Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/09/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jan, Don't have a big budget? Don't sweat it. Use what you have, and have fun with what you use. The wonderful part of this list is that, as Shaw said of Hell, you can be whatever you want. Curious amateur enthusiast without much money? Perfect! Photojournalist poseur? Fine with us. Wealthy amateur with the latest toys? Good! Seasoned pro who uses a combination of the latest and vintage equipment? That's fine, too. Lately I've been posting lots of pictures, all film-based (and scanned with an old Minolta Dimage II). Total equipment investment was $800 for a used Summicron 35, a $550 Bessa R2a, a $300 Dimage II, and discount film from Freestyle. Best thing I did was switch from a reconditioned M2 to the Bessa, which is fully automatic (when I want it), and easy on my ageing neck. It's no Leica in build quality, but then I never grabbed my Leicas as often as I do the Bessa. On average, I shoot about a roll of film every two weeks. At that rate, my payback for an M8 would be in, oh, six or seven lifetimes. By that point they'll be giving away M8s with each stack of Staples recordable CDs. Both film and digital have their places. Much of film's subtle gradations aren't well-captured by most inexpensive scanners, so what you see posted to the web isn't everything rendered by the camera. The best digital equipment's results aren't necessarily fully captured in our picture posts. So, in a sense we're a lot like high-end audio fanatics swapping lossy MP3 files to compare recording quality. I seem to recall a situation about a decade ago, when some LUG members would dash off to purchase the latest new ASPH lens, then shoot a roll of C-41 budget film, have it developed by the local Rite Aid, and then scan the resulting print to show off the incredible quality of a lens. It was silly. About the only rule around here is to take pictures, discuss stuff reasonably politely, and stay the heck away from politics (unless it's in a picture). Best, Jim Shulman Wynnewood, PA -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jshul=comcast.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Jan Decher Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:10 PM To: lug@leica-users.org Subject: [Leica] LUG - Way over my budget... Hi Folks, I am getting rather overwhelmed by the volume of this list and feel a little bit out of place here. I will definitely not be able to afford an M8 (or DMR, or S2 for that matter) for the forseeable future and have a much more analog low-budget approach to shooting and owing Leica gear than (it seems) most here. Will can fully satisfy the digital needs (mosty for my work as a zoologist) with a lowly Canon Rebel Xsi, D50 or G10, but love the feel and timeless image quality of a IIIf, M3, M6 or SL2 and the smell of my B&W darkroom (with B22XL enlarger). Is there a Leica list for analog only, classic Leica users, where the newest gear is not necessarily the best? Thanks, Jan _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information