Richard G
Veteran
One of the hurdles with iconic cameras is “living up to” them. Prospective or new Leica owners suffer from this. It’s the opposite of thinking that now with a Leica I’ll be able to take really good pictures. Instead the camera inhibits them. The indifferent negatives from the first roll are deeply depressing, making the guy feel a fool. The Leica goes on the shelf for a month. Digital is probably a freer transition, but the expense is part of the inhibiting shackle. The M4-2, “only” made in Canada, likely gave a new Leica user an easier run in. I bought mine on a holiday in Italy. I was able to throw it around more easily than the M2 my Dad gave me. And Tuscany itself forced better rolls out of me.
The best shots with the Monochrom thread here goes though stages where the shots are nothing much, but they were shot with a Monochrom. On Flickr a lot of Hasselblad shots are like that. Peter from Family Guy might say “Hey Lois, I just took a shot with the Hasselblad.”
But just as a Leica and the interaction with it can indeed draw something less ordinary out of you, the Hasselblad can do it more. The cube of air and metal, it’s awkward suspension on a strap, and the waist level finder, put you in a different place even before you flip the finder open. Mine will often be strapless on a monopod or tripod: that’s a different walk entirely to the one after grabbing the nearest 35mm camera. You actually see different things carrying that rig. With the field of view of some lenses programmed in our heads, the quality of some films embedded there too, and the character of a lens or just of medium format generally, different pictures subconsciously get chosen to be made. You can see that with some of Vince’s shots on the previous page. Getting to grips with the square format is acquired along the way.
I can’t carry mine at the moment. There’s a new roll of Ektar loaded. Soon I’ll be up to it. Last night I charged three M Leica batteries going flat in cameras and bags. Stopped from photography for a bit has been an interesting exercise in seeing. The which camera inspired you to take up photography thread has been interesting for how many members were inspired by photographs rather than cameras, or photographs, and then a camera.
It’s not just a tool.
The best shots with the Monochrom thread here goes though stages where the shots are nothing much, but they were shot with a Monochrom. On Flickr a lot of Hasselblad shots are like that. Peter from Family Guy might say “Hey Lois, I just took a shot with the Hasselblad.”
But just as a Leica and the interaction with it can indeed draw something less ordinary out of you, the Hasselblad can do it more. The cube of air and metal, it’s awkward suspension on a strap, and the waist level finder, put you in a different place even before you flip the finder open. Mine will often be strapless on a monopod or tripod: that’s a different walk entirely to the one after grabbing the nearest 35mm camera. You actually see different things carrying that rig. With the field of view of some lenses programmed in our heads, the quality of some films embedded there too, and the character of a lens or just of medium format generally, different pictures subconsciously get chosen to be made. You can see that with some of Vince’s shots on the previous page. Getting to grips with the square format is acquired along the way.
I can’t carry mine at the moment. There’s a new roll of Ektar loaded. Soon I’ll be up to it. Last night I charged three M Leica batteries going flat in cameras and bags. Stopped from photography for a bit has been an interesting exercise in seeing. The which camera inspired you to take up photography thread has been interesting for how many members were inspired by photographs rather than cameras, or photographs, and then a camera.
It’s not just a tool.
Last edited:
