I don't understand Leica people

[alan davus]

Leica snobs??? Snob: quote from the Shorter Oxford.
A person belonging to the lower classes of society; a vulgar or ostenatious person, one whose ideas and conduct are prompted by a vulgar admiration for wealth or social position.

 

[johne]

When English public schools began admitting commoners, each had sine nobilitas after their name. That got to be onerous to the clerks who reduced it to s nob. In short, a person not of breeding who tended to act like their betters.
Perhaps that explains why my family either left or was kicked out of England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Johne

 

[tedwhite]

Regarding Leica stuff on ebay, a friend was going to toss some "boxes that cameras came in," and I said, heck, give'em to me. Turned out they were Leica boxes. One is a Leitz Wetzlar box that says :

Leicaflex 11 813
Super Angulon R 1:4/21 (serial no. on side)

A second box is for a Leicaflex body (serial no. on side)

A third is for a Summicron R 1:2/50 (serial no. on side)

The last is for an Elmarit R 1:2.8/180 (etc.)

I think I'll put them on ebay. Who knows? There might be someone with a collector mentality who might just want to have them...

Or would I just be wasting my time and shortening the life of my digital camera?

Ted

 

[reagan]

Definately go for it, Ted. There's probably some folks out there that would love to turn their Leicaflex into a "Leicaflex w/box."

 

[Doug]

Re: Boxes... Yes, this happens in collecting things other than cameras too, as the complete w/box is more $$ than without. Tough for camera gear or firearms though when the boxes have the serial number printed on, and then the box you bought has a non-matching number. Well, one does one's best.

 

[Pherdinand]

Collectors are not to be understood or explained. It's like religion.
If you collect something, there's the magic of owning The Stuff and striving for the completion (at some level) no matter what. If you can afford, this means spending as much as necessary on even a stupid dummy camera.

 

[demian]

I am always too little too late with these threads...wow.

Well, the $630 Summicron-C did sell to a collector I found.
Yes, "expensive" is a relative term..but I fell out of my chair.

Then again, if money were not an issue (as to many it is not), I thought to myself I would have paid it considering it has the same optical qualities of a new 50mm 'cron and more compact as well for $2-300 less. Also, save the CLA and possible hassles of buying second hand, etc.

Yet I knew that a bit of patience would prove I could find a very nice example for half the price.

Interesting discussion though.

As someone who understands collectors all too well (fine art and antique field), as well as one who respects quality and craftsmanship in almost all things, and has perused groups online for info, spent time within them a bit, etc...


...one must be careful of those who use the word "passion" for "obsession".


Just a thought.

regards
D

 

[Jocko]

Demian, I wish you hadn't edited you post, because you were absolutely right!

Best wishes, Ian

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Even the M8 sucks better than any other sucky camera made before or after!

And I'm sure you know this from personal experience and having an utmost understanding of how to use one, and decided that it just sucks better for you, because I'm sure you don't believe everything you read on the papers or the Internet.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Collectors are not to be understood or explained. It's like religion.

Just like the hunt for WMDs, there are certain things that people just believe in, no matter what the evidence (or lack thereof) is. Biased word-of-mouth and myth are stronger than facts drowned out by the hard-core extremists.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[demian]

Demian, I wish you hadn't edited you post, because you were absolutely right!

Best wishes, Ian

Well, I am rather new here and I didn't wish to lecture or appear condescending...

I thought it was a bit too much too fast.

Thank you. Merely my views, right or wrong....and Heaven knows I have to express them...<lol>

D

 

[enochRoot]

I am always too little too late with these threads...wow.

Well, the $630 Summicron-C did sell to a collector I found.
Yes, "expensive" is a relative term..but I fell out of my chair.

ok...i can hold my tongue no longer. i bought that summicron, and i am decidedly NOT a collector. so i have no idea how you "found out" it sold to a collector. seems like a boldfaced lie to me.

Then again, if money were not an issue (as to many it is not), I thought to myself I would have paid it considering it has the same optical qualities of a new 50mm 'cron and more compact as well for $2-300 less. Also, save the CLA and possible hassles of buying second hand, etc.

now you see why i purchased it. i am really pissed at how much i had to pay, but you can blame the M8 for this, not collectors. i have been looking for a nice one for a LONG time now, and have missed auction ends, gotten outbid, etc, etc. the *only* reason i sold mine so long ago was because i had a supposedly perfect CL coming w/ the lens attached. i only need one lens, so i sold the (what i thought would be a) duplicate to an RFF member for $250-275. the camera was messed up, and i had to return it...and i have been without a beloved 40 'cron ever since (it is one of my favorite lenses). so i bought one with piece of mind that it has had a CLA, and is guaranteed for 1 year (something you don't find that often). it is also the cheapest thing going in leica glass around the 35mm focal length that is somewhat "modern". besides that...i just love the look the lens produces.

Yet I knew that a bit of patience would prove I could find a very nice example for half the price.

i really doubt that. if you have been watching the prices these have been going for recently in nice shape...they are all in the $375-450 range. add in a CLA to that ($125 or so)...and it is close to what i paid. but then you also need to wait for the month or so it takes to get the lens cleaned.

i'm sorry if this seems like i am going off on you, but you were talking about something you know nothing of...and it bugs me. even if it did go to a collector...so what?! did you really ever think of the notion of an auction? you are basically willing to pay more than anyone else in the world (on ebay) if you win. and that is no matter if it is a lot of money, or a little.

further...i have purchased a number of rather expensive lenses over the past year, and played with them all (i shoot a decent bit of film). but i am going to unload most everything now, since it didn't really do anything for me that 40 coulldn't do (and i want to free up that cash for a number of reasons).

so please next time you see something go for higher than you think it should...don't jump to conclusions. and honestly...no one is shocked by the price paid more than me. i simply put in a high number so i wouldn't get outbid at the last minute (as i often do)...and had no idea it would go for so much money.

 

[rxmd]

And I'm sure you know this from personal experience and having an utmost understanding of how to use one, and decided that it just sucks better for you, because I'm sure you don't believe everything you read on the papers or the Internet.

And of course the dummy buyer knows from experience that Leica M5 dummies suck better than all other dummies

Philipp

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

And of course the dummy buyer knows from experience that Leica M5 dummies suck better than all other dummies

Perhaps. They could also blow. But most likely, they do neither, for they're dummies.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Well Magus, all real knowledge is intuitive, as I believe Plato reminds us .... But this may suggest why Gabriel unquestionably knows that the M8 does not suck - I'm not aware of any better possible proof - http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=6660

LOL

We're not going to drag Plato into this? He's already apologized for other arguments. And I'm the master of "flawed anologies", remember?

(thanks, btw)

 

[edodo]

I must ad a voice for the collectors! They permit futur generations to enjoy mint leitz camera that would look awfully beaten up if used like professionals did. Think about all those nice looking bodies thats are CLAd then used by us RFF members that wouldn't be possible if none were kept in a closet all those decades! Also the fact that there is a lot of leica collectors is about the fact that those cameras and lenses looked so well made like works of art that their original owners didn't want to sell them in the first place and by consequence became collectors...

 

[NIKON KIU]

Sooo, it turns out the collectors are good guys and the lens in question was sold to an RFF member who is not a collector but a user than needed one for his newly aquired M8!
I love RFF
Patience is a virtue, my first ad in the NEW classified section was a dented CL with a NICE 40mm...one that I got from another RFFer....since I don't do Leicas, listed it here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=22&cat=500

How the M8 has changed the scene...

For those who think that 900 euros is a lot for a M5+lens, I suggest they check ebay more often!

Kiu

 

[enochRoot]

one quick clarification kiu...i don't actually have an M8. i was just saying that i believe they have forced up the price of the 40mm specifically since it becomes so close to a 50 w/ crop factor i happen to be a film users myself.

Sooo, it turns out the collectors are good guys and the lens in question was sold to an RFF member who is not a collector but a user than needed one for his newly aquired M8!
I love RFF
Patience is a virtue, my first ad in the NEW classified section was a dented CL with a NICE 40mm...one that I got from another RFFer....since I don't do Leicas, listed it here:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=22&cat=500

How the M8 has changed the scene...

For those who think that 900 euros is a lot for a M5+lens, I suggest they check ebay more often!

Kiu

 

[enochRoot]

well said charles! i'd also like to add that they are most often keepers of the knowledge as well. it is nice to read about the history and evolution of these fine instruments from people that have taken the time to read up (and collect) all they can over the years. i find it amusing that many of these companies that originally produced these rangefinders many years ago have lost the knowledge, only to have it dug up again by serious collectors. you find this happening in vintage audio as well.

I must ad a voice for the collectors! They permit futur generations to enjoy mint leitz camera that would look awfully beaten up if used like professionals did. Think about all those nice looking bodies thats are CLAd then used by us RFF members that wouldn't be possible if none were kept in a closet all those decades! Also the fact that there is a lot of leica collectors is about the fact that those cameras and lenses looked so well made like works of art that their original owners didn't want to sell them in the first place and by consequence became collectors...