Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The BJP Millenium issue is a keeper. For once in this world of recycling the obvious, we have some nice reflections on several important photographic topics. Quite interesting is Canon's advertisement, that they will go digital in future but will not leave behind "the not inconsiderable number of people" dedicated to 35mm photography. Now as Canon is paramount in the industry, we are now officially relegated to a minority. Incidentally Mr Gandy's announcement of the upcoming Canon EOS 1 (known as the EOS 1v) is not new. I reported on this topic several weeks ago on the Leg. But Canon has more in store. A press conference at PMA presumably will reveal a new digital camera. BJP's contributor Crawley mentioned that the Leica should be camera of the century and I agree with him. He also reports on optical progress and I am pleased to note that my reporting on these topics is not without influence. The progress in chemical photography is not viewed as decisive, the films are tops nowadays and in fact did not change significantly the last 20 years, and in digital progress they note (correctly) that the progress is simply electronic, not mechanical, so every smart manufacturer can incorporate electronics in its current product line. As Hasselblad and Bronica will go AF soon, we are left with Leica as the only non-AF company. Looking at photography from a century's perspective the Hexar RF and the Bessa-L and -R are insignificant instances of clever niche marketing. Artistically the pre-1940 artists are worth collecting and the grand themes are photojournalism, fashion and nudes. Ilford in an advertisement notes that in the next two years they will expand on the chemical photography business and that is news! Looking at the future BJP sees a merger of Fuji and Kodak to promote chemical photography and while benefiting the consumer it draws bad faces from the monopoly watchers. It is good to see that digital and chemical are two ways to two different expressions of vision and that both have their reason to co-exist. This issue is a must to read and should give anyone some food for thought and might even teach some persons a lesson in relativity. Should we use a Leica on tripod? Is is acceptable to use a 35mm camera in a stationary environment? All these non-issues pale when we read about Eve Arnold's explorations of reality and her recording of it. Modesty is a scarce commodity these days when you need strong expressions (however wrong) to get the attention span of a micro second. Personally I am happy to announce that a major publisher has agreed to publish a book about Leica lenses written by me. This will occupy me for a while, so I stay in low profile, especially since the email generated by my website demands part of my spare time. I consider myself lucky that I have found many friends while participating in the Lug/Leg and the many questions and comments will be partly reflected in the forthcoming book. I keep in touch and hope you will provide me with some of the stuff that challenges creativity and intellect. As Tom would say, there is no substitute for the feline species when you need to reflect on the state of photography and the role of Leica it it. Erwin