Is... is that really a LEICA you have?!?!?!

[dazedgonebye]

I have several times been asked, "Is that a Leica."
It happens most often when I carry my Fed-2, but I recently had that question about my Hexar AF.
I think non-camera folk simply have an iconic image of "non slr camera" in their heads and the attached mental tag says "Leica."
It says a lot about Leica that they've managed to create this Icon status for their cameras.

I always answer yes, no matter what camera I have (don't own a Leica).

 

[Muggins]

I tend to say something like "I couldn't help noticing you had a really interesting looking camera...", that way if i'm completely wrong I feel less of a prat!

It's happened to me a couple of times when using a Werra - once asked if it was a Leica, and once a Kodak! Funnily enough, the guy who asked if it was a Leica I've since found out works with someone who really does have one.

Adrian

 

[pompadork]

I like reading threads like this because it utterly prevents me from approaching anyone with a Leica and saying something. I had seen a man at a coffee shop the other day with an M4-P and i was going to say something, but i figured he would be annoyed because of reading responses in threads like these =p

 

[literiter]

No one around here seems to know or care if I have a Leica or not.

I was at a museum a while ago and was taking a picture of an object through glass. A earnest young fellow approached me, pointed to the little RF illuminator window and said that the "flash" would bounce off the glass and spoil my picture.

I thanked him and told him I'd be sure to turn the flash off then.

 

[david werbeloff]

Being noticed for a Leica...

Being noticed for a Leica...

Hi All: In all the years that I've been taking pictures with my Leicas, nobody has ever commented, except for this one time...

I was once photographing a little "house" concert being held at the Goethe Institute (with permission, of course) using just my little IIIa with a Summitar. At the intermission an older, German-accented gentleman came up to me and said, "that looks like a very old Leica" in a rather dismissive manner. We got to talking and he allowed as how he had several new Ms and a whole stable of lenses. Later, someone told me that the gentleman was the German Consul...

Best, David

 

[BillP]

Hm.

Shop assistant says: "Is that a Leica (Omega, iPhone, Armani suit, etc.) wow! How impressive, I have always wanted one of those!"

Your ego hears: "You are a fine man with exceptional taste and I am in awe of you"

His words translated: "You have money, if I suck up to you, you may spend some of it in my shop"

Regards,

Bill

 

[RdEoSg]

I can't get past the fact that you were shopping at an Apple store WITH the Leica hanging from your neck...? GEEK ALERT!

I know you are but what am I!!! (said in best pee wee herman voice)


He didn't get any money from me Bill.. well not this time anyways 😉

 

[Mackinaw]

I like reading threads like this because it utterly prevents me from approaching anyone with a Leica and saying something. I had seen a man at a coffee shop the other day with an M4-P and i was going to say something, but i figured he would be annoyed because of reading responses in threads like these =p

Quite the contrary. A few years back, at a local museum, I saw a guy carrying a black Leica M. I walked over with my MP and we compared cameras. Turns out he was carrying a MP ala' carte, customized to his specs, along with a 50/1.5 Summarit. We ended up talking photography, mainly classic LTM lenses, B&W film and darkroom stuff, for a good twenty minutes. Well worth my initiating the conversation.

Jim B.

 

[Nando]

I had it happen four times in the last year. I work for the local School Board as a teacher and I often bring a camera when attending school/board functions. Three times I was approached by students that were photography enthusiasts - once at a graduation ceremony, once at a Remembrance Day ceremony and another time at a Pow Wow. I let the students take a few shots with the camera. Why not? They were all very happy to be able to use the camera and it also made me feel good.

The other time was my cousin's wedding in Portugal and unlike the other incidents, this one was negative. The wedding photographer noticed my camera and took a few photographs of it while it hanged in front of my gut. I really didn't like that as several people around me noticed what he was doing. It felt like he was shooting me with a gun. I was the approached by the wedding photographer a few minutes later while the bride and groom were gathering a few people to take some photographs. He was friendly and I appreciated his interest, however I noticed that my cousin and his bride was motioning to get the photographer's attention so he could take a photo of them with some family members. I cut off the photographer when he was speaking and told him that my cousin was waiting to get a photo taken. I admit that I was a bit curt but only because my cousin was motioning quite wildly to get the photographers attention. I guess he took that the wrong way and thought that I didn't want to speak to him. Later on during the dinner party, he approached me again while I was by myself shortly after taking photographs of the bride and groom cutting the cake. As he approached I smiled and I was genuinely looking forward to having a conversation with him but to my surprise, his attitude became quite sour. This time he said that I shouldn't think that I am better than him because I had a Leica and that it must be nice to be able to afford such toys because I lived in America (though I actually live in Canada)... I was a bit lost for words and didn't say anything back. I just walked away and went back to my table. I felt a bit bad but it was nothing that a few shots of água-ardente couldn't cure.

 

[Bobfrance]

It may be "humble" in the brand-awareness stakes, but hardly needs humility when it comes to performance. Hexar RFs rule, OK? (And even if its not OK, they still do.)

Not that I'm showing any bias at all...

...Mike

What he said... 😀

But seriously. Considering we spend so much time on here talking about cameras it suprises me that some of you guys shun talking about gear in real life. I'm always happy to chat to fellow photographers in the street - even if they do have DSLR's.
Even with non photogs it's good to spread the love of quality cameras and photography.

I always think that the more people who persue photography as a hobby, the less likely we are to be marginalised by paranoid government and have our hobby curtailed.

 

[BillP]

Hear hear!

And particularly this bit:

I always think that the more people who persue photography as a hobby, the less likely we are to be marginalised by paranoid government and have our hobby curtailed.

Regards,

Bill

 

[bafonso]

The other time was my cousin's wedding in Portugal and unlike the other incidents, this one was negative. The wedding photographer noticed my camera and took a few photographs of it while it hanged in front of my gut. I really didn't like that as several people around me noticed what he was doing. It felt like he was shooting me with a gun. I was the approached by the wedding photographer a few minutes later while the bride and groom were gathering a few people to take some photographs. He was friendly and I appreciated his interest, however I noticed that my cousin and his bride was motioning to get the photographer's attention so he could take a photo of them with some family members. I cut off the photographer when he was speaking and told him that my cousin was waiting to get a photo taken. I admit that I was a bit curt but only because my cousin was motioning quite wildly to get the photographers attention. I guess he took that the wrong way and thought that I didn't want to speak to him. Later on during the dinner party, he approached me again while I was by myself shortly after taking photographs of the bride and groom cutting the cake. As he approached I smiled and I was genuinely looking forward to having a conversation with him but to my surprise, his attitude became quite sour. This time he said that I shouldn't think that I am better than him because I had a Leica and that it must be nice to be able to afford such toys because I lived in America (though I actually live in Canada)... I was a bit lost for words and didn't say anything back. I just walked away and went back to my table. I felt a bit bad but it was nothing that a few shots of água-ardente couldn't cure.

Typical. And yes, I am Portuguese. We can be great hosts but also show the worst of the portuguese culture.

Abraco
b

 

[Nando]

I must say that one of the best things that ever happened to me was because another Leica photographer approached me to have a conversation. My good friend John was just hired as a teacher at my school and he had noticed one of my prints hanging in the Principal's office. He approached me to talk about photography his first day on the job. He told me that he used an old camera called a Leica M4-P and went on to describe what it was assuming that I didn't know anything about Leicas or rangefinders. I told him that I had my camera with me in my bag. You should see the look on his face when I whipped out the MP. We became good friends immediately. John had much more experience than I did. He introduced me to many great photographers that I wasn't even aware of and he also taught me how to develop photographs myself. We get a lot of inspiration from each other.

If anybody here visits Sault Ste. Marie and sees a short and chubby guy walking around with an MP or pimped-out, white M3, please approach me. I'll buy you a coffee and we can have a nice talk.

bafonso,

This could have happened anywhere I think - not just in Portugal. Being Portuguese, I do know that the culture is quite class-conscience but I do feel that the reaction of the photographer was due primarily to the earlier misunderstanding. Like any culture, there are many good things but also there are some pretty ugly things too.

 

[sienarot]

I've had many people approach me in similar fashion/situations with regards to my Hasselblad, but never my Leica(s).

 

[Mackinaw]

If anybody here visits Sault Ste. Marie and sees a short and chubby guy walking around with an MP or pimped-out, white M3, please approach me. I'll buy you a coffee and we can have a nice talk.

Do you frequent Soo, Ontario or Soo, Michigan? And I gather you're probably here in the summer and not during the winter? I'm about a two hour drive from both Soos' and usually travel up there several times/year. If you see a tall, bearded guy (mostly grey) with a MP around his neck, it just may be me.

Jim B.

 

[polaski]

Nope. It's a FED. Proudly named after one of the most bloody-handed men in modern history.

 

[polaski]

no

no

Nope. It's a FED. Proudly named noafter one of the most bloody-handed men in modern history.

 

[furcafe]

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43791

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38469

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37142

 

[Morca007]

I've had a few people mistake my Bessa for a Leica, it seems that people equate rangefinder with Leica.
One that stands out was a photographer friend of mine, we were at a party, and she mildly freaked out when she saw my camera. And yes, she was disappointed to find out it wasn't a Leica. I'm a bit ashamed to say, but so was I, I felt pretty suave for a minute.

It's much more common for people to assume that my camera is ancient, when they look disappointed at it's 2000 introduction, I console them by telling them the lens is from the seventies.

 

[gavinlg]

I love talking to other photographers or camera interested people, love having coffee over it etc. It seems strange to me that people would be so weird and cold toward people just wanting to ask a few questions. If I ever don't want to attract attention - I tape the brand and logos. Works like a charm.