Battery-Pack Renewal, Motor Drive R8
By: Bill Caldwell
We all have times when we overlook or neglect certain equipment. I had not exercised my film R8 with its Motor Drive R8 (MD-R8) for sometime. The Battery-Pack (Leica 14423, known as the “AKKU – Pack MD – R8”) would not light even one red LED (there are three red LEDs, and all light when the Battery-Pack is fully charged). To put it simply, the Battery-Pack was dead. Unfortunately, I had two Battery-Packs that were in that condition.
The two Battery-Packs were put in succession into their Leica Quick Charger (14424)[see Photo #1], and only one showed any sign of life by lighting one of the three LEDs after charging (approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes according to the manual). Of course, the “Full” green light on the Quick Charger was glowing green even though the two Battery-Packs exhibited either one glowing LED, or none. With that result, I either had to find a new Leica 14424 Battery-Pack, or have my two existing packs fitted with new batteries by a company that rebuilds Ni-MH battery packs.
The third option was to continue to use the Quick Charger to discharge the two battery packs, and then recharge the two packs in succession. The Quick Charger has a “Press for discharge” red button on the top of the unit. While I had pressed that red button with the first Discharge / Charge, I had not held it for a number of seconds. From my experience, one needs to hold that “Press for discharge” button for several seconds to get a full discharge.
The long story short is that after three complete Discharges / Charges, the Battery-Packs were showing more life, one had two glowing red LEDs, and the other had one glowing LED. To let the Ni-MH batteries cool, I alternated the two packs in the Quick Charger. For a single Battery-Pack, I would suggest at least an hour of cooling to prevent over heating before putting it through another Discharge / Charge cycle.
After five cycles (remember each cycle is well over an hour and one-half), the first Battery-Pack was fully charged with three glowing red LEDs. [See, Photo #2.] The second pack took six Discharge / Charge cycles, but it too is now fully charged. Both Battery-Packs were charged over four days ago and are still holding full charges. The MD-R8 contacts were cleaned with a pencil eraser, and the R8, with the MD-R8, and one of the rescued Battery-Packs performed flawless in an afternoon shooting session at an Italian festival here on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
P.S. Ten days later, and the battery charges in both batteries are still holding with three LEDs glowing.
Q: What Eye Do You Use In Your Viewfinder and Why?
By: Stephen Snakard
Photo of Carl Merkin’s favorite “old war horse” Leica, sent to me with his reply.
Q: What Eye Do You Use In Your Viewfinder and Why?
By Denise Snakard
This being THE FIRST WEBSITE CHALLANGE, I found myself asking what technique all LHSA members need to use to take a good picture and are willing to share with fellow members. A technique so simple it may not be apparent to all, but it should be understood by all, including this author, who is a novice and intimidated by such fine photographers of all levels and subjects.
The answer to my question was right in front of “me eyes” ... the viewfinder eye. To write this tip, I took a random sample poll from around the globe of LHSA membership. Contrary to what most members thought to be the obvious dominant eye (including my husband, Steve), the responses of others as to individual dominant eyes were candid and their motives are clear as a picture image.
FOR ALL WHO RESPONDED to my poll, before I discuss my findings, I thank you for your participation. Your personal comments about the dominant eye, which run from well constructed and reasoned to humorous should be an eye opener to all. Most importantly, what I have learn from this mini poll is that the LHSA has many promising years of creativity ahead and I have made many new friends from the following question: "Hi, I am taking a poll for the Website Challenge contest. Question: What eye do you use in your viewfinder and why?”
POLL RESULTS.
Right eye: 12;
Left eye: 14;
Both: 3.
Here is a bird’s eye view our members’ responses: Leica Lassie first .... Right out the shutter box is my dear friend, Carolyn Santee, "I use both eyes, because I don't use a viewfinder, but the digital back of the camera. I also use both eyes when shooting even though I'm right eye dominant."
Now for the Leica Laddies .... First, Carl Merkin: "Hi, Denise, I am left-eyed and always enjoyed using a rapidwinder or motor on M cameras. Using an M Leica left-eyed, your right eye is up against the winding lever, so you have to take the camera away from your eye and you loose sight of your subject if you don't use a winder. This is only true when you shoot a horizontal picture, and vertical format is very comfortable. Regards, Carl...."
Helge Johannsen knows down to the diopter how he keeps his eye on his subjects: "Dear Denise, this mail is coming from member Helge Johannsen from Germany. He goes on to say: "I am using my left eye out of [for] two reasons: 1) My left e by far my better one. Left +2 dpt [diopter], right +5,5 dpt [diopter]. So it is possible to correcmy left eye by a correction lens on the viewfinder. 2) As the viewfinder of the Leica M is on the far left side of the camera the camera has a good contact to my head (forehead and nose). This would not be the case if I would use my right eye. I have never understood users quoting that the advance lever is poking into their right eyes if they are looking into the viewfinder with their left eyes. I have never had such problems. Kind regards from Germany."
Who doesn't want to hear advice from a youngster, as in, 85 year old, Marshall Windmiller? "Got my first camera when I was ten, a Univex that cost fifty cents. Film, from Belgium, was a dime. I think the camera had a wire view finder with no glass, but I am not sure. Later I got a Kodak Bullet camera, I think it had a glass viewfinder. My first fully adjustable camera was an Argus AF, and later got an Argus C3. I used my left eye on all of these, and on a Speed Graphic after the war (WW2). I think I did my best work with a Rolleiflex TLR with a waist-level finder.
I realize that most cameras are designed for right eye viewing. I have tried, but have never been able to break the left eye habit."
Then we have, Dave Berry: "Right--I'm Right handed." Followed by Arturo J. Abascal: "You are supposed to use your left eye when viewing through your viewfinder, why? Because if you use your right eye, you have your left eye exposed and your tendency would be to open your eye so this would create a weird situation."
I love Don DiNaro and wonder why he kicks with his left foot: "Left, is it a habit? I personally kick left footed, and I am right handed."
These responses by Carl Bretteville and Ed Schwartzreich are truly enlightening regarding how one can overcome a handicap. Both are exemplary illustrations of how, if one enjoys photography as much as Carl and Ed do, you don't have to give it up using your Leica due to a medical problem. Carl Bretteville explains: “Right, had to retrain from my left due to keratoconus a few years ago." Ed Schwartzreich's answer is incredible, going from left eye to right eye: "I am right-handed and right-eyed. In the past I trained myself to shoot left-eyed with Leica M's, so I could use external viewfinders without placing my nose accidentally on the camera's viewfinder. Shortly after that, unfortunately, I developed a detached retina in my left eye, which after surgery left me with deficient vision in that eye. So I went back to using my right eye."
Bob Lampert, a 30 + year member: "Use my right eye since I'm right handed this is the strong eye, if I'm viewing the LCD screen both eyes."
Seth Rosner offers a valid reason, or two: "Left eye; because it's there! ;-) Denise, I believe you will find that the reason is that [almost] everyone in the world favors one eye or the other, as almost everyone is right-handed or left-handed. In my case, my left eye is considerably stronger than the right which has strong astigmatism." ;- ) is Seth’s signature for his 'Right eye wink'... what a flirt!
I loved hearing from Argentina; I will surely contact Alejandro Blaquier when I go there. Alejandro replied: "Hi, I use my right eye, because it is my governing eye. Thank you. Alejandro."
Daniel Zirinsky says: "I use my left eye as I have trouble with the right one. However for many years, and before the trouble, I used my right eye." Dr. Pierre Jeandrain, Portugal, shares his first Leica (IIIc) story: "The left one, because I started with this one when receiving my first Leica (IIIc) in 1949. I know it is not the recommended (logical) one, but I am acquainted and much too old to change."
Scott Arquilla and Richard Wasserman both offer
valid reasons for using their viewfinder eye. First Scott: "I use my left eye. It is easier to shut my right I than my left." Richard Wasserman said: "My right eye is dominant, so that is the one I use with all my cameras." Terry Walker thinks like all shooters do: "Right handed, right eye... shoot the same way." Paul T. Collura likes the “feel” for the eye he uses: Paul writes: "Right eye. I guess I'm right eye dominant. I'm right handed if that is a factor. It just feels right."
Kenny Shipman educated me on the problem with his nose: "Left eye, because my right eye is weaker. When I next update my eyeglass prescription I might go back to using my right eye so my nose won't be rubbing into the back of the camera."
Sebastian W. Trujillo listens to his eye doctor (yes sir, just following the doctor’s order): "I use the left eye, and simply because according to my Eye Doctor is the strongest I have." Bill Abbott’s reply got way over my head: "I am right-handed and right-eyed so I have always used my right eye since I moved from a Rollei SLR (using both eyes on a glass screen) to an M4 in 1973, and then onwards to R's and other Ms."
Could Roy Rodger [American screen cowboy] have been Gordon Smith’s boyhood hero? Gordon said; "Right eye. Everyone has a dominant eye and there is an easy test for it. I know because of years of competition pistol shooting."
Steve Snakard is right eye dominant for both viewfinder eye and skeet and trap. "Moi uses both with my sweet D-Lux."
Saving the two best replies for last. Will David Schumaker please take a picture of the following? "Right, because I was born with a camera stuck to that eye."
We all know past LHSA President, Dick Santee, for his Don Rickles' style of humor to his being a serious photographer to shooting and, occasionally, shooting down a Manhattan or two. Dick's response: "Hi Denise, I use the right eye because I am right-eye dominant. I also shoot with the right eye. Your tip could include: “To determine your eye dominance, extend your arm and point at a distant object with both eyes open. Then close one eye. If your finger remains on the object, that is your dominant eye. If it jumps to the side, it is not your dominant eye (the other one is). The task is a little more difficult if you have three eyes. You need to extend both arms. Cheers, Dick"
Conclusion: What qualifies for a fine photo is an insatiable appetite to want to shoot ... and it begins with YOUR eye through a Leica viewfinder.
Click-click, Denise Snakard, Winnetka, Illinois
Leicatime Premium Camera Leather
By: Adah Walker
Leicatime Premium Camera Leather Offers Superior Protection for Leica M8 Cameras
H. PETER VON PAWEL
The Leica M8 represents a substantial investment that needs to be protected from the elements as well as normal wear and tear. When the camera is used with the provided nylon carrying straps, it normally rests on the chest of the user, with the LED display rubbing on zippers, buttons or other clothing. Unfortunately the LED is easily scratched or damaged.
This is not a good thing, and can be remedied either with a Leica-made leather case or possibly some type of aftermarket screen protector.
A more elegant solution comes from Italy through Luigi Crescenzi’s Leicatime web site. Various beautifully crafted cases are offered in different colors, leathers and styles, many designed specifically for the M8, and offering excellent protection for the camera body as well as the LED. The half case shown in the accompanying photos has a removable back, which snaps off completely. The case itself rubs against body or clothing, and the leather is thick enough to offer substantial protection for the LED. For those prone to losing things, another version of this half-case has a flap that opens, but remains securely sewn to the case.
The case is offered in colors ranging from burgundy red to forest green. I chose a more conservative cognac brown, which discreetly complements the camera. Leicatime also offers matching Deluxe carrying straps, which are not only functional, but really accent the case and camera.
Leica anticipated a problem with damaged LED’s and offered an upgrade made of quartz. This, however, is a rather expensive item, necessitating a return to Solms, so it isn’t for everyone. Moreover the newest Leica M8.2 incorporates this quartz LED, rendering the problem moot.
The Leicatime cases are available through Luigi Crescenzi at Leicatime.com, and currently are priced at US$250.00. The excellent Deluxe strap is $75.00. Both add a practical and good looking layer of protection for your very valuable camera.
Catching A Rainbow
By: Adah Walker
Catching A Rainbow
DICK GILCREAST
There were patches of rain coming down at about 6 o’clock on a summer evening, and I was watching for rainbows. As I passed this field I could see a very faint rainbow to the right of our local Mt. Monadnock, here in SW New Hampshire.
I stopped and got out of the car with M6 and 35mm lens thinking I would need a polarizer to intensify the weak colors, when suddenly a patch of quite heavy rain approached from the right side and was caught in the rays of the setting sun, producing the bright partial rainbow you can see in the photograph. The color was very intense, so no polarizer was needed. I shot quickly using a meter reading from the gray area of the sky before the fast-approaching rain obscured the mountain. I got two frames only.This is the first of the two.
Metering rainbows? If the sky is very light behind them the colors can be quite pale, but a sky reading will usually be about right, and a polarizer can help. If you’re using contrasty color transparency film or digital capture, this is a good time for a little bracketing. A polarizer will help to intensify the colors -- not by darkening the blue of the sky (which it cannot because a rainbow is always 180 degrees from the sun -- and there may not be much blue anyway) but Instead the polarizer has the effect of suppressing stray reflections from the water drops between the camera and the rainbow that would otherwise cause obscuring haze. The rainbow occurs within the area of raindrops, reflecting the arc of colors at a particular angle between the sun and your eye or camera lens. The rainbow your eye sees can be quite close or quite far away, depending on where the raindrops are.
The full arc of a rainbow usually requires at least a 21mm superwide lens on a full frame 35mm camera. Less wide lenses will show the scene behind the rainbow more correctly, however, especially when we don’t want something like a mountain to be rendered too small in the background. But the narrower angle also means not getting the full arc into the frame, so a quick decision will have to be made on how much of it to include and where to place it relative to the background.
You can "place" a rainbow? Yes you can, to a certain extent. A rainbow being reflected within a rain shower is usually closer to you than a distant mountain or something else on the horizon, so it will move somewhat in the same direction as you move left or right. You can therefore try to place it, or in this picture one end of it, about where you would like it in the composition.
Photo data: Leica M6, 35mm f/1.4 Summilux, Kodacolor Gold 200 film. Meter reading on gray sky. No time for a polarizer, and not needed anyway.
Window Frost Patterns
By: Adah Walker
Window Frost Patterns
DICK GILCREAST
One interesting feature often seen in winter weather is frost patterns. They can occur on just about anything, usually outdoors. But when they occur on windows the photography can be done from indoors where the shooting is a lot more comfortable.
Here in the Northeast, when the humidity from the warmth inside meets the zero cold outside, we occasionally get interesting frost patterns on the inside of the glass which beg to be photographed. This is macro lens territory, but it can also be done with any other equipment which focuses close enough and has a relatively flat field.
Our old farmhouse has storm windows installed outside the old style sashes, leaving a space of a few inches between the inside and outside window panes. The frost formed on the inside surface of the outer storm windows. All that was necessary was to make sure the tripoded camera was parallel to the window panes, and to stop down moderately to ensure a flat enough field for good edge sharpness.
The blue picture was done at a shaded downstairs window in late afternoon, with indirect light from the blue sky coming from outside. There were some tree branches in the the background to give a few dark accents. The picture with the orange color was done at an upstairs window facing west, with the setting sunlight filtered through some tree branches, again with the light coming from outside.
The camera was a Leicaflex SL, the exposure spot metered on a light/dark average to get the full range of tones. The lens was an early 50mm f/2 Summicron-R with the stronger of the two Elpro closeup lenses available for it (an Elpro VIb, early enough to be marked Macrotar VIb) at its closest focus, giving a frame of about 2.5 x 3.5 inches. The add-on Elpro lenses are smaller and lighter to carry around than a full size macro lens, and they don’t cause any loss of light at closest focus, so I have used Elpros for many years on both 50 and 90mm R lenses. The film was Kodachrome 64, and these prints made via internegatives on Kodak Gold 100 color neg.
So it sometimes pays to have closeup capability in your camera bag in case something like this comes along. It gave an excellent excuse for remaining indoors that afternoon!