Generous folks at Photonet!

R

Rob

Guest
I put out a cry for help with parts for my Agfa Isolette III
over at photonet forums.
I got it last weekend at a camera show for $1 with good
bellows and lens, but missing some of the winding parts.

One fellow sent me a shell of a Isolette II that I can swap
my good parts into for free! Another fellow sent me a full
Isolette I camera in working condition (sticky shutter I can
fix) with good bellows and good apotar lens, also for free!
Included a case too.
So now I will have two working Isolette cameras with
Apotar lenses soon...oops no rangefinders in them but
the III I am parting out had one so its on topic....
Now I just need another case and I am set!

Some very nice folks here and at photonet!
Rob
 
I too agree that there are nice folks in both places. However there are some mean folks over at photo.net and none here, and that makes a big difference. :D
 
Well, hope I dont run into the mean ones..Just got all my
parts swapped and shutters cleaned out and lubed and
put back together and they look great. Got just a little
work to do to get them at 100%.
 
I'm sure you won't. Sounds like you've had a good experience over there. Earlier this year the Leica forum imploded and several leading contributors left, or rather were hounded out by some extremely mean-spirited people.

It was really pretty bad and what was even worse was that the people who run the site apparently didn't care. Anyway the Leica forum is now more or less dead because all the thoughtful people are long gone... :(
 
Really odd to hear the story told that way, Peter! :) My view is that it had gotten so mean the forum moderators booted the worst trouble-makers off of the forum, some having been earlier suspended for previous misbehavior.

Some others who were themselves well-bahaved objected to the moderator action and left in protest. Some of them have since returned.

As is probably always the case, and certainly making it very difficult for the moderators, nobody is all bad. So there was valuable talent booted off along with the bad behavior.

I've also noted that there are almost always divergent views on such things. Some members are willing to sacrifice the good in order to get rid of the bad, while others with thicker skins suggest hitting the Delete key.

So I agree with you that the actions caused a big stink. It was inevitable, whatever had been done. But Leica forum is still the busiest and most vibrant on Photo.net, as far as I can see. And it's more civil than before. :)
 
And it's more civil than before.

Not so sure about that, Doug. One of the worst characters is still there and now hounding one or two other unfortunates. Personally, I just don't understand the mentality of such people. And I'm convinced that the people who run the site (not the moderators) didn't really know (or care) what was going on.

Yes there were people who were bad and who were booted off and they are no loss. One of them was a major contributor, a fellow who is extremely knowledgeable about cameras (not just Leicas). But he he also has an acerbic wit and a penchant for insulting put-downs that is completely unnecessary. As I said, no loss but there are still occasional posts pining for his return - I don't understand that either.

The kind of person I miss is like John Collier, also a Leica expert but the nicest and kindest individual you could come across. He left (I am fairly sure in disgust) and is sorely missed. There are others. Unfortunately many of the more talented photogs also left and that was unfortunate because some of the W/NW threads were truly stunning in the quality of pics that used to get posted.
 
I think sometimes people get 'possesed' by their forum identity, just as some people seem to turn into Mr. Hide when sitting on the steering wheel of their cars.

But as I mentioned in another post, that's not exclusive to PN or photo forums at all, in our university forum we use to have 3 or 4 huge flame wars each year.
 
You are right, it's any group of individuals. My biggest rants are those whose opinions are the only correct ones, and anyone with a differing point of view must be an idiot. This especially applies to photography, which is much about ART, and as we know art is very subjective. What is art to me, might be garbage to you and vice-versa. Yet there are those who must insist that THEIR paradigm is the only "correct" one.
As we both know, the only correct ones are you and me, and I'm not too sure about you - LOL. :angel:
 
It can be a real turn off when either one of the self-appointed priests of photo-orthodoxy or technology driven gear heads weigh in at photo.net.

Rob posted his cry for help on the Classic Camera Forum of photo.net, Most of the Classic Forum folks seem to take a more leasurely attitude towards photography. There are the usual gear heads, but there usually are some interesting images posted to the forum. Most were taken with cameras that have reached there 50th birthday.

This leads me to conclude that the folks at Classic Camera Forum are bit more empathetic, maybe because at some point most have had to bring back to life at least a couple of their cameras. In other words, this is a group that is still able to enjoy traditional photography with what amounts to other peoples discarded cameras.

You folks on the range finder forum aren't much different in that regard.
 
H* I thought I was the only one at photo.net with a correct opinion and why aren't you folks shooting with an AF camera? I'd like to see my Duracell stock to appreciate in value before I retire.
 
Solinar, I think you're right about the Classic Camera Forum... These are folks for whom the fun of the photographic experience exceeds the value of the ultimate technical quality of the outcome. Like running around in a vintage sportscar; it's the style. :)

Peter, I also agree with you than there's at least one "spoiler" in Photo.net, perhaps an old one in disguise. What bothered me bofore the dust-up was that the spoiler(s) could hijack a whole thread, ruining it for those of us interested in the topical discussion, and turning it all upon them as the center of attention. And that may indeed have been the main point and intent. That doesn't seem to happen (much?) now, gladly.

What does bug me now there is the strong anti-Leica sentiment among some of the most active members. I think these guys are mostly posting digicam pics anyway! Why should Leica users be afraid to enthuse over their gear and its results in the Leica Forum, lest they be jumped on? :-(
 
Agreed, Doug. To be honest, I don't read/participate in the photo.net Leica forum that much any more. I joined there to learn from the technical masters and was lucky enough to be able to do that for 8 months.

Now I have the selection of gear that I need for the forseeable future so I'm much happier hanging out in a relaxed place like this. :)
 
Solinar,

Don't worry about your Duracell stock. As a Ham radio buff, I buy them by the dozens for my hand-held radio :)
Most of my RF's though use PX625's, do you know of a current supplier? LOL.
 
Well, with swapping parts, cleaning shutters, seperating
lens elements, adjusting focus, and general cleaning both
Isolettes are up and running. Wish I had some 120 film
to try them with..Wanted to post a picture here but have
no clue how to do it...
 
Rob,
At the bottom right-hand part of the page, click on "reply to thread". You'll get a page to post a reply and below that is "Attach file:" - click "Browse" and attach a photo file from your hard-drive. Then click "Submit Reply" - DONE!
Now I'll trade a roll of 120 NPH for two PX625 batteries :D
 
Rob, Correction - make the first thing to click "Post Reply"
Tang yu berry mush ~ ; - )
 
Rob,
If you're using PhotoShop - Click "Image", then "Image Size". Then you can make the pic say, 5"x7" or smaller and then click File, and Save for Web to resize it for posting on emails and web sites.
Nice looking cameras :)
 
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