Topic: Fancy a Leica M7

[Rik]

Here's how they are made:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/special_leica_mp_m7.php?langid=2&mid=457

I must admit, I'd rather like one...

[Simon]

I'd rather like to be able to afford one! 

[Rik]

That too. It is a beautiful tool though.

[Simon]

I'm not sure I would use the word 'beautiful'.  It might be a fantastic machine, but to look at it, you'd think it was rather dated.

[Rik]

There speaks someone who's not been a photographer all their lives. Dated, but classic and, more importantly, highly functional in a small package.

[Simon]

I have always enjoyed taking photos, but I've been in and out of photography, and have only had two or three 'serious' cameras.

[Rik]

It's not the camera, it's the eye. The beauty of the M7 is that it's so unobtrusive.

[Simon]

My first SLR was a Fujica, and that produced what I thought were marvellous pictures.  I have a fantastic shot of Barry Sheen going full tilt round a bend at Brands Hatch.  It was pure fluke, and a one time only chance, but I still remember it as one of my best ever photos.  My next one was a Canon EOS, which was also fantastic, and I did a number of informal wedding shoots with that, and some of the photos turned out better than the official photographer's!

[Rik]

I started with a Praktica, before moving through three Pentaxes and a Nikon, then going to a Canon T90.

There's a few shots I like, the one of a 1mm sea shell at 20x magnification, 200x when printed, but probably the best two are one where I was photographing a cricket match for the local paper, the batsman swung and missed - I captured his follow through and caught the ball as it passed between the stumps with the bails just lifting off. The other was a night shot of the wonder of a first bonfire night on a young child's face. I've done a lot of weddings, but never really enjoyed them. Another favourite is this . 5am on June 21st.

[Simon]

Nice shot.  It almost looks like the mist was put on after.

[Rik]

No, that's just how it was for about 10 minutes before it burnt off. Early morning light is brilliant.

I just have to add a picture of Sue to my favourites, this captures her spirit completely.

[Simon]

Good shot! 

[Rik]

It's a few years old now, but if you want to sum Sue up, that picture does it.

[Simon]

[Clive]

We used a Leica at work to take pictures of metallugy samples.  It was kept locked in the safe for security reasons!