I do, I really do love my TTL. The metering is intuitive and very accurate. Every control falls naturally to hand. I have just one nagging complaint: when a finder is in the hot shoe, it is difficult to flip out the advance lever. I have to reach up and over by the shutter speed dial to pull it out. I hate that!!! My M2 has no problem as the lever curls out slightly at the tip; just enough so you can easily flip it out.

So after one year I decided to take matters into my own hand. I bought the tools for the M camera that Fargo sells (second-hand even, thanks Tristan) and ordered a M3/2 advance lever from the Canadian distributor ($40.25CAN or $26.14US at today's exchange rate). It fits just fine resting against the shutter speed dial when pushed all the way in. I imagine this means I will get some funny wear pattern on the dial and lever but now it WORKS! With a finder mounted, I can easily flip out the advance lever.

(also posted to the Leica-Users-Group)

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), July 25, 2001

Answers

John:

I am glad that you have found a solution to your problem. Still, I find it interesting that people, who think about these things, say, that when we left the mechanical age, we quit adapting technology to our needs and begin adapting to the technology.

My experience is somewhat different. After 30 y of using a Blad, I have no trouble with it; we work together well. It is probably the worst designed camera that I have used. But it is easy, because I have adapted. I have trouble moving to the newer stuff. I have used Leica's for 40 years. Same experience.

You just adapt to what works for you; and you make the changes needed; as you have.

Art

-- Art (AKarr90975@aol.com), July 25, 2001.

> It is probably the worst designed camera that I have used.

Hasselblad, who are they? never heard of 'em.

wait a minute. didn't they make the first camera that NASA took to the moon?

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), July 25, 2001.

Ah, well, you gave yourself away, Daniel. Art only said 'Blad, not Hasselblad. You know, Art, the Hassie wouldn't be so unergonomic if they could have provided a shutter release somewhere more consistent with the design of the human hand. They might have gone with a sidewise motion that works well with the thumb, like on a Rollei TLR. Or better yet, a built-in handgrip with integral release button.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), July 26, 2001.

mine came with a placard saying 'press here for picture'.

I press the button, it takes a picture. never a problem.

what Art says is so very true. when I first picked up a M6, it felt very, very alien. didn't concern me because I remember that same feeling when I first picked up a Hasselblad. years later, that camera now feels like an extension of my arm and I know the M6 will do the same. like Ralph Gibson stated in so many interviews, photographers don't seem to understand the importance of being intimate with ones camera. sounds kinky, but true.

-- daniel taylor (lightsmythe@agalis.net), July 26, 2001.

The Hasselblad's shutter release is in exactly the right position for handholding...with a *waist-level finder*, which is all that was available at the time it was designed...this is similar to the Leica situation where the basic design hasn't been changed in decades. For eye-level veiwing, as you move from 45-degree to 90-degree finders the shutter button becomes more misplaced, at which time a grip release is more comfortable. Someone mentioned the Rollei TLR as being more ergomonic than the Blad? Rolleis have the shutter button in the same place as the Blad, except the winder and focus knobs are on opposite sides of the camera, so you've got to switch hands to use one or the other. With a Blad you can use the right hand to focus and wind. I have to admit, I never noticed a problem getting at the wind lever with a finder on my M6...I'll have to stop and pay attention to my hand motions next time and see what I'm doing.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), July 26, 2001.

Depends on wheither your wind on motion is to engage the serrated end continously or the start the motion with the top of the black plastic and then switch to the end to complete.

-- Simon Wong (drsimonwong@hotmail.com), July 27, 2001.

Try Tom Abrahamsson's 'Rapidwinder', you'll find it perfect with or without a mounted finder. Smooth, it never requires you to move the M from your eye.

Al

-- Alan J. Simon (asimon@metisassoc.com), July 30, 2001.