God's way of telling you that you have more money than common sense

[zauhar]

We totally part ways on that, most of the old around me has not stood the test of time, and seems more horrific each day as I age. Of course I am not thinking of cameras, but in a social context. New is a risk, but I personally live currently in a country paralyzed by fear of abandoning the tested old.

I had the impression you live here in the US? We have been scuttling the 'tested old' for decades now.

If you don't live in the US, do you mind identifying where? The whole world is in one form of turmoil or the other at the moment.

Randy

 

[lewis44]

The Leica M3 for me is about as close to 'perfect' design as it gets. It does exactly what it needs to, and no more. It provides total functionality with incredible simplicity. __________________

True 'Dat !!!

 

[micromontenegro]

 

[Sparrow]

The Americans always efficient killers used the invention of Dr. Richard J. Gatling (1861 400 rounds per minute) -- in the US civil war, and returned with a vengeance with the M197 Gatling gun (650 rounds per minute) used on the Apache gunships.

Humans are always busy looking for more deadly methods...
http://military.discovery.com/weapo...ers-shorts-chu-ko-nu-chinese-repeating-cr.htm

... em, sorry no. I wasn't making a nationalistic point, simply pointing out the human proclivity to pick the less efficient, but more modern technology

 

[Roger Hicks]

Wasn't thinking nationalistically, just timeline-wise. But humans do adjust, guns were slower, so the troops just lined up and wore bright colors?

Now I believe we are safely away from the OP?

Hang on. Aren't wars -- especially pointless adventurist wars designed mainly to line the pockets of the military-industrial complex -- also God's way of telling you that you have more money than common sense?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

Golly! Think how many pictures you'd miss in a minute. 😀

 

[Deardorff]

is spelled LEICA

 

[Roger Hicks]

Or possibly DEARDORFF -- not the poster here, but the second-rate overpriced wooden camera which (unlike the Leica) had many competitors that were better made and more versatile. The only reason it has so many followers is that it appeals to xenophobic 'Murricans, many of whom have presumably ever tried anything better.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Monochrom]

common sense?

common sense?

since when having a lot of money means common...sense?

 

[noisycheese]

Or possibly DEARDORFF -- not the poster here, but the second-rate overpriced wooden camera which (unlike the Leica) had many competitors that were better made and more versatile. The only reason it has so many followers is that it appeals to xenophobic 'Murricans, many of whom have presumably ever tried anything better.

Cheers,

R.

Huh.

I have a Deardorff 5x7 - I got it based on reasonable price and the fact that it was in very good condition. I hope this doesn't mean that I'm xenophobic - or worse...

@Roger - just wondering : If a person wanted a high quality well made wooden view camera but Ebony cameras were out of reach what would be a good choice?

 

[Photo_Smith]

If a person wanted a high quality well made wooden view camera but Ebony cameras were out of reach what would be a good choice?

There is only one I'd buy if I came lots of spare cash– a 8x10 Gandolfi... (the camera isn't that expensive but feeding it with Fuji tranny film might be)
http://www.gandolficameras.com/

For cheaper I'd go for one of the chinese Shen hao
http://www.shen-hao.com/PRODUCTS.aspx?i=169&id=n3

 

[Roger Hicks]

Huh.

I have a Deardorff 5x7 - I got it based on reasonable price and the fact that it was in very good condition. I hope this doesn't mean that I'm xenophobic - or worse...

@Roger - just wondering : If a person wanted a high quality well made wooden view camera but Ebony cameras were out of reach what would be a good choice?

A Deardorff is a fine camera -- used, at a reasonable price. I'd buy one if I couldn't find a Gandolfi or a Walker or a Canham or a Wisner or an Ebony or (for that matter) a Watson at a price I could afford (I'd need a new back for the Watson, obviously). Deardorffs are good cameras. Just not (as you point out) the best.

It's a bit like trying to buy Italian ham or olive oil in the United States. Devotees of "the old country" talk up the prices, when the Spanish make better (and cheaper) hams and the Spanish, Portuguese, Greeks, Moroccans and Palestinians all make better (and almost invariably cheaper, even at the top end of the market) olive oil. Those are only the countries I KNOW to be better at making the products in question: I've little experience of (for example) Balkan or for that matter German and Polish hams.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

There is only one I'd buy if I came lots of spare cash– a 8x10 Gandolfi... (the camera isn't that expensive but feeding it with Fuji tranny film might be)
http://www.gandolficameras.com/

For cheaper I'd go for one of the chinese Shen hao
http://www.shen-hao.com/PRODUCTS.aspx?i=169&id=n3

The increase in the quality of Shen Hao over the last 10-20 years is beyond belief. And they're nice people, too.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Well of course there are better view cameras than the Deardorff, my personal choice was alway the Sinars.

But there is a saying about IBM which seems to apply here: "No one ever got fired for buying IBM."

Or Linhof. Yes, Linhofs are expensive. But after the Old Grey Sinar (the Holy Grail of Sinars) later Sinars are all pretty mediocre next to Linhof. I have a 4x5 Technikardan and a 5x7 Technika.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Photo_Smith]

The increase in the quality of Shen Hao over the last 10-20 years is beyond belief. And they're nice people, too.

Cheers,

R.

If the Chinese start making Schneider quality lenses at 1/5 price and LF sheet film to Fuji/Kodak/Agfa standard things could look interesting...

 

[Roger Hicks]

If the Chinese start making Schneider quality lenses at 1/5 price and LF sheet film to Fuji/Kodak/Agfa standard things could look interesting...

IF

(Big IF.)

Cheers,

R.

 

[Photo_Smith]

IF

(Big IF.)

Cheers,

R.

Better change your surname to Whittaker because I can see you don't believe in if anymore....

Strange, but I do see a slight resemblance...

 

[E__WOK]

What if we don't believe in god?

 

[Sparrow]

... believe in Dawkins?