Re: [Leica] Leica-what do pros use?

[Francesco Sanfilippo <fls@5senses.com>]

I think PJs and press corps personnel are using digital because
that is what the papers and magazines are asking for.  It is much 
"easier" to port a digital image to a newspaper computer than to 
have to process a roll of film, then scan it and fuss with color, etc.
Note the word "easier."  Newspapers and magazines are not known
for caring about super high quality images, and are known for wanting
images yesterday.  Also, you must remember that newspapers and
magazines are disposable items and an image is only valuable for a
day or a week or a month.  I would EXPECT press photogs to want the
fastest, easiest system possible, thus AF, AE, and digital.

Leica seems to fall into a more specialized market, like medium format.
People who struggle with medium and large format do so for a reason.
They have the time, the patience, the budget, and the NEED for high
quality, as opposed to a B&W newspaper.  Larger formats and Leicas
produce images I see hanging on walls, in galleries, in expensive, glossy,
hardcover books, and in high-end magazines.  This is a different market
completely.  I would not expect to see a person preparing a $200 hardcover,
coffee-table book using a P&S or even an AF Nikon or Canon.  Why would
he, unless the book were about sports or some other subject where the auto-
everything camera would be useful.  

Every camera style, format, film, and lens has its strengths and its
weaknesses.
If you have the TIME to create the ultimate in technically correct and
visually
stimulating images, then go Leica.  If you are pressed for TIME, or someone
who pays you tells you to use digital or AF, then do it.  Then pull out
your M6
after you get home or on weekends!

Francesco





At 08:52 AM 7/1/98 -0700, you wrote:
>On Tue, 30 Jun 98 22:59:58 +0800 apbc <apbc@public1.sta.net.cn> writes:
>>Just to follow up about my earlier intention to make an informal poll 
>>of 
>>the white house press corps and their camera usage: most of the white 
>>house press corps I saw today use Canon closely followed by Nikon with 
>[snip!]
>>But if Leica does not have much credibility amongst such 
>>photojournalists 
>>where will it find a market in future?
>
>I'm not sure we can really conclude that Leica does not have much
>credibility amongst PJ's nor that  the Leica isn't the best tool for the
>job just because the WH press corps is going digital.  What I see is that
>press corps customers are demanding digital images because they are
>easier for them (the customer) to process.  They don't seem to mind that
>the results may not be as good with digital as they could be with film. 
>It appears to be just a matter of convenience for them.  If the customer
>demanded medium format film images, because they are easier for them to
>process since that's what they have always used (that is a hypothetical
>example), that would not automatically mean 35mm isn't the best tool for
>the job.  It just means medium format is what is required so by default
>becomes the only acceptable tool for the job.
>
>Leica may have tons of credibility amongst PJ's.  But if customer demand
>stipulates what is acceptable it is essentially immaterial.  Much as the
>customer base for stock shooters, magazines, etc. are set up to process
>slide film, not color negative film.  That doesn't automatically mean
>that color negative film may not be the best tool for the job.  In many
>cases it may be because of its typically wider latitude, ability to
>better deal with extreme contrast situations (shadow detail), etc. 
>
>If the customer base for PJ's products are going digital then Leica must
>either redefine _its_ customer base or jump into the digital market with
>a unique product.  Most pro digital cameras seem to be huge.  Perhaps
>there's room for an M6 size digital camera that accepts our wonderful
>Leica lenses?  I am not a PJ nor anything resembling a pro but I would be
>very interested in a digital camera that would allow me to use my current
>crop of M lenses.  I suspect lots of others might also.  Afterall, what
>pro wouldn't want to reduce the size and weight of the load they must
>carry if the results are stunning?  
>
>Just some thoughts.
>
>Don
>
>Boise, Idaho
>
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