How often do you see other RF users around?

[back alley]

rarely, but i can't remember when the last time was.

 

[terrafirmanada]

In San Francisco this past spring, I spied a fellow at a reception with am M3 and leicameter to boot. I was borrowing an m4 at the time, and was pretty excited. He didn't seem to think it was such a big deal. The other users I have come across are all relatives, so that doesn't count.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Reactions to my camera:

In an ice cream store with a Leica CL over my shoulder, a slightly older European man said, "Now that's a real camera. I have some Leicas at home."

Sitting by my 4x5 Speed Graphic set up on a tripod while on a road trip with my father, on the east coast of Vancouver Island, a couple walked by and the man said to his wife, "Now that's a real camera."

It's interesting that when I carry my Rolleiflex around, everybody seems to be fascinated by it, but they really don't want to stare. The older they are, the happier they seem to be to see it.

When I carry either the Leica or Bessa, it's usually the women who want to take a look at it (I thought that's what guys got Golden Retrievers for 😉 ).

The Franka, on the other hand, gets comments from even the panhandlers (I'm serious!) when I walk around downtown with it.

::shhh:: I don't want psychologists to drive up prices on film gear.

 

[robert blu]

I only see a few ones when taking photo course, not so many in daily life. Last I met was ,a couple of month ago, a man in a high quality gastronomic shop in Milano, with a Leica (I suppose MP, not sure) . i remember I made with my wife the comment of good taste, both food and photo related !

 

[traveller]

anyway most of these will become available on the second hand market soon so why complain

When they buy them in the same store that sells the Bessa R for € 599,- (after a discount of € 100,-) at least one store is for keeps. BTW, official price from Voigtländer Germany is € 599,- :bang:

John

 

[dostacos]

I have only ssen one Rf user, oh wait that was my reflection....rarely see film cameras either.

 

[wyk_penguin]

A dying breed I would say.

 

[flipflop]

when i was at the atlantis hotel in the bahamas...i saw a guy with a leica m7...we compared notes...i was toting my g1...and my seiko watch...

yeah he had a rolex 🙂

 

[nksyoon]

Last week in Istanbul I saw a French-speaking guy with a black Leica M and 28mm lens (I think). He was busy with his family at a stall, so didn't bother him.

 

[gbb]

I once saw a German tourist in the old part of Panama City using a Rolleiflex w prism. I was so excited, I came up to him and showed him my Rolleicord, but he was so afraid of his surroundings that he mumbled something and took off. Oh well.
Here in Tel Aviv i get tons of comments on my Bessa R (mostly positive) and never see other RF users, though I've been told Zorkis are popular (that's how I got started in RF here). My wife thinks it's cool that she can see my eye when I'm taking her picture, but rather thinks I should get back to real photography w my Hassy.
As for film users, they're still around, but fewer and farther between. You definitely feel animosity from digital shooters when they see film gear, either dismissive(Bessa) or jealousy (Hassy).
I am always on the lookout for interesting camera users, though, and it seems so are most of you too! Sort of like bird or train spotting. Maybe we should have an ongoing thread for RF spottings!

GBB

 

[markinlondon]

Yesterday, Heathrow airport departures. A young man with a shiny M3 around his neck. Lens appeared to be a '69 model 50 Summicron and the shoe was carrying a VC meter. I did wonder if ths was "one of us", but didn't get the chance to talk.

Mark

 

[Dave H]

thinking about it, unless I'm at a "touristy" type spot, I really see no cameras at all digital SLR or RF, maybe I'm moving in the wrong circles or everyone has them under wraps where really you can only take pictures of the inside of your bag/pocket !

 

[James Burton]

Let me ask, responding to the comments of others, how often you see anyone with a film camera? As to rangefinders, essentially none as far as I can remember, even doing the large amount of traveling which I do.

I quite often see people with an old SLR around. Most often students (as far as I can tell) but tourists also.

James

 

[James Burton]

I am always on the lookout for interesting camera users, though, and it seems so are most of you too! Sort of like bird or train spotting. Maybe we should have an ongoing thread for RF spottings!

The trick is to take a shot. I only have 1 RFer so far in my collection but after this thread I'll deliberately look for them.

Thanks,
James

 

[dmr]

"Now that's a real camera. ..."

One night last year at the Sahara hotel I was taking the elevator down carrying the Pentax with the ultrawide Sigma and a guy, maybe half my age exclaimed "Hey, a real camera!" 🙂

But back to the question, I can't remember when the last time was when I saw another rangefinder shooter in public. I'm sure I would notice it. I do see film SLR users, but unless I am paying attention I really don't notice the difference between some of the later film SLRs and the digital SLRs. I would say that 95% of the people I notice taking pictures are using nondescript P&S cameras, and I admit I don't usually look closely enough to see if they are film or digital, but I assume most are digitals.

I do occasiionally see people using the disposable film cameras, but some of the later ones look less like a cardboard box with a lens and more like a real camera. I could go on about those on the Las Vegas Strip using various generic P&S cameras at night and obviously not having a single clue of how to take a night shot. 🙂

 

[Peter]

So far Ionly once in Singapore other than local RFF members. This chap was taking photos in a local nature reserve http://www.pbase.com/kepha/image/39950704 Two Leica M6s, a 35mm and 50mm Summicron and a 90mm Summicron in his bag! 🙂

 

[iñaki]

I have never seen a RF user here in Spain or in my travels around Europe 🙁
Only at the photo shops they sometimes recognize the camera I use, but they don´t sell this kind of camera and they even haven´t touch one.
Last month, in a friends wedding at San Sebastian, there were some Pro-photographers, and I was carrying (just for fun) the Bessa-R and the ISKRA, and they atracted every photographers attention. A photographer even recognized the ISKRA 😎

Of course, everybody had a digicam (mine was at home)

 

[Socke]

Last year I saw a woman with a Minolta CLE and a man with Contax G2.

 

[gbb]

Hey, Inaki

I spent some wonderful time up in the Basque country, took some wonderful pics too. Where do you live, near San Seb?

 

[robert blu]

Yesterday in Milan, waiting at the traffic light to cross a road I noticed a couple on the other side, presumubly age 35-45, not seeming to be tourist. Suddendly she took out form her coat's pocket a LOMO, took a picture of something on the road and very quick put the camera away. It only took a few seconds, I even did not have the time to tell my wife hey, look ...