I want to purchase the best book on Leica M-6 TTL basics and photography technique. Any suggestions for a re-born Leica devotee will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

-- Fred M. Wall Jr. "Max" (mtwall@earthlink.net), May 27, 2001

Answers

This may be a little hard to find, but I have found the best Leica book EVER is 'The Leica Manual' by Morgan & Morgan, 15th edition. The earlier editions go back to the 40's and deal with screw mounts only, so avoid them. Even the 15th (and last edition) deals only up to the M5. But it is (in my opinion) the best book there is on Leica and rangefinder photography. I have invested in photo books probably as much as I do in equipment, but if I could only have one photography manual, it would be this one, tied with Ansel Adams 3 book set (the Camera, the Neg, the Print). With this and some current literature on the M6 specifically (and current lenses) you'll learn all you need to know. So says I!

-- Bob Todrick (bobtodrick@yahoo.com), May 27, 2001.

Maybe this isn't what you want to hear, but i don't think that Leicas are any diffeent from any other kind of camera. Any book about technique wil tell you the same stuff, which is, nothing. Find a good subject you feel strongly about and take a lot of pictures. That's the best (if not the only) way to learn, IMO.

-- rob appleby (rob@robertappleby.com), May 27, 2001.

Rob, Bob: Thanks for your suggestions.

-- (mtwall@earthlink.net), May 27, 2001.

Have a look at the National Geographic Field Guide for some very good basics on technique, gear, and other "hands on" info. As for a book on M6 TTL, specificly, I don't think there is much around, but the Brian Bower book, Leica M Photography has some basics, but only up to and including the M6, not the M6 TTL. cheers, PN

-- Paul Nelson (clrfarm@comswest.net.au), May 27, 2001.

Thanks, Paul.

-- (mtwall@earthlink.net), May 27, 2001.

Like Rob said, the more you shoot, the better you become. I can tell you the first advice I've been given;

"You ain't no photographer until you shoot a mile of film."

-- Eric Laurence (Edgar1976@hotmail.com), May 27, 2001.

Mr. Brian Bower has written a lot of very fine books about both the Leica System (M and R) and teqnique in general. Very nice pictureswith aal informations about lens, type and shutter and f- number.

I can recomend all of them.

-- thomas marker (thomas@advokat-marker.dk), May 28, 2001.

There is only one book specifically desginated for the M6TTL, I think it is published by Hove and is in current print. Their earlier versions (pre-TTL) are also quite helpful. The Gunter Osterloh book is probably the most technically complete, but it is long out of print and is now a collectors item selling for $$$. The Brian Bower "Leica M Book" is my all-time favorite, as it highlights the M primarily as a scenic/landscape camera, which is what I use it for. It soundly dispells the notion that the M is strictly a candid, street-shooter tool. Were it not for Mr. Bower's book my M's would be sitting in a display case.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 28, 2001.

From Hove Books website:

LEICA M6 TTLÅ@By Richard Hünecke This book explains the M6 TTL. Unique rangefinder,Å@flash exposure metering and TTL flash control. SF-20Å@flash system, Leica M Lenses. Practical tips forÅ@photographing with the Leica M6-TTL. ISBN 1-897802-13-7 215 x 150mm. 176 pages. 16 colour, 98 b&w.Å@Hardbound.

-- lucien (lucien@ubi.edu), May 29, 2001.

There is also the :

LEICA M6 TTL HANDBOOK by Jonathan Eastland ISBN: 0 9536241 0 2. Format: A5. Laminated Hardcover. 192 pages including 16 pages of color. Publisher: Ajax News & Feature Service. e-mail to: ajaxpics@freezone.co.uk

-- lucien (lucien@ubi.edu), May 29, 2001.

Is Mr. Eastland still adhering to his erroneous contention (in the Leica M Compendium) that you can change the M6's metering angle by working the preselector lever?

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 29, 2001.

No, but I remember that one.

;-)

Lucien

-- lucien (lucien@ubi.edu), May 31, 2001.