New York February Meet-Up: Third Annual Rangefinder Beauty Pagent

[Calzone]

I won't let my biases tilt my vote. It's about beauty... not practicality. I don't mind expensive set-ups...

By the way, all of my straps combined are still less than the hood for your 28mm summicron...even if I do have a strap fetish.

This is what makes John a good judge. Like I said, he doesn't pull any punches.

FWIW John is picking on my poor old Wetzlar M6 again. It features a TA Rapidwinder, Ta Rapidgrip, and TA Softee shutter release. Most of the time a black 28 Cron is mounted with a Zeiss 25/27 VF'er, but the scalloped Leica hood that cost me $379.00 is purely a fashion statement.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

Cal, it's just that you take a beautiful small camera and make it into a monster... kind of like the camera equiv of this:

http://www.youdrivewhat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BikeGA.jpg

😉

 

[Calzone]

Cal, it's just that you take a beautiful small camera and make it into a monster... kind of like the camera equiv of this:

http://www.youdrivewhat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/BikeGA.jpg

😉

Had to make my Leica more like my Nikon F3P with MD-4 motordrive. 😱 To me Leicas are too small. LOL.

Also know that I loved the feeling of my rig with Tung's 0.95 Noctilux mounted to it. Kinda felt like holding a bowling ball, but only about half the weight. Even heavier than with my 75 Lux. Felt good to me.

Cal

P.S. For a skinny guy I have big arms kinda like Popeye.

 

[JuJu]

I have missed the beauty pagent meet-ups 2 years in a raw. Not gonna let it happen again!!
Maybe I can bring my dog and let her do the biting part, as she bites anything where my laser pointer points at. bwahahahaha!

 

[jsrockit]

Tung, you need to step it up a notch though... a dented M9 isn't going to place well. Perhaps you need to bring a Titanium M9?

 

[JuJu]

John, hum... in that case, I'll have to bring my "show stopper" white MP and white 50 rigid cron... ;-)

 

[jsrockit]

That might work... unless the Hello Kitty M6 or this shows up...

http://www.photoartgallery.com/userfiles/629c4d2baea749f6b79ed86432e342f6.jpg

 

[JuJu]

Holy cow! Chairman Mao edition!?

 

[jsrockit]

Perhaps the two ugliest (in a good way) leicas ever made...

 

[SuperUJ]

Judges: as stated, this year, everyone shows up in the contest will have a score card to determine the final three. And, John and Cal, you will have a voice for sure.

John - you have exceptional taste. But, this time, I feel that it has to be a year of revolution.

John

 

[jsrockit]

John, that camera is ugly in a bad way... 😉

 

[SuperUJ]

Haha, should look at the inner beauty. /John

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Questions...

Questions...

1. Are we limited to 35mm format?
2. What if my camera only performs in the nude? She is big and brutish, not unlike a member of a cold war era Eastern Bloc nation's women's swim team.
3. Is there a category for exotics? ELCAN, Angenieux, etc. (I've always wanted to see a 40 Elmarit-C in person)
3a. Is there a category exotics mated to cameras they weren't meant for or things that just shouldn't be? (Think Frankenstein's monster)
4. Is there a category for biggest hole? (get your minds out of the gutter.) Widest aperture? Biggest front element?
5. Is there a category for the ultimate misses? (ie: loudest shutter, worst separation while still resolving an image, most holes in curtain, etc)

Am I just over-thinking this categorization thing?

I hope to make it up for the meeting!

Phil Forrest

 

[Crazy Fedya]

I have been trying to meet up with youse guys for a while now, but i have two little kids and wifey kind of objects to an idea of spending one weekend's day with them alone again.
I will try though.

 

[jsrockit]

Am I just over-thinking this categorization thing?

Yes. One category... and no, not only 35mm.

 

[SuperUJ]

Phil,

John is correct, one category only. Think RFF pageant is more like Oscar. You suggestions indicate that there seem to have the need for Razzies and AVN equivalent for RFF in the remaining 11 months of the year.

John

 

[rclrcl65]

If I'm in town that day I'll come over and peer through the widow (I don't want to get hurt)!

Rick

 

[amateriat]

As the Judge for the previous RBP I realize that my beloved pair of Hexar RFs will have been with me for exactly a decade this month (more bout this in a forthcoming thread). This, alas, disqualifies them for a go at this year's event as they're just Too Damn Young. Of course, should I be called upon to hold court again (Cal, PM me on this), this naturally allows me to maintain an air of impartiality that's iron-clad...at least, until the first cocktail is offered...


- Barrett

 

[Calzone]

As the Judge for the previous RBP I realize that my beloved pair of Hexar RFs will have been with me for exactly a decade this month (more bout this in a forthcoming thread). This, alas, disqualifies them for a go at this year's event as they're just Too Damn Young. Of course, should I be called upon to hold court again (Cal, PM me on this), this naturally allows me to maintain an air of impartiality that's iron-clad...at least, until the first cocktail is offered...


- Barrett

Barrett,

Please take my position as a judge. I feel that I cannot be fair and impartial like you because I have an agenda and strong bias for large and heavy cameras. Also know I am planning a big campain this year. Also I hope you don't mind me recycling that Weston light meter you gave me as one of the prizes.

Thanks John for the nomenation, but since bribing is allowed I feel that also being a judge is an unfair advantage, especially since I intend to take advantage of bribing the judges to my advantage. Already this weekend, I had a Rollei Bay 1 Hood and Rollei Bay 1 mirrored lens cap to bribe John (JSROCKET) at Georges reception Saturday, but we did not cross paths.

BTW for those who are new to our annual specticle, Barrett has been our Judge and MC for the two previous events, and clearly only a few bribes are needed to enter his Hexars.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

Already this weekend, I had a Rollei Bay 1 Hood and Rollei Bay 1 mirrored lens cap to bribe John (JSROCKET) at Georges reception Saturday, but we did not cross paths.

Cal, you went? I was there for only fifteen minutes or so around 3:00 or so. I was with my girl and had to do other things during the day. By the way, I won't be needing any Rolleiflex stuff. It's not for me... waist level that is. They are beautiful to look at and fondle though... but just not my thing for actual work. If I decide to stay with film at all, I will go Mamiya 6. However, I'll probably go back to ignoring film again.

Anyway, I volunteered to judge, but there seems to be some push back on that. So no hard feelings, I'll just be a spectater instead again.