This may sound silly, but has anybody ever done a study or heard anything about whether turning an M6 or M4 one way or the other for a vertical shot makes a difference in its framing. I'm not so anal retentive to really worry about it, but I'm just curious what everyone else thinks. I don't really shoot that many verticals, because I believe horizontal is the more natural way to view things, but when I do, I have the camera turned so the shutter button is towards the ground and resting on my palm. Any input here?

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 09, 2002

Answers

UH......the camera is resting on my palm, not the shutter button.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 09, 2002.

My theories on this are:

I tend to hold the Leica with the lens and shutter button up. It's probably just habit from SLR days, since this position doesn't mush my nose into the camera back (I use my right eye for shooting). But it feels most comfortable to me.

In addition, for portraits, holding the camera with the shutter button/ lens low would seem to shoot UP at the subject, emphasizing nostrils and generally giving a slight low-angle 'horror movie' perspective.

I haven't noticed much effect on framing, but holding the M vertically sometimes affects focus - I presume because without the side of the camera braced against my nose it's easier for my eye to shift off- center behind the viewfinder and displace the split image slightly. I tend to focus horizontally and then rotate the camera to shoot.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), February 09, 2002.

>...heard anything about whether turning an M6 or M4 one way or the other for a vertical shot makes a difference in its framing...<

Sure. One way the lens is below and slightly left of the VF window, and the other way the lens is above and slightly right of the VF window. But in use, either will give you essentially the same perspective for the scene.

;-),

-- Jack Flesher (jbflesher@msn.com), February 09, 2002.

I always hold it shutter-button-up. Only in that orientation can 1/125 be used with flash for daylight sync (referring to M6 Classic or earlier)as long as the subject's face is in the top 1/2 of the frame.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 09, 2002.

Hello Tom. I think that whether you are a left or right eye viewer, essentially framing is the same provided you are holding your Leica in the way most natural for you. Leica usually issued instructions on technique with their cameras ..M2 instructions on how to hold the Leica: "To switch from horizontal to vertical pictures,turn the Leica upright.The grip of the hands does not change appreciably:hold the camera in much the same way as for horizontal shots.Alternatively,you can bring the right hand down for vertical shots,and release the shutter with the thumb. In this case hold the LEICA so that the tip of the thumb lies against the release button, and the fingers press against the camera.from the bottom. .." Regards.

-- Sheridan Zantis (albada60@hotmail.com), February 09, 2002.

I like the shutter-button down position because then my right elbow can be down and braced against my side, to reduce camera movement. The other way, my right arm is up in the air with no support so I don't feel as steady. Of course, it's easier to use the finder (If right-eyed) with the button end up.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), February 09, 2002.

Ilike the shutter at the bottom because it's easier to get my fingers around front to that pesky focusing tab on the lens.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 09, 2002.

If I find myself taking a vertical shot I orient the M6 so that the lens is in as high a position as possible so that I have to tilt the camera less to frame tall objects. Sort of like front rise in an LF camera. This can reduce converging vertical somewhat.

-- jeff schraeder (jeff@circlesofclarity.com), February 13, 2002.

I do any way, but if I feel tired I do the other.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 13, 2002.

I prefer the shutter button down since I invariably knock off my baseball cap when I try the shutter button in the up position.

-- Lewis Lauring (eyeye@citlink.net), February 14, 2002.