Re: [Leica] The shortest 4-letter word in photography

["Eno" <eno22@enter.net>]

From: Mike Johnston <michaeljohnston@ameritech.net>
Subject: [Leica] The shortest 4-letter word in photography

>>> I don't consider Leicas pro cameras. More non-pros use
>>> them. <Snip> Not trying to be argumentative here.

SEMANTICS and also some mislead hollow pride, it's hard mot to be
argumentive
Pros?  Does anyone have the mind or the chutzpah to question the validity of
the parameters of what this word even means?
No, not someone who's primary income is....Well, yes but this doesn't do any
justice to "professional photography"
Excuse the members, but Wedding photography is more like a pro's last
resort.  Someone living as an "artist" (not my word) is better off than the
local shmuck at the newspaper.  Yeah, I know them.  Their stupid equipment
and their daily dependency on 'orders' and intentionally conclusive
pre-requisite that blocks the damn shutter from the very start.

>>I remember a poll of pros done a number of years ago by PDN that showed
>>that Leica was over-represented among pros based on its market share,
>>and Minolta under-represented. But that was based on market share. There
>>were still more Minolta-using pros than Leica-using

PDN?  They have a shtick up the tuches.  They're on the other end, the artsy
fad, and they have the authority of a bunch of snobbish New Yorkers who like
to define and intimidate 'art students' (with) portfolio and tearsheet
threats and demands.  The whole thing becomes a game of the $1000 portfolio.
And the condescending self-appointed elect that give advice such as 'be
coherent, and try again, never give up!'
A lot of pj's
>>reported owning Leicas, but very few said they used M's as their main
>>cameras or for most of their work. Of course pjs are a minority among
>>professional photographers, to a dispiriting degree.

Thanks G-d someone is using them

>>>
It's just a simple fact. It partly depends on whom you count as a "pro,"
but by most sensible definitions, I'd say that not more than 5% of
people who make their living as photographers in America (i.e., pros)
use Leicas of either flavor as their main or only camera system. That's
being generous--it's probably actually more like 2 or 3%. If you
disqualify all the wedding and portrait photographers from the "pro"
category (not very fair!) the number might jump up, say to 8-15%, if
that. It's a connoisseur's camera, an artist's camera, a photography
lover's camera--and some wonderful photographers (and some damn fine
pros) use it--but it's not primarily a pro camera.

- - --Mike
>>>>>
It IS IS IS IS!!!!!!!
It's a photographer lover's camera!   Pro, not pro.  Shows the personality
of a hell 'f a lot of pros.
A connoisseur's camera!  Wonderful Photographers! It's absurd when someone
posts to the list as an "amateur" and shoots 10 rolls a day.
Even more so when they make money but have no employer and no musts! EOS (a
most bothersome bunch of letters)
PJ's?  If an amateur's taken 20,000 more shots in  continents he/she is a
pro too.
My conclusion?
Pro is a very broad and misleading word hear and certainly not ANY
indication of a Photographer's Photographer.  Those who are 'ameturs' out of
a respect for the 9-5 gear guys, nu?