Leica RF camaraderie

When I was in Rome, there was a gentleman (perhaps in his 60's) with a couple M's hanging around his neck wandering the Spanish Steps just observing for photo ops. Every now and then he'd lift one of the cameras and take a few shots. As my wife and I sat there (about 1.5hrs), we watched him do his thing and it was quite fun to do so.... to see how other people do their thing.
The following day we were in Piazza Navona and the same gentleman was there. He noticed my M6 & commented on it.... we had small talk of course then we moved on to what film we were using. Very nice photo talk.
His name was Sam Adams from New Mexico - "yep, just like the beer" he says....

I usually find these little engagments pleasant although I don't really like to initiate them. Perhaps it is as Drew above had mentioned that we're part of a "small cult phenom".... never thought of it that way....
 
Motorcycle riders generally give each other a wave or nod of the head as they pass. They don't know each other, but share a common passion/experience, and acknowledge this. This is done without regards to the brand of the bike you ride (though sometimes Harley riders are stand-offish to others).
 
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Funny you should say that Frank, it's the same here with bikers. The Harley exception extends to scooters as well though.

And Fiat Panda owners, it's a little happiness in the thought that someone else is also going through the same pain. (I loved my Panda).

I've mainly been ridiculed at the few events I've been taking photos 'officially' and in general with friends and family with my Bessa / Ms, so it's always nice to exchange nods once in a while (long while).
 
I usually don't initiate those sorts of conversations unless the photographer is using something uncommon, e.g., any RF, TLR, or old school SLR, not just Leicas, & he/she is obviously not busy or averse to conversation (like some of the people who tape their camera logos). I get approached about my cameras, again not always Leicas, on a regular basis, @ least once a month, & have no problem talking "shop" if I have the time. I don't think it's a cult thing so much as it is a simple recognition that people who use old school gear tend to be serious about photography & the gear talk is usually just an opening for talk about other aspects of photography. In fact, almost all of the time the person commenting about my camera(s) isn't even a user of Leica/RF/old school gear, but is using some modern dSLR. Contrary to the stereotypes about gearheads &/or collectors that is often bandied about, I have rarely met anyone who just wanted to talk about gear for its own sake; most of the time, the conversation quickly turns to the problems/issues that the gear is meant to address.

jky said:
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
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jky said:
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
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I have only once met a guy with a Leica when out shooting, in the last 2
years or so. We stopped and talked, he was using a pin-hole for landscapes ...

But the camaraderie exists - not for Leicas but for film users ... When at
a local arts and wine festival last week-end, met one guy with a medium
format and another with a Contax RF, and we smiled and greeted.

Cheers,

Roland.
 
A guy in a bar came up to me one time and asked me if my Bessa was a Leica. He turned out to be a fashion photographer for a clothing store. Told me he does the photography for those sale inserts that they put in the newspaper.
 
One day this past summer, my friend and I were out shooting a sunset and three separate people passing by asked if I was using a Leica. No one before or since that day has ever inquired. That was a weird day.
 
Last winter I was shooting for the first time with my "new" Summitar on my Bessa R: a man stopped me asking "how are you with that?" "what?" "that lens, do you like it? I like very much this old gems", and so on... bla bla bla... Nice experience! :)

Some year ago I was shooting in an old little village with my Zeiss Nettar: a couple of tourist with a digital compact camera walked near me, and the woman said something like "You should use one of these, they are much faster..." I answered: "yes, that is fast, but this is a joy to use, and can make better photos!"

Last year, in Rome, I was walking in a flea market with my big ,black, ugly and heavy Kiev 60, when an old man came and said "be careful with your expensive professional camera, there are a lot of thieves here" I said "thank you, but this is not really expensive, and I can always use it as a weapon ! "

cheers!
 
It happens every now and then. When I shot a demonstration earlier this year with a Bessa R3A, I received three comments in an hour - from a demonstrant, a camera store clerk who mentioned that he used to collect cameras, and a PJ with a Leica M6 which he called his "real" camera, saying something disparaging about the 1Ds slung around his shoulder :)
 
A few years back, while at the Detroit Institute of Arts, I saw a guy walking around with a Leica MP (ala carte). I had my MP and we talked for about twenty minutes about Leicas' and photography in general.

This past summer I was stopped twice at one outdoor art show by a few people who asked me about my Leica. Usually my MP is totally unnoticed.

Jim B.
 
i do a lot of work in developing countries, and contrary to what you might think, there is virutally no film photography whatsoever left in many parts of the developing world. I do get comments when I load film, but folks are really amused when they see me rewinding the film with a rewind crank- MANUALLY!
 
Earlier this year, I was shooting from the steps of a large building when a gentleman hurries pass, only slowing when he saw the camera I was using. "Nice Leica" he says with a smile and an approving nod. I didn't think twice before I informed him it was a Fed from the FSU, but on seeing his disappointment and disapproval that it wasn't the camera he thought it was, I wished I hadn't bothered. In a matter of seconds, I was moved from brother-in-arms status to an untouchable caste.

Eli
 
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I've never had anyone ask about one of my 35mm cameras, either RF or SLR while out shooting. But I break out my Bronica kit and someone will stop every time, it's quite fascinating.
Jon
 
Frank s comments about motorcyclists waving t another , reminded me of rockers trying to kick me off my scooter ... I guess I got acknowleged !
My Leica pretenders have elicited some fascinated comment by older photographers , but mostly , taking snapshots is so everyday , and interest in '' photography '' rare , so it's more likely to be someone worried that i have a later / better digibox - and i have not !
Even my big Kiev $m does not attract notice .
dee
 
A raised eyebrow, a nod, a smile, any combination of the three... I've never (to my recollection, in 35+ years of using Leicas) initiated a conversation with a fellow Leica user, unless he wants to respond to the above. I have however been on the receiving end quite a few times.

Cheers,

R. (www.rogerandfrances.com)
 
I went to a wedding last night and I was the only person there with a film camera, my Leica M6. Everyone is like "that's so old-skool" or "that's an antique". I was the only person who was not holding his camera 2 feet away from his face to take photos. I ended up sitting next to this old man at my table who used to own a camera store and sold it because he refused to go digital (bravo). He recognized my camera immediately and we talked for a while.

I don't know about you all, but I love being a Leica Snob.
 
dee said:
Frank s comments about motorcyclists waving t another , reminded me of rockers trying to kick me off my scooter ... I guess I got acknowleged !
My Leica pretenders have elicited some fascinated comment by older photographers , but mostly , taking snapshots is so everyday , and interest in '' photography '' rare , so it's more likely to be someone worried that i have a later / better digibox - and i have not !
Even my big Kiev $m does not attract notice .
dee
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Sorry to hear about that bad experience for you, dee. I also wave to scooters.
 
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