Recent Movies: Return of the Rangefinder?

[like2fiddle]

We rented a movie last weekend that came out in 2004 entitled "Big Fish". One of the characters in the movie is a Newsweek photographer who pulls out her camera to take a photo of her dying father-in-law...you get only a glimpse of the camera, but there's enough time to see clearly that it is a rangefinder with a big red dot on the front😉...I don't really watch many movies, and we don't have cable TV, so I wonder how common something like this is. I was surprised and pleased to see a film rangefinder in the movie, but I would guess it is much more common to see a news photographer carrying a digital SLR these days.

 

[ferider]

I thought the same, Roger, when I watched Blood Diamonds 2 weeks ago.
Leica with 35/2 very prominent in the movie.

Best,

Roland.

 

[Michael I.]

also life aquatic with steve zissou and lord of war

 

[Michiel]

I noticed Brad Pitt had two leica's around his neck in Spy Game (and a Nikon F3 or something as well), when he had to pretend to be photographer in a war zone.

They were an M3 and a newer model (I think). Maybe M6 or M7. I suspect there was some Leica sponsoring there, because the shots of him holding and using the Leicas were unusually long.

 

[Tuolumne]

I hate to rain on your parade but these are usually paid product placements. It's just Leica doing advertising.

/T

 

[like2fiddle]

I hate to rain on your parade but these are usually paid product placements. It's just Leica doing advertising.

/T

Yes, this seems likely, but to know that Leica is using this avenue more in its marketing is something new to me and bodes well to increase attention towards rangefinder photography in general.

 

[dmr]

We rented a movie last weekend that came out in 2004 entitled "Big Fish".

Wow, I thought I was the only one around who remembered this one.

Great story.

There were three back then that all had a theme where you couldn't tell what was real and what was imaginary up to the end. The others being "Second Hand Lions" and "The Village." I loved all three! 🙂

One of the characters in the movie is a Newsweek photographer who pulls out her camera to take a photo of her dying father-in-law...

I remember the scene, but I don't remember the camera being unusual or unexpected. Maybe it just looked too normal to me. 🙂

I was surprised and pleased to see a film rangefinder in the movie, but I would guess it is much more common to see a news photographer carrying a digital SLR these days.

It seems to me that reporters were portrayed in film using those Speed Graphic press cameras long after they went out of vogue for real-world press coverage.

 

[Ash]

M4TV "Pecker" stars a guy using a rangefinder,

 

[icebear]

2006 Omen remake - M3 ?

2006 Omen remake - M3 ?

Last weekend, I just by chance zapped into the completly unnecessary remake of the "Omen" appearantly form '06. The photographer on a trip to somewhere (Italy?) handled a Leica, my best guess it was a M3.

 

[foto_fool]

I hate to rain on your parade but these are usually paid product placements. It's just Leica doing advertising.

Yeah well if so then good on them! Although with what product placement costs, Leica would have to sell many more M8's than they make for the marketing value to pencil out (think five figures an on-screen second).

I am probably one of the few who enjoyed "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow". Gwyneth Paltorw playes a reporter who keeps her camera with her through thick and thin:

credit to www.impawards.com/2004/posters/

If this is a real camera I'll be darned if I have ever seen one. But it looks enough like a rangefinder to be one, and she certainly makes holding one look great. There is even a scene at the end of the movie where she burns her last frame of film because she forgets to pull the lens cap.

- John

 

[Tuolumne]

Yes, this seems likely, but to know that Leica is using this avenue more in its marketing is something new to me and bodes well to increase attention towards rangefinder photography in general.

The best way to increase RF interest, IMHO, is to get more people to go to cameraquest.com, Stephen Gandy's site. I had no idea what a rangefinder was and thought them exceeding strange when I first visited. Now, about two years on, they are just about all that I shoot. Hat's off to Stephen for this great resource. I don't even remember how or why I happened on the site. Perhaps I was searching for information on film photography?

/T

 

[ferider]

It's an Argus C3, John:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_(camera_company)

Cheers,

Roland.

 

[Tuolumne]

Anything Gwyneth Paltrow is in has to be great. I just love her ever since "Shakespeare in Love".

/T

 

[foto_fool]

Thanks Roland - I knew someone here could school me. Do you think any product placement fees were involved? I really was hoping it was a cobbed together prop - now that I know it is a real camera I might be susceptible to a GAS attack! <groan!>

- John

 

[Ash]

That looked like an argus brick to me... most things like cameras are picked at random for aesthetic value. I'm sure most people don't even reference far enough to check correct dating of the camera.

I remember a small movie company looking for props, and they went on how well things would fit in with their look, rather than correct placement. I doubt anyone paid them for having a product in the film (especially an ancient product).


Euro-Trip had an M7 I believe.

 

[foto_fool]

Yeah Ash I was being facetious about the placement fees. They clearly wanted the "look" for the film. Think the half-case is original? Nice that it takes the edges off the "brick".

- John

 

[rogue_designer]

now that I know it is a real camera I might be susceptible to a GAS attack! <groan!>

I doubt that any product placement was going on there - Argus no longer makes any cameras of note.

As far as GAS goes - this is the bearable kind - they can frequently be found for less than $10, often with cases and other goodies along for the ride.

I got mine for the cost of shipping.

 

[ywenz]

Yes, this seems likely, but to know that Leica is using this avenue more in its marketing is something new to me and bodes well to increase attention towards rangefinder photography in general.

Nah, given the type of movie Big Fish is and the characters in that movie, it just feeds the obscureness of the rangefinder cameras.

 

[ferider]

Thanks Roland - I knew someone here could school me. Do you think any product placement fees were involved? I really was hoping it was a cobbed together prop - now that I know it is a real camera I might be susceptible to a GAS attack! <groan!>

- John

They are cheap on the used market, John. I don't think this needed to be placed, according to Stephen, the Argus is the most sold RF, ever !

Roland.

 

[Joerg]

I thought the same, Roger, when I watched Blood Diamonds 2 weeks ago.
Leica with 35/2 very prominent in the movie.

Best,

Roland.

What irked me was the sound of a mirror slapping when the M6? shutter was released :bang:

Ciao

joerg