picture presents itself then raises the camera and TAKES the shot. The article emphasizes the small amount of time that the RF camera is at the eye... it is usually pre-set for exposure and distance.

The SLR user uses all of the controls to put "his" reality on the shot... varying focal lengths, using the DOF preview lever, and filters. He is more inclined to control the picture... thus the term MAKE the pictures.

Obviously these are not hard rules, and a RF user can control the picture as well as the SLR user making "grab shots", but the article made me get out some of my pictures and think about the conditions and the cameras used. My conclusion was that the article was about 80% accurate for my photography. My best landscapes, formal group shots, and artistic attempts were made best with the SLR. The best "blind" grab shots, lowlight candids were with the M series Leicas. I do in fact act and think differently depending on the type of camera that I am holding. Additionally, I would never give up one for the other.... they work too well as a combo.

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

Ths short answer is that SLRs rule for macro, telephoto, and situations that require wysiwyg allignment.

RF for most everything else.

This is too short, my web page, www.wizard.net/~tbryant/photo35.html goes into more detail.

Keep in mind that sometimes the best camera is a view camera. Don't limit your horizons!

-- Tom Bryant (tbryant@wizard.net), August 06, 2000.

Over 15 years ago, when I quit being a pro, I sold my Leica stuff and kept the Olympus kit, reasoning it was more versatile. As a result, *I* was the one who ended up collecting dust--hardly took a picture, except on vacation, and then only bad ones. A few months ago I bought an M4-2 and am having a great time taking pix again. The Oly is great with long lenses, macro, and I do prefer it with the 21 as well, but in the middle I'm much more comfortable with a rangefinder. If I could categorize the way I work differently, it would be that with an SLR I put the camera to my eye and roam for pictures. With the RF I form the picture in my mind, and then lift the camera and put the brightline box around what I've already planned. The result is much better--for me.

Part of that might be that unless you're shooting at wide open, the photo you see through the SLR is not what you're going to get--the lack of depth of field masks clutter. I find that I'm much more aware of backgrounds with the RF because I see them, even through the camera, resulting in cleaner photos. This might also be why I work well with the Oly and my 21, which also always clearly images the background, whereas the longer lenses don't. With the really long lenses on an SLR it again doesn't matter, because the background in the final photo will be blurred as you see it through the camera.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), August 07, 2000.

I do not use any 35mm SLR for now. My bag becomes lighter and simple. I am happy.

-- Kenny Chiu (amchiu@worldnet.att.net), August 07, 2000.

I think the standard answer is that one has to use SLRs for macro and telephoto work because it is difficult or impossible to do those with rangefinder cameras. My Leicaflex SL with 28/2.8, 60/2.8 macro and 135/2.8 R lenses can handle 99% of my photography needs. But I love my Leica M6 TTL with its 35/2 Summicron ASPH lens. It is the perfect camera for handheld shots in low light situations. I have taken sharp photos at f2 and 1/4 second. I know that would have been impossible with the SL. Of course, the M6 is also great for street photography or when you want to take photos unobtrusively. BTW my previous two outfits were built around Canon EOS-1N RS and Nikon N90S cameras. All of my Leica lenses produce significantly better slides and negatives than any of my Nikon and Canon prime and zoom lenses. I wish I had kept the Canon SLR! I could have used my Leica R lenses with it using a Novoflex adapter. Oh well, live

-- Muhammad Chishty (applemac97@aol.com), August 15, 2000.

I generally use an F3. The M3 comes out on occasion, when I get tired of lugging 25 oz. of camera body around everywhere. I'd probably use the Leica more if my old 50/2 Summicron was better below f/4 -- the M3 with an old chrome 90/2 doesn't offer weight savings over anything.

Of course these complaints come from someone who doesn't think his 10# monorail is too heavy... but 35mm is about portable & handheld photography to me.

-- John O'Connell (boywonderiloveyou@hotmail.com), August 16, 2000.

I need to go poopy now.

-- Malcolm McLeod (meninem@hotmail.com), March 06, 2002.

I spent all of my previous life using Nikons (from FM to F3) and once got a Nikonos III (including underwater flash with bulbs, BTW more than 20 years ago) so that my now having sold everything but the kitchen sink means that my one and only camera is (still) an M6. If I got any SLR tomorrow -- even as a free gift -- I'd sell it for a dime.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), March 06, 2002.