Hi Leica fans I heard his books are the must ; 1.Leica M-The Advance School of Photography and 2.Excellence in Photography:Applied Leica Technique. Anyone could explain detail of the boths? Are they the must? If they are,which one is most appropriate for the M6 user? Kindest Regards

-- mike (tragsk@yahoo.com), November 07, 2001

Answers

Someone can find them ? They are Rare Item.....,.Aren't They ? I wish Ican read once. and Really want to know What is in the Book ?

-- Puchong Lau (doctorpuchong@hotmail.com), November 07, 2001.

I've got the Leica M book by Osterloh, it is indeed a very interesting and informative read. Something about the way it was bound, though, pages are popping out of it even though it is in mint condition otherwise. I paid $10 for it at a used book store, I've seen them go for $175!

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), November 08, 2001.

Gunter Osterloh's book "Leica M: the Advanced School of Photography" is IMHO the best single book on M bodies and lenses. The latest version (in German "Leica M. Hohe Schule der Kleinbildfotografie"), which today costs DEM 88 (equivalent to USD 40) can still be bought here. If you could have only one single book on M stuff, I'd say get this one (I think it's only in German or English) and keep it.

Here is my own rough summary of contents (no simple chapter numberings are present in the book):

• What a rangefinder is.
• All body model descriptions (1954 to 1994 i.e. M3 to M6J), with histories, contents, photos.
• Their main functions and how these work.
• All about their lenses.
• Close-up and tele usage.
• Light.
• Film.
• Filters.
• Light meters and exposure.
• Motives and composition.
• Projectors.
• History including family trees.

The 4th and last edition being from 1996 means that:

• M6TTL isn't discussed.
• These lenses aren't there either: 2.8/21A, 2.8/24A,  2/28A, 2/35A, 1.4/75, 2/90AA, 3.4/135, Tri-Elmar.
• Lenses which are discussed -- but no longer "current" -- are: 2.8/21 non-A, 2/35 non-A, 2.8/135.
• 0.85 and 0.58 aren't discussed. At that time there was "only" the 0.72.

For me, the best things about this book (which make it absolutely indispensible) include:

• Important data on all lenses including dimension draftings.
• "Advantages and disadvantages" of different lenses.
• What lenses fit on what bodies.
• All about viewfinders (in and on the body).
• Distance-setting (focusing ring) and object-width rules e.g. for 35 mm.
• All the technical explanations especially with graphical and XY-type curve data.
• How to look after your equipment.

I just finished talking to him on the phone, and a new (5th) edition has been planned to appear at the Photokina in September 2002. However, an English translation of it might not be available at the same time.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), November 08, 2001.

Unfortunately there was no English edition of the 1996 version . I value his lens reviews as they are honest appraisals with both the good and bad mentioned. Though it brings many comfort to know that English and German are closely linked languages it is of no practical help. I hope they produce a English edition as well this time. Sales would be huge!

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), November 08, 2001.

I can't add any more than what Michael put in his thorough post, so I'll just add my concurrence that I would choose this as my only Leica M book if I had to choose just one.

One point that I like is that there is a feeling of honesty in the lens chapter that is missing in many other books. Yes, Leica glass is very good, but if a lens needs to be stopped down to a certain aperture for a specific range to give good results, then you can find this fact in this book. Of course, many of the lenses in this chapter have now been superceded by new designs, but in light of the busy used market for older glass, this is still a good read.

My book was over priced in my mind when I bought it new, and it is now literally a loose leaf binder with all of the pages detached, but in hindsight I would not be without it. The single lesson on the field of view of a 35mm lens in relation to the camera's distance has improved my blind street shooting to more of a science and less of a crap shoot, and this alone was worth the price of the whole book.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), November 08, 2001.

Thanks for your great information.

-- Mike (tragsk@yahoo.com), November 08, 2001.