Leica RF camaraderie

[jky]

Do you approach or acknowledge a fellow photog when he/she is using a Leica?
When my camera's visible, I've been approached by a couple folks that happened to be out shooting for the day with an M - just a quick "hello"/"hi", maybe some small talk "do you like it"/"how long have you been using it".... that kind of stuff. Not that this happens often, but when it does, the other party has a Leica in his hands...
I personally haven't gone up to a person just because of what camera they were holding.... but it seemed that this camaraderie exists.
Just wondering.
Cheers, j

 

[x-ray]

I haven't run into another Leica or RF shooter in the field in 30 years. Very few people even notice my camera much less care what it is with the exception of one fellow in New Orleans at Mardigras. He noticed my red MP and spoke. I've found that most people don't notice cameras in general. In part it may be due to phone cameras that people use everywhere and P&S careras that you see people using every day. It soesn't bother me either way but if someone asks a question then I respond. On the flip side I frequently get asked questions when on assignments using digital. Often folks will ask questions about the camera and tell me about their camera and experiences. Some are down right funny like the guy who had a Sony Mavika 1.x mp that recoeded the jpg's on a floppy disc. He told me the camera is so sharp that he once shot a picture in the local football stadium of a friend on the other side of the field and blew it up to an 8x10 with such clarity he could see every detail of his face in an 8x10. I always respond, "wow, that's fantastic, I wish my camera would do that". A little smile follows.

 

[x-ray]

yes, but the subjects at the klan rally you photographed don't strike me as the type to go "is that a leica, boy?"

I take it back, I had another fellow pop his head out of a garbage can and look at me and say Is that a Leica?". Figured he must have been one of the photogs that didn't make it in business or he had stollen a few. Freaked me out a little!

One good thing about a Leica, I always figured I could defend myself with one. That brass case would make quite a big dent in someones head.

Memphis:

Still want to come over and visit, make pix of blues musicians and eat ribs (my treat).

 

[x-ray]

absolutely, my friend...

the guy that popped his head out of a garbage can may have been a utk art student

Probably was or a MBA grad.

 

[photogdave]

It's not quite the same as VW owners. I get asked about my van a lot more than my camera!

 

[jky]

@photogdave: Sweet camper! There was a time when I was planning on buying one of the right hand drive Exceeds (from Jpn) & converting it to a camper....
Again.... very nice!

 

[photogdave]

@photogdave: Sweet camper! There was a time when I was planning on buying one of the right hand drive Exceeds (from Jpn) & converting it to a camper....
Again.... very nice!

Thanks! Those Japanoid vans can be pretty sweet and would be great if your van had to be a daily driver. I've even seen them with pop tops!
But nothing beats the Westy! Two double beds, three-way fridge to keep those bevvies cool, propane stove. Ahhh...

 

[sirius]

Oddly, the most attention I get is from fellow photographers. They have this whistful sound in their voice when they say, "Is that a Leica?" Meanwhile they're holding a giant DSLR. *Smile*

 

[SteveM(PA)]

Thanks! Those Japanoid vans can be pretty sweet and would be great if your van had to be a daily driver. I've even seen them with pop tops!
But nothing beats the Westy! Two double beds, three-way fridge to keep those bevvies cool, propane stove. Ahhh...

I daydream about Westys all the time. Driving cross country, with just a dog, meeting people, inviting them in for drinks and a cigar...that whole Steinbeck thing. And oooh...maybe even make it a Syncro.

As far as Leicas go, I, too, like the idea of being in a place where nobody knows or cares what it is. One guy came up to me at the beach last month, wanting to chat about my M3. I got so flustered (I was changing film) that I dropped my vcii meter in the sea, killing it. Back to my exposure chart/guessing.

 

[Artorius]

I was a a local event this weekend. There was a Canon shooter with a Rebel and some nice glass. I went to grab a couple of shots of the performance, and happened to walk past him. He started giggling to his girl friend with him and mentioned something about old film cameras, he didn't notice I had both an M3 and M8 around my neck. He swapped his little 50 for a BIG grey tele and started smiling again. I had the Elmar 90 collapsible on my M8 and walked up close to the stage as one of the dancers(Greek Festival) was doing an athletic Zorba the Greek thing. I got the shot, walked back to where he was with his mammoth zoom, asked him if he got the same shot. His answer was no, his zoom wasn't fast enough to focus. I offered up the LCD side of the M8 and 'chimpped' him the shot, and said isn't pre focus great with digital? Never saw him shoot another shot the rest of the night, and his friend kept giving me strange looks.
Damn, I sure love my Leicas.

 

[jky]

Art.... funny story!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I have approached fellow Leica users with great results. My wife thinks it's weird, because the Leica-talk follows immediately after the first raising of the camera, as a greeting. Then comes:

"Wow, I have an M (insert number here). What's yours?"
"This is one of my M6TTL babies. What's that glass?"
"'cron 35 (or Elmarit 28 or 'cron 90 or 'cron 50), my favorite. How do you like your (insert glass name here)?"
"I like it, I think it's great"
"Yeah, me too. Have a nice day!"
"Same to you!"

Or words to that effect. It's a small world, and when we go full force into gear talk, my wife simply blanks out and allows me to be a "photo guy" for some minutes.

 

[etrigan63]

absolutely, my friend...

the guy that popped his head out of a garbage can may have been a utk art student

Nope, you've got it all wrong...



The Duck has discovered the truth!

I my case, most photogs in Miami ask "What's a Leica?" and "How big a zoom does have?" When I give answers to both questions, the follow-up question invariably is "Auto nothing? Why would you want that?" My patented response is: "To practice photography (tm)."

 

[john neal]

In many years of Leica use, I have only had two guys even notice what I was using - both earlier this year. My wife & I had gone to the Chelsea flower show and she was busy hunting out the TV gardeners and taking pics with her digithing when a pro walked up to me to ask about my M3 (actually it's a black MP, but close enough). He had some huge DSLR on a massive tripod which he had over his head (actually looking something of a d*ck) - couldn't believe that it was not a MP - even when I showed him the top plate.

A few days later, in Barcelona, we walked into a small square in the old town to find a small festival taking place. Obviously, the MP came out and i started shooting - pushing my way through the crowd as politely as I could. A guy going the other way with a D200 did a classic "double take" with his head & eyes, but did not have the nerve to speak - almost got swept off his feet. I gave him a quick "hi" and followed the flow to get more shots.

Interesting that nobody has ever come up when I have been using the M3 with a meter attached, or when an older Barnack body has been in my hand, but I guess life is like that

 

[drewbarb]

I have approached fellow Leica users with great results. My wife thinks it's weird, because the Leica-talk follows immediately after the first raising of the camera, as a greeting. Then comes:

"Wow, I have an M (insert number here). What's yours?"
"This is one of my M6TTL babies. What's that glass?"
"'cron 35 (or Elmarit 28 or 'cron 90 or 'cron 50), my favorite. How do you like your (insert glass name here)?"
"I like it, I think it's great"
"Yeah, me too. Have a nice day!"
"Same to you!"

Or words to that effect. It's a small world, and when we go full force into gear talk, my wife simply blanks out and allows me to be a "photo guy" for some minutes.

I know that blank look. My father (also a photographer) and I were having one of those photo conversations in line in a grocery store once. The checkout lady looked at us like we had ten heads each, and asked my sister what language we were speaking. My sister replied "Photography."

I try not to engage other people based on what camera they are carrying. I am always cautious when other people engage me on that basis. But that said, yes, there is a comraderie between Leica users- much like there is between members of any other small cult phenom.

 

[Pherdinand]

Normally not.
I also don't feel to talk to people wearing the same shoes, goping to the same dentist or riding the same bike.

I even find it funny when in certain cases people who never met before and perhaps never will meet later, act as they know each other. E.g. when you randomly met people at hiking, or sailing.

If for some reason we are locked up together for a while, that's different story. E.g. once i've met a photojopurnalist on the train - we were traveling in the same cabin for nine hours and a half. His M6 was a good conversation starter and it turned out he's a big fan of Brassai and Capa and that he's coming from an assignment that sounded cool.
I just wish i had asked his name

Of course there's another situation where i'd say Yes to your question: if it's an attractive female photographer that we are talking about

Do you approach or acknowledge a fellow photog when he/she is using a Leica?
When my camera's visible, I've been approached by a couple folks that happened to be out shooting for the day with an M - just a quick "hello"/"hi", maybe some small talk "do you like it"/"how long have you been using it".... that kind of stuff. Not that this happens often, but when it does, the other party has a Leica in his hands...
I personally haven't gone up to a person just because of what camera they were holding.... but it seemed that this camaraderie exists.
Just wondering.
Cheers, j

 

[Kim Coxon]

I haven't come across it with a camera but have found it quite common when driving an unusual car. When I had the Westfield, I would always get a wave from another Westfield driver and it was similar but not so common with the Volvo 480.

Kim

 

[Ronald M]

I get questions like do they still make those?

One person inquired if my Zone vi 4x5 which looks new with shinny brass and all really works.

 

[alexz]

Xmm, what a timing for the topic...
I just back right now from Tel Aviv photo pro shop turnaround stocking up on Tri-X (tahnks to God figured a single shop who has one available, picked some 40 rolls).
As usual, my M6 with 35mm 'Cron hanging down across my chest (can be either this one or my M3 with 50mm 'Cron).
Strooling for a hour on the streets shooting here and there, I never had been aproached by a bypassers. However, nearly on each photo shop there will be eitehr a customer or sales person tryingto engage some talk...I usually quite open to that.
Most just express their appreciation (while have never ran onto another starnger Leica user on the streets here), one guy in the shop who turned to be also B&W shooter (but SLR), noticed me checking B&W checmicals in stock and Leica with 35mm 'Cron just ceased his conversation with the seller and curiosily stared on the camera. I guess what drew his attention at the beginning was the rectagular hood on the lens (I myslef find it to have very cool look..). The guy forgot the topic he was discussing with the seller and after asking me what the lens it is, he needed to be reminded what he inquired about with the seller a minute ago....

In another shop, where I managed to figure a stock of Tri-X, the seller tried to offer me a trade of some funky looking big digi-wonder just out of fun, made a good laugh exchaning some jokes in this regard... (I was barganing for 40 rolls of Tri-X, he noted that it doesn't look like I'm a poor student pointing to what is hanging down my chest, I responded I just forked out all my hard-earned cash into the lens, so now I'm probaly even poorer then that typical photo student.....).

Anyway, no negative reactions so far..

 

[rogue_designer]

I bump into a few other RF or Leica users - I'd guess one a week or so. The most common greeting is head nod, and maybe a question about what film they're using.

Everyonce in a while, I get a leica snob who decides that it's too bad I can't use any leica M glass on my Canon P. I don't usually bother telling them what I paid - makes their wives mad.