Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/08/13

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Format units question
From: "Glen M. Robinson" <gmrobinson@imation.com>
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1998 08:18:25 -0500

I have always wondered when the rest of the world will abandon the obsolete
metric system and move to the modern English system.

Seriously now.  The English system has its faults, but it is based on human
experiences so it is easy to relate to.  For example, the Fahenheit system
is basically a 0 to 100 scale.  In most places, 0 degrees F is about as
cold  and 100 degrees F is about as hot as it gets.  What does the boiling
point of water (100 degrees C) have do with daily weather?  More examples.
A foot is approximately the length of the foot of a man and a yard is his
pace.  A cubic is the distance from an elbow to finger tips.  Handheld
calculators have removed much of the reason for using the metric system.

Glen Robinson






At 08:31 AM 8/13/98 +0200, you wrote:
>
>When people in the US talk about eg. 8x10 or 16x20 pictures, what is the
base
>unit? Is it inch or cm?