[Leica] Cartier's lens

[Mike Johnston <michaeljohnston@ameritech.net>]

> 
>> I have this on very good authority and we have argued this before. Q.E.D.
> 
> But how can we believe you if you're not willing to name your sources!?!
> 
> ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)



Very funny, Howard.

Actually my source on this is impeccable: the late Erich Hartmann, who was a
friend, and who was one of the "second group" of photographers to join
Magnum after the founders, and was President of Magnum for a time, and knew
Cartier well for years. I asked Erich about it and Erich inquired for me,
and what he reported back was that Cartier has typically used whatever is
the latest Leica body at the time, from the M3 to the M6, but that he has
always favored the collapsible 50mm Summicron from the first half of the
fifties. There was some speculation that Leica multicoated the lens for
Henri after multicoating was more common, but I've never been able to
confirm that.

Erich also said that Cartier carried a 35mm and a 90mm but so seldom used
them that you can go through entire proof books and not come across a single
frame taken with either of those focal lengths. He really "saw" with the
50mm, although I think there is also ample evidence that, like every other
photographer, he experimented with different lenses from time to time.

I did get to page through several of Cartier's proof books at Magnum New
York. An interesting experience.

Erich was a wonderful gentleman, erudite, opinionated, and a true friend to
his friends. It was a very sad day when he died.

- --Mike