Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/08/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Come on, JD - First off, let's talk about what a Yashica cost new v what a Rollei or Hassy costs new... Second - of course HCB used the best equipment available to him - but by today's standards that equipment was pretty crappy, yet he produced some pretty amazing images. And, having sort of played guitar myself, and knowing what it means to move up from a Japanese knock-off of a Martin D-35 to a Martin D-35, I would argue that there is a much greater, instantly discernable, difference between the cheapo guitar and real quality, than there is between brand X lens and Brand lens. As to "magnificent." For now I'll settle for solidly, and reliably, "good," and I'm not ready to hang up my cameras. B. D. Johnny Deadman wrote: > > on 8/29/01 2:11 PM, B. D. Colen at bdcolen@earthlink.net wrote: > > > First off, are you seriously suggesting that it is fair to compare a > > Yashica 124G which costs how much, with a Hasselblad or Rollei? > > my rolleiflex cost about the same as a 124G. It was very beaten up but the > picture quality is amazing. Besides this is not about price, but quality. > Nothing is more expensive than the wrong camera, however cheap. > > > > Second, let's all get a grip here and consider how many of us take > > "magnificent" photos that are going to suffer in major ways from being > > shot with Yashica's? And how much worse are the Yashica's lenses from > > the ancient Leica glass used by HCB to make many of his iconic images? > > (I know, I know, it's Leica 'glow,' it's not Leica flare and blurr.) ;-) > > well this reminds me of when I used to play guitar. I bought lots of > off-brand guitars and amps because I didn't want to shell out for a real > Fender and Marshall. I wasn't the world's greatest guitarist but one day I > finally got sick of never quite getting the sound I wanted and I walked into > the guitar shop and laid out for a Fender Jazzmaster and a big ol' 100w > valve combo. > > That night at rehearsal I plugged the damned thing in, hit a chord, and the > effect on my band members was wondrous to behold. Their jaws dropped open. > They held their heads as if they were about to explode. Big sloppy grins > came over their faces. I never, ever, regretted those purchases. > > Of course not everyone can afford Leicas and Hassys and Rollys. But there is > a truly massive difference between the lens on a 124G and a sonnar or a > planar. And I am so bored of the HCB point. He, along with every serious > photographer I have met, used the best available to him at the time. > > If you or anyone else is so down on their own photography that they have > given up the hope of making 'magnificent' pictures I suggest they put away > their cameras and take up knitting. > > BTW the bokeh on my Yashica was ugly as hell. > -- > John Brownlow > > http://www.pinkheadedbug.com > > ICQ: 109343205