How much is enough? Which Leica?

[David Hughes]

David you should maybe go here next time you're in NYC: http://cwpencils.com/

Hi,

I doubt if I'll ever cross the pond but thanks for the sight of that lovely store. One thing I do appreciate about the USA is that a niche selling to just half of one per cent gets a lot of customers and can do the job properly. I just hope the postal people are up to it...

I like pencils and try to use them as often as possible, the collection dates back to the late 30's and includes some weird ones but I started selling them off or giving them away a while ago when I realised most would end up in a skip once my time comes. FWIW, the 30's and 40's ones (even the very basic war time standard ones) were properly made and smell like cigar boxes used to smell of the wood and they are easy to sharpen properly.

Regards, David

 

[dave lackey]

Hi,

I doubt if I'll ever cross the pond but thanks for the sight of that lovely store. One thing I do appreciate about the USA is that a niche selling to just half of one per cent gets a lot of customers and can do the job properly. I just hope the postal people are up to it...

I like pencils and try to use them as often as possible, the collection dates back to the late 30's and includes some weird ones but I started selling them off or giving them away a while ago when I realised most would end up in a skip once my time comes. FWIW, the 30's and 40's ones (even the very basic war time standard ones) were properly made and smell like cigar boxes used to smell of the wood and they are easy to sharpen properly.

Regards, David

Pencils!! That is too cool! You are amazing...

I have some new watercolor pencils and mechanical/drafting from a previous life... I can understand your collection. Bravo!

 

[Photog9000]

Anyone reading this thread have a bucket list?

Is there a Leica on yours? Or something else?

While I would love to have a Leica body/lens combo, they are just out of my price point.
And a bucket list? Not really. Just to live day to day for as long as I have left with the same woman I have been with for 50 years and to give her as much enjoyment as I can.

 

[robert blu]

Cameras are cool, pencils are cool! Let's use them so much we can 🙂

robert

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

What I find interesting is that W H Fox Talbot couldn't draw very well, when a sketch pad and a few pencils were in every tourists kit and so started looking for an alternative. The result was film photography as we know it although I doubt if he'd recognise our modern film as such.

I was at his house earlier this year and was fascinated to see what he used and handle some modern replicas. And I got a chance to take a famous one he did in 1834-ish but with my little toy digital camera.

Perhaps Dave, you'd better abandon the camera and start with an HB pencil and some cartridge paper. It doesn't get simpler...

Regards, David

 

[dave lackey]

Hi,

What I find interesting is that W H Fox Talbot couldn't draw very well, when a sketch pad and a few pencils were in every tourists kit and so started looking for an alternative. The result was film photography as we know it although I doubt if he'd recognise our modern film as such.

I was at his house earlier this year and was fascinated to see what he used and handle some modern replicas. And I got a chance to take a famous one he did in 1834-ish but with my little toy digital camera.

Perhaps Dave, you'd better abandon the camera and start with an HB pencil and some cartridge paper. It doesn't get simpler...

Regards, David

Hah... Already doing that. Thanks!
I learned sketching in Architectural school a very long time ago. I am just now sketching again but also I am using a fountain pen regularly.

All of it is relaxing and highly recommended.🙂

 

[raid]

I haven't read the full replies yet but a minimalistic way to shoot leica is a plain chrome M4 with a 35 1.4 voigtlander (or any 35 summicron), ev. paired with a vintage hassy SWC.
bests
maitani

My current travel kit is a SWC and an M9 with 35/1.4. I don't need any other equipment.

 

[Vince Lupo]

(bolded) Luxury is not at odds with simplicity. Excess is at odds with simplicity.

G

So i've been wondering, if the same original question could be applied to cars, could you therefore then ask 'which Porsche?'

 

[David Hughes]

Hah... Already doing that. Thanks!
I learned sketching in Architectural school a very long time ago. I am just now sketching again but also I am using a fountain pen regularly.

All of it is relaxing and highly recommended.🙂

Amazing, my background too and the reason I've this heap of pencils. Mostly acquired out of curiosity since most of them are rubbish. Same goes for the cameras only there's little rubbish but lots of curiosity and it's easy and cheap to acquire both. Thinking about it I mostly use the cameras as notebooks...

Regards, David

 

[Jerevan]

So i've been wondering, if the same original question could be applied to cars, could you therefore then ask 'which Porsche?'

Easy - a 1972 911s in metallic blue. 🙂

 

[cz23]

So i've been wondering, if the same original question could be applied to cars, could you therefore then ask 'which Porsche?'

Why not? So let's make Porsche a requirement for a simple life, just as we did for the Leica.

So now our simple life includes a Leica and a Porsche and is shaping up nicely....

Oh, and we've got great pencils, too.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Why not? So let's make Porsche a requirement for a simple life, just as we did for the Leica.

So now our simple life includes a Leica and a Porsche and is shaping up nicely....

Oh, and we've got great pencils, too.

Yay! I think a simple 912 would work just fine (no need for the excess of a 911). Definitely would go well with a Leica M4 and an Albert Unger Black Diamond 🙂

 

[dave lackey]

Yay! I think a simple 912 would work just fine (no need for the excess of a 911). Definitely would go well with a Leica M4 and an Albert Unger Black Diamond 🙂

Dang, I like the way you guys think! Vince, the 912 is perfect... Think of all the money saved by keeping a 912 on the road for 40 years or more and foregoing new car purchases...

I did that with MG cars from a 51 TD to a 76 B... Six all together but only one at a time.

 

[Vince Lupo]

You know I'm also thinking Dave you might require a travel case of some kind - a simple one, mind you - to transport your simple, uncluttered Leica camera and your very nice (yet oh so simple!) pencil in that Porsche 912 (and a very frugal, minimalist Porsche it is too).

Perhaps a very straightforward, very simple, un-frilly Keepall Bandouliere in the most basic of basics - Monogram Canvas - by Louis Vuitton?

 

[splitimageview]

Wow. Back to this thread (I never get notifications) and all this time you were sitting on an M6...(!)

As far as Porsche goes, I'll do the same thing...keep the one I already have. 😉 The new ones tickle the fancy, but ultimately won't give any more satisfaction. Plus, they aren't building any more 993s and never will.

 

[Vince Lupo]

As far as Porsche goes, I'll do the same thing...keep the one I already have. 😉

I am with you - we are completely content with the simple Cayman -- who needs a back seat anyways 🙂

 

[Godfrey]

So i've been wondering, if the same original question could be applied to cars, could you therefore then ask 'which Porsche?'

A Porsche is just as much a piece of a simple life as a Leica camera might be. If your simple life includes a car, why not make it a Porsche if you want one and can afford it?

Personally, I prefer my Mercedes SLK to a Porsche.



G

 

[splitimageview]

I am with you - we are completely content with the simple Cayman -- who needs a back seat anyways 🙂

If it's a Porsche, though, it has to be air cooled. For simplicity, natch. 🙂

 

[Vince Lupo]

If it's a Porsche, though, it has to be air cooled. For simplicity, natch. 🙂

I'll admit, it would be simpler 🙂

You know, I'm also thinking that life is just too complex, cluttered and hustle-bustle where I live -- I think a much simpler and uncluttered life could be had in a basic, very simple beachfront home in the Cayman Islands.

 

[dave lackey]

You know I'm also thinking Dave you might require a travel case of some kind - a simple one, mind you - to transport your simple, uncluttered Leica camera and your very nice (yet oh so simple!) pencil in that Porsche 912 (and a very frugal, minimalist Porsche it is too).

Perhaps a very straightforward, very simple, un-frilly Keepall Bandouliere in the most basic of basics - Monogram Canvas - by Louis Vuitton?

Nah, it might clash with my seersucker suit here in The Deep South. 😛Actually, it just would not look right on the Road King. Black is the new color year round... even in the heat with the new high tech fabrics, preferably monogram free.