Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/07

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Subject: RE: [Leica] A way of photographing and autofocus.
From: Alan Ball <AlanBall@csi.com>
Date: Sat, 8 May 1999 08:36:00 +0200

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.