[Leica] A "Lurker" posts

["Tom Furlotte" <tfurlott@midsouth.rr.com>]

Hello luggers,
I have been reading the digest of the group for a few months and thought
this would be a good time to chime in with my first Leica experience. In the
early eighties I was heavy into the Olympus system with several bodies and
lenses from 16mm to 350mm, bellows, winder, motor drive, ttl flashes.  At
that time I was trying to get out of retail and into sports photography. I
had some nagging problems with the  Olympus electronics and decided to get a
back-up camera that would work reliably. I had known of the reputation of
Leica since high school (in the 60's) and decided to visit the local Leica
dealer. I ended up buying a M4-p and Summicron 35 when the dealer offered to
let me pay for it on a 30-60-90 payoff schedule.  I carried the camera in my
kit for over a month before I finished a roll of film in it.  I just liked
the idea of having a camera that I knew would work when I took it out of the
bag, even if it had no auto features and I had to make all the settings
myself.
   Then I got that first roll back from the lab.  As I looked at those
slides I knew that I was going to own more Leica  stuff.
   I now own _no_ Olympus slr gear and have been "Leica Poor" ever since.
The M4-p has been replaced with an M-6 and  R camera and lenses have
replaced the O****** . I still have a Stylus but is being crowded out by a
Minilux.  I gave up  trying to earn my living in photography and now work
for that local Leica dealer. I guess retailing is in my blood. But at least
it is easy to keep up with the latest from Solms.
   My photography is all personal now and I enjoy the local camera club for
keeping the creative juices flowing. And course, there is the LUG.

Leically,

Tom (with apologies to Tina) Furlotte
Memphis TN