Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Peter, You are absolutely right, and I'm also convinced this whole debate is totally subjective. It is about sensuality or fun or pleasure (whatever you call it). The only 'objective' side of it are the optical benchmarks. I've tried more or less seriously quite a few systems in my lifetime. And I appreciate qualities in most of them. My F90x was the most efficient picture taking machine I've ever owned. But none of these systems made me enjoy the act of photography as much as the full M system and the modest R system I'm lucky to own now. I call 'soul' in machinery the glow that radiates from certain mechanical assemblies and that comes from signs of high level human craftsmanship, the implicit reference to particular design and manufacturing processes, the cultural heritage of the manufacturer, etc. It is there for those who wish to see it and many many modern robotised suppliers try very hard to compute that 'soul' into their mass production (and usually fail), because it is something customers are asking for but not always ready or able to pay for. Alan On vendredi 7 mai 1999 20:57, Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter) [SMTP:peterk@lucent.com] wrote: > Alan, > > Sensuality is very subjective. And unless you have had opportunity to try > all other cameras your statement is a bit biased to say the least. I know > of no camera with "soul" much like no automobile has soul. Its a machine! > Its the photographer that has soul. Nice attempt though. > Think about Ansel Adams with brownie, pictures would still be great, but a > kid with a Leica (soul?) it would still be snapshots.