Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/11

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Subject: [Leica] Several topics
From: Erwin Puts <imxputs@knoware.nl>
Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 19:53:12 +0100

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