Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/10/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello friends: I'm back, at least for a while, prompted by Greg Lorenzo's post on the LHSA San Francisco meeting and hopeful that many LUG members will be there. Apart from the magnet that is San Francisco, there is another attraction: I have asked Bernard Masson, President of Kodak Digital and Film Imaging Systems to have a Kodak representative participate in our Saturday programs to describe Kodak's current activities and plans for both digital and silver halide. We had just such a presentation last October at the Williamsburg meeting. And Kodak is again providing samples of several Kodak film emulsions for the "goodie" bags provided each meeting attendee. BTW, I emailed Bernard some of the LUG posts bemoaning the "fact" that Kodak was withdrawing from film. He wrote back pointing out that while Kodak is indeed spending very large amounts of its human and capital resources developing digital and while new investment in silver halide technology has been reduced, there was no possibility of Kodak withdrawing from film. Film still provides a very big part of Kodak's cash flow despite the fact that consumers are using digital more and more. There are some new reasons to join LHSA. First among them is VIEWFINDER, the LHSA quarterly. It is a quality magazine and during the last year we have made it available on-line as well as in hard copy. Note that there is no thought whatever to discontinue sending print copies to members since the quality of images is (always ? ) going to be better than what appears on the screen. But wait there's more. Last year I asked the Board to authorize the appointment of a committee to develop and implement a plan to scan all VIEWFINDER issues from inception 38 years ago, to replicate the scans on DVD discs and to provide a DVD copy to every LHSA member as a free member benefit. LHSA and LUG member Ed Kowaleski headed the committee's effort which culminated in the distribution last month of those DVD's to all members. They will continue to be a member benefit free to all new members. It is our hope that once new members, especially our exceptional LUG photographers, join and participate by submitting images and even articles to VIEWFINDER, you will continue as members. I am aware that for many on the list, LHSA is seen as a group of collectors, old fogeys fondly fondling ;-) their Luxus Leicas, 105mm f/6,3 mountain Elmar lenses etc. When I first joined the LHSA Board, I raised the issue of changing the Society's name precisely because it does not accurately describe LHSA. Many of us are indeed collectors. Many if not most of us do indeed have an interest in Leica history and in the development of Leica cameras, lenses and accessories. But in the years I have been active, I have met only one member who is not a photographer and a user of his Leica gear. Some long-time members thought a name change would be going against tradition and it was not worth pursuing a question that might have been divisive. Some other new stuff: we are planning next year's annual meeting in Wetzlar and Solms around the time of Photokina (mid- to late September). and hope to meet face-to-face many LHSA friends who live in Europe. It would be great fun to welcome many of you whom I know only from the LUG list. Best to all, Seth