[LRflex] Newbie Responds to Greetings


 HI Richard!

Welcome to the zoo!

-Hi back atya David :-)    

You'll find us a friendly group, with lots of expertise to share, 
should you wish to ask.

-I'll try to responsibly draw upon people's knowledge and maybe make a few new 
friends, too.

Sorry, but I am one who cannot recommend any "R" books... for I don't 
think I've ever read one!

-I can certainly understand that statement! Photography is intrinsically visual 
and successful image making isn't dependent upon the written word no matter how 
many books someone reads!

-As for my 'R' books question, I am an inherently curious guy and understanding 
the flora and fauna in the land of leica would be kind of fun to learn and 
handy info as I seek out items to own myself.

As for lenses to avoid ... I can't think of any.... except possible 
the original zoom lenses which were Minolta designed, Minolta built 
but Leica badged.  They were pretty good lenses, for zooms, in their 
day, and still represent pretty good value, as they are available at 
remarkably low prices ... but they are not up to the standards I 
suspect you'd expect, from Leica glass.

-Thanks for the tip. I certainly have high 'hopes' for the images I may acquire 
using Leica lenses and actually have a high opinion of the Minolta equipment I 
used until becoming enamored with the EOS gestalt. My first slr was an SRT-102 
with a terrific Rokkor Fifty - I'm informed by a relative that it's similarity 
to the leicaflex was no accident. I'm not opposed to owning a classic zoom, and 
would probably experiment with them one day if the price were right, but 
Prime's are where my heart lays right now.

A few of the older, Minolta designed, primes have a poor rep, such as 
the 24/2.8.  However, they all went though Leica QC, and many were 
altered ensure top performance.  While not quite up to the latest APO 
designs from Leica, it is as good as the 24 2.8 Nikkor, which is 
widely considered a fine lens.  Several members of this list have the 
24/2.8 Elmarit and really like it, and I suspect the poor rep is more 
from snobbishness than from performance.

-Snobbishness? With Leica Gear? I never would have imagined it!

The 80~200/4 Vario is a later, all Leica design, although it was 
manufactured by Kyocera, in Japan, under contract.  This is the same 
firm which, for years, made the Zeiss lenses. This Vario is 
considered second only to the 70~180/2.8 APO Vario, which is probably 
the finest zoom lens ever built.... but large, heavy and ghastly 
expensive.  The 80~200 is smaller, lighter and the "sleeper" of the 
line.  It will outperform most prime lenses!

- good tip, again, thanks! I will keep it in my thoughts. 

BTW, nothing wrong with the 20D that you have.  I had one and, in 
combination with the 80~200/f4 Vario, I shot a photo which I have 
sold for up to $600 per print, and sold countless dozens of prints in 
smaller sizes (and somewhat lower prices).

http://www.furnfeather.net/Prints/nab_Rufous_Hummer.htm

Add some Leica glass to your 20D and I think you'll be amazed.

- I have only 'scratched' the limits of the 20D's sensor a few times actually. 
Most of my current lenses aren't especially good except for my Zeiss Pancolar 
50mm. It is a bargain hunters wonder when depth of field is being stretched, 
but as the apertures widen it slips back from it's stellar pretensions! I still 
love it and don't regret owning it one iota, so don't get me wrong. 

For some background on Leica to EOS adapters, check out:

http://www.main.furnfeather.net/Links/getting_a_grip.htm and
http://www.main.furnfeather.net/Links/OFC-1.htm

You referred to being "a person living with disabilities".

-Yeppers. It's challenging, but livable and I work hard to leverage my mental 
gifts to manage the situation to the best of my abilities. Not being fortunate 
enough to have a Canadian style health care system is at the core of my 
declining physical abilities, actually. Sigh. For whatever flaws it certainly 
contains, it definitely isn't the prodigious patient killer my countries' 
Politico's and Lobbyists shout it out to be! A Pox Upon Their Houses! should be 
my lament, but I wouldn't wish my travails upon them, no matter how deserved 
their fate would be.

I am privileged to know a chap who has lost most of both hips to 
Cancer and walks, with considerable difficulty, on double 
crutches.  He doesn't let it stop him... he still goes out in the 
woods & fields of his beloved Cariboo (central BC) and does some 
magnificent wildlife work.

See: http://photo.net/photos/bruckner

- I'll track that link down, David. My physical challenges aren't as dire as 
his, I'd hazard to say, at least not yet anyways! Not to get detailed, but I 
have pinched sciatic nerve issues which, with reasonable caution and moderate 
exercise are quite manageable, but something went wrong in my left foot which 
requires extensive inactivity to avoid prodigious pain. The inactivity has 
caused my back situation to continuously decline. The foot/ankle has either a 
pinched nerve, arthritis, an undiscovered fracture, a muscular issue, or all of 
the above - assorted doctors have only given theories (some quite 
contradictory) and the xrays and mri's have been unhelpful. :-) Add in a 
sprinkle of diabetes and mental health challenges and my plate is a bit full!

If I recall correctly, George is also a Canon 20D shooter.

-It really is a nice camera. I have no regrets scooping mine off flea-bay for a 
song. It was heavily loved, but has treated me right for 2years now. Best 125 
bucks I ever spent.

I look forward so seeing some of your work.  :-)

-I'll see what I can sort out. 

Again... welcome to the zoo!

Cheers!

David.
-Cheers back atya

Richard W.

West Michigan, USAl
---
David Young
Logan Lake, BC________________________________


Life is hard...but I just take it one photograph at a time.
~•~
"You miss 100% of the shots you never take" Wayne Gretzky 
~•~
In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows or Gates?
~•~ 
It's okay to be stupid. Just don't be gung-ho about it.
________________________________

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