my comparison of the m7 and matrix meter systems, i just added it to the bottom of the "so shoot me . . . m7" thread below. sorry for being long-winded and this is obviously just my opinion, albeit after quite a bit of comparison shooting.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), May 14, 2002

Answers

Roger, I went back and read your posts. Usually, posts are to long winded to hold my attention, but I gave you the benifit of the doubt. I think that any differences you've found are geared to the way you meter, and objectively, have little, if anything, in common with anyone else. As far as backlit metering is concerned, I always check the palm of my hand. I consider matrix metering (yes, I use a couple of Nikon's) to be nothing more than full area meters. But no matter what type of meter I use, I meter the same way as I have for the last thirty years. As far as exposure compensation, any camera with a ISO dial has exposure compensation. All this does is change the ISO of the film. For instance, with my Leitz M6 (which also has exposure compensation) if the film is 400, and I want to over expose a stop, I set the dial to 200. If I want to underexpose a stop, I set the dial to 800, and luckily, my ISO dial is also calibrated in 1/3 stops.

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), May 14, 2002.

I'm a bit new on this forum, and I guess I'm going to say something that might get a few people a bit defensive...but, it's not intended that way.

For me, a Leica is a Leica because it's a Leica and not an F5.

I don't even consider the leica R cameras to be in the Barnack tradition. They're simply very high quality auto SLR cameras.

This is all a matter of personal perspective, of course, but if I want to do fast and fine photography, I can do it with my simple Nikon N6006 and a good lens as well as with a Leica.

For me, using a Leica is like eating a very fine hot fudge sundae compared to a Good Humor bar. When I use my Leica, I like to think, and take it very slow, and get a feel for the light, and my subject, and message the camera gently to bring out the best in us both. I also like to work without an exposure meter whenever possible, evaluating the light myself (not as hard as it may seem).

This is also why I like the thread mount systems, since they are not as easy to use as either my previous M6 and M3 (that just didn't feel right to me), or my computerized cameras that really don't need me at all, but work great at weddings.

I really don't see the value of an M7 with Matrix metering and such, when you can do photography by the seat of you pants with more basic units, and, I think learn much more about photography, composition, and lighting.

Any debate here...please?

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), May 14, 2002.

Good point, Todd. After several years of using my M6, I'm recently having a good time shooting the M2 and M3 using a hand-held meter. I shot that way for the first 40 years anyhow. It's not like I don't know how.

-- Bob Fleischman (RFXMAIL@prodigy.net), May 14, 2002.

Todd,

Couldn't agree more. For me, the best thing about the M7 coming out is the great deal I just got on an M6 ttl .58.

-- Noah (naddis@mindspring.com), May 15, 2002.

Just can't resist seconding you here, Noah!

The best thing about the M7 coming out is my already having bought an M6TTL (happens to be a 0.72).

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), May 15, 2002.

glenn -- sorry to hear about your attention span problem; good luck with that. if you feel that your time was wasted reading my post please forward to me an estimate of total time wasted, and an indication of your standard hourly compensation. i will be happy to reimburse you in due course.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), May 15, 2002.