[Leica] Photokina

[philippe.orlent at pandora.be (Philippe Orlent)]

You all know what is being/has been presented on Photokina, so I  
won't bother you with that: other folks ar far more technical gifted  
than I am and all the news is already out.

A little impression of a first timer is all I can give you.

1) The fair is huge. If you go on saturday, and if you want to see  
everything, be prepared to be in the middle of a buzzing herd of  
people that want exactly the same as you.
In other words: if you can, don't go on a saturday.

2) It is a fair for boys that like big toys: a lot of 10 pounders  
hanging around people's necks, all showing that they have a big lens.  
Let's say that these combo's replace the Coke bottle that adolescents  
sometimes put in their trousers to impress...

3) The big ones (Canon, Nikon, Epson, Panasonic and a little bit  
behind that Olympus) have huge stands where everything is digital:  
everyone is showing screens with shots that show how much detail the  
sensors can get and how much detail the printers can print. Rest  
assured, they all perform perfectly in these circumstances. Whether  
these are the same as yours at home, is nother question ofcourse.
They also all create 'photo opportunities' with whether a 'model'  
contest, some dancing show stuff, or -for the real Chimps out there-  
bodypainted nude ladies. Very succesful, so if you want to shoot that  
kind of stuff, bring a massive tele, a little ladder and post  
yourself a bit further away: you'll get the shot that you were  
looking for. Unless you want to feel like a paparazzo with your  
camera above your head and the lcd screen tilted down.

4) Speaking of massive teles. Remember that Zeiss 1700 of which  
photos have already been posted on this list? On screen it looks big.  
In real it's huge: imagine a full size atomic submarine and park it  
next to the Zeiss: it will be hard to see the size difference.

5) Which brings us to the Zeiss, Hasselblad, Alpa, Mamiya and Leica  
floor. That was yummy.

6) Leica: a lot of interest for the M8: everybody (waiting times up  
to 10 minutes to get a -too short- grip on one) wanted to hold and  
use it. Opinions about handling the camera were unanimous: it looks  
like an M, it feels like an M, it shoots like an M. The shutter sound  
didn't bother me: a short snappy and dry sound that wasn't too loud  
either. I fires away at the 3 images at 2 secs rate, which is  
pleasant, but not necesseraly needed IMO. It has some buffering  
problems though: if you fire away, you have to wait a bit to see the  
shots appear on the LCD. Good ergonomics: as intuitive as the Digilux  
2. Everything points itself out.
Which cannot be said of the Digilux 3. There are so many buttons on  
this one that you need a day or so to memorize the manual. Which is  
too much for me.
I'm not into the R, so I can't say much of that: the crowd was a  
little smaller, but a lot of interested folks nevertheless. Same  
thing for the V series.
Overall feeling: Leica is back on track, and I have hopes for them.  
Not high hopes yet, but the future looks brighter than a year ago IMO.
Funny little anecdote: a German guy next to me at the M8 stand asked  
if he could attach his rapidwinder to the M8...

7) Most impressive stands for me were Zeiss (the smart guys: once  
they focused on their lenses and cover a very large market now) and  
Hasselblad (huge, as if they really know that's it's now or never  
again for them -to many very good alternatives, esp. in digital  
backs- so they really had to impress. Which they did.)

8) Most yummy? Alpa. But I'm afraid that will always stay a dream for  
me...

9) Smartest stand? Leica. Esp. the 'grandstand' they created where  
every model was glued to a tripod and where you could really fondle  
them. A massive success.

10) Did I see people I knew? Lucien tapped on my shoulder at the  
Leica stand and we had a good chat. He told me that Solms was  
planning an only B&W M8, as had been suggested on the LUG here. Which  
is a great idea IMO.
We both said we'd wait a bit before buying one, though: the first  
model of a launch is always a bit tricky...
Then I wandered on in the vain hope of seeing other LUGgers, but with  
so many people, it's hard to spot a familiar face, esp. if only known  
via photos. Red Leica roses in our button holes might have been a  
good idea. Or nail down a 'quiet' meeting point and meeting hour.  
Lesson learned for next time. I did see some LHSA members at a  
distance, though.

11) I spent the most time at the first hall, where photo exhibitions  
were held and books were sold. A lot of good work to see there, esp.  
in the Kodak Nachwuchs F?rderpreis corner. And some good books, which  
I brought home.

12) Will I come again in 2 years? I don't know. It is one of those  
events that you crave for, go to, say never again once you're there,  
and 2 years later the itch is back and there you go again. So  
probably yes.

13) Don't forget to visit the centre of K?ln when you're there. A  
beautiful town, good food, good beer, with an impressive cathedral  
(the Dom) and plenty of photo (and shopping) opportunities. Except  
for the Ludwig Museum, which is wonderful if you love Picasso and  
post 50's art, but where you're not allowed to take photographs. And  
they do take that very seriously! Must be that famous Deutsche  
Gr?ndlichkeit...

14) So did I take any? Yes, I did. But you'll have to wait for those  
because I only shot film: I wanted to try out my new Biogon 2,8/28 on  
my MP.  When the lab has developed them, I'll certainly post them for  
your viewing and maybe for your pleasure.

Cheers,
Philippe