Leica M: Advanced Photo School by Gunter Osterloh

[LightWave]

Anyone have any opinion of Leica M: Advanced Photo School by Gunter Osterloh?

I only have a Zeiss Ikon. Not sure if the all the Leica M specific information will benefit me at all or not.

[plummerl]

It's a very nice, informative book, albeit very Leica centric.

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum LightWave! :) It's the update of a classic. Yes it is Leica-centric but there are many great example photographs in it that would help anyone visualizing with lenses they are not familiar with. I would think it might help any RF user but YMMV. One way to check it out is to borrow the book from your local library (or through inter-library loan if they don't have it).

[ncd_photo]

Its an enjoyable and informative read and deals with the finer aspects of RF photography - many of which aren't restricted to a Leica M

Nick

[vrgard]

It's a good book. I happen to have an extra, brand-new copy (recently received a second copy as a birthday present) if anyone is interested. It's still in the Amazon shipping package. If no one speaks up, I'll eventually get around to putting it up for sale in the classified section of this forum.

-Randy

[LightWave]

Thanks for the warm welcom, Peter. Nice work you got in your gallery.

I think I'll take your advice and check out the book.

Welcome to the forum LightWave! :) It's the update of a classic. Yes it is Leica-centric but there are many great example photographs in it that would help anyone visualizing with lenses they are not familiar with. I would think it might help any RF user but YMMV. One way to check it out is to borrow the book from your local library (or through inter-library loan if they don't have it).

[peter_n]

Thanks! Enjoy the book! :)

[alexz]

It's a good book. I happen to have an extra, brand-new copy (recently received a second copy as a birthday present) if anyone is interested. It's still in the Amazon shipping package. If no one speaks up, I'll eventually get around to putting it up for sale in the classified section of this forum.

-Randy

Randy, I'd like to pick the book. I acquired LEICA M6 to M1 book some time ago - wasn't satisfied by one - found just a plain M6 manual was more interesting reading then that book, so hope the one you have will present better vocerage on the topic.
I'm in Israel, book shipping from US is quite straight-forward, usually costs just few $. A PM is on its way to your Inbox...;)

Alex

[vrgard]

Sorry, Alex, but I could not find an international book rate on the US Postal Service website. So, without that, it looks like shipping to Israel would cost almost as much as the book is worth in which case you'd do better just ordering it locally.

Sorry,
Randy

[alexz]

Well, Randy, I rasponded by PM.
In fact, the previous Leica book (that I mentioned above) I also purchased frrom US seller - it was somethign lik 5-7 $ S&H.
Anyway, never mind.

Good luck, Alex

[vrgard]

Sorry, Alex, I would be happy to sell the book to you. As I said in the message I sent to you, when I checked the US Postal Service website for shipping costs it looked like it would cost about $17 to ship the book to Israel. You didn't mention having previously received a book from someone else in the US for $5-7 in shipping costs. I would be happy to hear of a cheaper option. If you or anyone else can inform me of what this cheaper option is, I would appreciate it and would send it to you promptly.

Thanks,
Randy

[rbiemer]

Randy,
Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope is $11. 4 pound weight limit.
Rob

[vrgard]

Thanks, Rob. Perhaps you've identified the mistake I made when checking the USPS website. I was looking at package, not envelope, rates with the assumption that a book wouldn't fit into an envelope. Still, since this book is only $26 and change, with free shipping here in the US, if purchased from Amazon, even $11 in shipping starts to be a bit much. But then, I'm not familiar with what it would cost if purchased in Israel so maybe that would still be a good deal. Anyways, it's all a bit of a moot point now since Lightwave, who started this thread and does live here in the US, has since spoken up and wants my extra copy.

Thanks,
Randy

[ampguy]

I've had this book in my Amazon wish list for awhile (It was $26 or so) vs $39 at Staceys. Anyways, over the weekend I noticed it was no longer available, so I ordered online at Stacy's and picked up today. They may be going out of production?

In any case, this book really helps justify purchasing the 35 ASPH ;) , in fact there is little to no coverage of the older lenses ...

[peter_n]

If it's going out of print it may be worthwhile getting a copy. I have the first edition that I bought from an Australian collector. It is perfect and I understand it is now worth $600+.

[rui]

Well, I have and even though it's a nice book, I must tell you I was a bit let down. One can find more information on the web than in there...

[ampguy]

I was surprised by the # of typos and lack of tech. review regarding simple things like metric / SAE conversions (i.e. M6 TTL is 1 inch higher?) as well as the typos.

It's OK to leave out coverage of older lenses, in favor of current products, but it's a mix of great Leica and rangefinder info., with a lot of opinions, and surprising to me, a lot of typos and errors. Still worth $40 to me though.

Most of the tech info is interesting with good diagrams and graphics.

Well, I have and even though it's a nice book, I must tell you I was a bit let down. One can find more information on the web than in there...

[veraikon]

Just a hint for RFF-Members who understand german, the 2002 Edition of Günter Osterloh: “Leica M – Hohe Schule der Kleinbildfotografie”
Verlag : Umschau
ISBN : 978-3-89365-965-4
Einband : Gebunden
Preisinfo : 24,95 Eur[D] fPr / 25,70 Eur[A] fPr
Seiten/Umfang : 352 S., zahlr. schw.-w. u. farb. Abb. - 24,4 x 18,7 cm
http://www.buchhandel.de/WebApi1/GetMmo.asp?MmoId=1497558


is in off-sale for € 24.95 (Germany) or 25.70 (Austria). In my view the off-sale price is very reasonable.

[marke]

I was surprised by the # of typos and lack of tech. review regarding simple things like metric / SAE conversions (i.e. M6 TTL is 1 inch higher?) as well as the typos.

Whew! And I thought my M6 TTL was maybe missing some parts! :D

[ampguy]

It continues to remind me of all the great features of my lens, that I can't really see in photos ... :p

[tom_uk]

I was surprised by the # of typos and lack of tech. review regarding simple things like metric / SAE conversions (i.e. M6 TTL is 1 inch higher?) as well as the typos.

Well, it is a translation of a german original, so I assume that the errors crept in during the translation process rather than in the original. The particular fact quoted, for instance, would have been expressed perhaps '2mm' in the original. They probably meant that it was 1/10th of an inch taller, but someone got it wrong and because they don't really think in inches, it slipped through.

It's a very thorough book, and at times goes into excruciating detail. It's also already out of date, of course - the most recent Aspheric lenses aren't included, the new Summarits certianly aren't in it, and there's no mention of the MP, let alone the M8. The pictures aren't bad, though generally chosen for their ability to demonstrate a point rather than their absolute excellence.

(The first edition - 1987 - is a great read. It's fascinating reading it now, from the perspective of all that has occurred since. But my copy suffers from a problem that seems to be common, the pages can come away from the binding.)

[Florian1234]

I ordered a used copy of the German 2002 edition yesterday.

Looking forward to read it. Should arrive next week after advance-paying tomorrow.