Have I lost my passion for photography?

raid said:
Since a few days, and after my M9 failed, I have set photography aside. I really have no interest in going through my travel photos, and I am quite disappointed with how fragile the M9 is. Money does not grow on trees, and the tought to spend money on repairing a digital unreliable camera is making me just not want to think of it.

I feel like emailing the CEO of Leica a letter in which I tell him how I feel about this piece of unreliable equipment that is being sold at premium prices.

Maybe if I go back to film cameras, I will forget this exprtience. I only used the M9 for one year.
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Sorry to hear of your camera troubles Raid. If you haven't already, give Carmen Vargas a shout at Leica NJ: carmen.vargas@leicacamerausa.com or (+1) 800-222-0118 ext. 9932

You may be surprised on what they can or will do for you. I don't think its much different than your film camera needing a CLA or a lens adjustment after a bump or fall. Stuff happens and we don't live in a perfect world. No point in leaving the camera on the shelf as life keeps moving along and you don't want to miss documenting the growth of those beautiful children you have.

As to those that seem to think that needs to revert back to film. There are some of us that haven't shot film in a long time. I myself could not live with just a film camera as I prefer the "instant" gratification I get with digital.
 
I suggest perhaps trying one of the Voigtlander film bodies for a while and see if that changes how you feel about photography. Maybe it is not related but maybe it is. If not then a good nights sleep often fixes things. Lets face it, photography is hard sometimes, regardless of the medium.
 
Duane Pandorf said:
As to those that seem to think that needs to revert back to film. There are some of us that haven't shot film in a long time. I myself could not live with just a film camera as I prefer the "instant" gratification I get with digital.
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With respect, the suggestion to try film was not address to you though was it? Neither was the suggestion that the issue may be film/digital related aimed at every digital shooter in the universe, but in response to a specific post by the OP>
 
Ansel said:
With respect, the suggestion to try film was not address to you though was it? Neither was the suggestion that the issue may be film/digital related aimed at every digital shooter in the universe, but in response to a specific post by the OP
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I wonder what you would think if your car repairman told you to try a bicycle after a major failure of the car engine (an expensive car made by a famous German firm which you had bought one year ago).

With respect.
 
Man, sorry to hear about all that, Raid. Nothing spoils a trip like what you've gone through. Some time, and rest should help to clear your head on the matters. I'm sure that after the dust settles, you'll be back doing what you've always done. Material things can be replaced/repaired, but your health and family are the most important things.

PF
 
Buy a Holga, tape all the seams light tight after loading and go out and shoot. I don't use a Holga but I have another fully automatic (no settings) point and shoot 120 camera, and when I use it, it reopens my eyes:

12663972755_f397c19202.jpg
 
charjohncarter said:
Buy a Holga, tape all the seams light tight after loading and go out and shoot. I don't use a Holga but I have another fully automatic (no settings) point and shoot 120 camera, and when I use it, it reopens my eyes:

12663972755_f397c19202.jpg
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Love the photo.

I'm getting that kind of mojo out of the Polaroids lately. It's the 'instant return' that really helps for me.

G
 
Highway 61 said:
I wonder what you would think if your car repairman told you to try a bicycle after a major failure of the car engine (an expensive car made by a famous German firm which you had bought one year ago).

With respect.
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... and Raid could have avoided that theft from the car had he only returned to a horse and trap, and the jet-lag would never have happened had he sailed home in a ocean liner (if that's not too advanced for the technophobes)
 
Oh boy. My little thread has started quite a long input of thoughts and ideas and suggestions. I appreciate it.

I must have feeling quite down when I wrote what I wrote here!
I hope to upload some travel images this weekend. Nothing special at all; just the regular travel pics with family. What goes on around me.
In Oslo, there was a man dressed as the Pope, sitting on a stool in one of the streets which was filled with people walking in a passenger zone. I got a few pics of him. Half frozen lakes on the way to some fjords in Norway, while it was raining. Stuff like that.
 
Highway 61 said:
I wonder what you would think if your car repairman told you to try a bicycle after a major failure of the car engine (an expensive car made by a famous German firm which you had bought one year ago).

With respect.
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What an intelligent mechanic! The bicycle is one of the truly brilliant inventions of our specie. Just be sure you get a really simple one that doesn't have any gears, and skip any model with a built-in light meter.
 
Raid, sorry for your loss. You had too much go wrong at one time. In contrast to the advice that some have given, I think you should make setting the M9 right your priority. I suspect that reverting to film camera or cheap digital is not going to make you feel complete.

It may be a hammer, but clearly a really nice hammer that you have bonded with.
 
charjohncarter said:
Buy a Holga, tape all the seams light tight after loading and go out and shoot. .....
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Or put a CV 25/4 on a non-metered body, leave the meter at home, one roll in the camera, two in the pockets, and go out and burn some film.

I can understand your feelings about your M9, I would be feeling the same. Big-Wad-O-Cash you expect better. I'm sure you made the right decision and when you see how Leica stand behind their product I'm hoping you will feel the same way. To me the real measure of a product/company in that type of market segment (high end) is how they will stand behind you and their product.

Welcome back, sorry to hear about the luggage and the M9. On the positive side you and your family have some wonderful experiences to share for many many years.

B2
 
Ansel said:
Maybe its the internet amplifying things but I have also read about a lot of reliability issues with the Leica Ms over the past few years... both digital and film. I guess quality may not what it used to be.
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Actually, the internet is having reliability issues; *it* is not what it had promised to be. We sit here with too much time on our hands when we could be out shooting or in the darkroom. Anyplace but in front of a computer. We should burn up a brick or fill a card and not get online for a month. then look at what you've captured. And I include myself in this.

s-a
 
no, raid, you haven't lost your passion for photography. that would be like losing passion for your family; photography and family are intertwined for you.
now, you may have lost respect for electronic leicas, and that's OK. you always have the olympus ... 🙂
 
I often go long periods of time without picking up a camera. It's not my only hobby, interest in it waxes and wanes. Fresh interest, fresh eyes, fresh outlook, fresh results.

Equipment failures happen. Not just to cameras. They are only as aggravating as you let them be. Repair, replace, or dump it and use something else you already own. Those are the options. At least there are options. In recent times three guys I know, all in their early 50s, one dropped dead of a heart attack and the other two diagnosed with terminal cancer. I'll take a busted camera any day.
 
Raid,

I hope your M9 is repairable and Leica will be kind on your camera and wallet.

Seeing that I would not be able to afford an M9 (or two, for backup!) when I started working as a photographer several months ago, I decided to sell all RF gear and went with Nikon DLSRs. Have hardly been active at all here since then due to abundance of work and absence of rangefinders.

I hate lugging the Nikon(s) around but results are pleasing to me and my clientele. So far nothing has broken although it takes a beating every now and then. The bank hasn't been broken yet either 😉

I'm not sure how this helps you, but I guess I just wanted to share there is a life beyond Leica 😀
 
I burn out on photography every second month it seems. I shoot show homes for a living and when I get home I don't feel like shooting personal stuff.

I force myself to carry a camera everytine I leave the house and yesterday I took what I'm hoping will be a nice photo. All it takes is one good frame to keep me going.
 
Thanks

Thanks

Thank you for the tip with the phone number and email address, Duane.

Raid



Duane Pandorf said:
Sorry to hear of your camera troubles Raid. If you haven't already, give Carmen Vargas a shout at Leica NJ: carmen.vargas@leicacamerausa.com or (+1) 800-222-0118 ext. 9932

You may be surprised on what they can or will do for you. I don't think its much different than your film camera needing a CLA or a lens adjustment after a bump or fall. Stuff happens and we don't live in a perfect world. No point in leaving the camera on the shelf as life keeps moving along and you don't want to miss documenting the growth of those beautiful children you have.

As to those that seem to think that needs to revert back to film. There are some of us that haven't shot film in a long time. I myself could not live with just a film camera as I prefer the "instant" gratification I get with digital.
Click to expand...
 
in the digital age, camera is just like cellphone which is disposable. I see no point to buy a leica RF at its asking price. I carry my Nikon D5100 for travel around the world. It is cheap but excellent quality. if it get stolen or failed I just through it away. The D5300 is even better with WIFI and GPS. What is the point to buy expensive rangefinder with dinosaur age tech? If Leica make a digital rangefinder at $1500-2000 I may consider to buy one but not at $6000-7000.
 
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