Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The rangefinder on the Leica body is really a pretty big deal. As is the cloth shutter. A camera by principle can be quite ultra simple but a rangefinder camera has quite a few parts in it. And the Leicas were put together just right. First with mallets and brass. Then computers and white metal. Mark William Rabiner > From: Douglas Sharp <douglas.sharp@gmx.de> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:57:12 +0100 > To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica 100 Years > > Just what are we intending to celebrate? > > 1) Excellence of photography > 2) Excellence of Leica products as > a) lenses > b) cameras > c) both together > > Stretching a combination of 1 + 2 could even mean something excellent > from a photographic point of view, but shot with a Holga carried in a > Leica bag :-) > > The optical excellence of Leica is what puts the (technically) ideal > image on film or sensors, the excellence of photography is provided by > the photographer. > > Leica cameras do not automatically make you take better pictures. > > The Leica body as such is simply a light-tight (hopefully) box carrying > the medium for recording images - it may be technologically advanced in > some ways or another, but it still only fulfils this simple purpose with > additional aids for enabling the photographer to focus precisely and, in > later models, to do without an external exposure meter. > > For me, this is reason enough to vote for Leica lenses as the rule. > > My two-pennorth > Douglas > > > > > Mark Rabiner wrote: >> At first when I read Teds thing yesterday on all Leica glass I was >> thinking >> that I felt exactly the same about it. I was remembering how when you go >> on >> a tour of Leica the first thing the guy says is LEICA IS A LENS COMPANY. >> But Peter in this post has altered my viewpoint. >> And I must say my opinion is now strongly this: >> >> Either a Leica camera or lens should be used. >> Preferably both but one or the other would do. >> >> That would be my rule if I was running it. >> Which I'm aware I am not. >> But I get to express my opinion. >> >> Leica use has always involved Nikkor and Canon and Russian lenes and God >> knows what else lenses and now we'd not want to excluded the Voigtl?nder >> brand made by Cosina made now some of which are exquisite. >> >> But if I shoot with my 60 dollar Bessa L made by Cosina I think I should >> put >> a Leica LTM lens on the front of it. >> Leitz probably. >> To enter it into the 100 year Leica thing. >> Wouldn't kill me. >> >> >> Mark William Rabiner >> >> >> >> >>> From: Peter Klein <pklein@threshinc.com> >>> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> >>> Date: Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:34:22 -0800 >>> To: <lug@leica-users.org> >>> Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica 100 Years >>> >>> I'd like to participate. I'd also like to express a different viewpoint >>> regarding the requirements: I think we should *not* restrict ourselves to >>> 100% Leica, just that either a Leica lens or body be used in taking the >>> picture. Just as we did with FOM2. Here's why: >>> >>> 1. Unless all pictures must be taken specifically for the project, we >>> may >>> not remember exactly what lens was used on what body when. I almost >>> always >>> use Leica bodies, but my lens kit is "ethnically" mixed. I've used >>> Leitz/Leica, VC, Nikkor, Canon, and Sovyetsii RF lenses. Do I really >>> have >>> to eliminate some of my best shots if I'm not 100% sure that the lens >>> speaks, proper German? >>> >>> 2. HCB used a Sonnar on his Leica until he got his Summicron. David >>> Douglas Duncan used LTM Nikkors in Korea. Yet they are often referred to >>> as "Leica photographers." Would we eliminate them as being insufficiently >>> pure? >>> >>> Are we commemorating the Leica company or "The Leica Way" of >>> photographing? I can play either way, but I think we might be missing >>> out >>> on some good pictures if we are too restrictive. >>> >>> --Peter >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> Very definitely 100% Leica - Digital or analog - Glass and Body., new >>>> technology or film as old as Leica I. I'd consider using both my IIIA >>>> and >>>> my M8.2. It might be nice to include a very short biography and photo >>>> of >>>> the photographers holding their camera- Most of us might be able to >>>> sum up >>>> our life in a few lines. >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information