Asim
Well-known
I thought I'd share this to spark a discussion. I wrote the following post on photo.net EXACTLY four years ago... before I ever had a Leica or Hassy. I never bought a Hassy and got my first Leica a year ago. Yes, I waited three years after this post before buying my first Leica... a BP MP.
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In praise of Leica and Hasselblad
Asim Raza Khan , Jan 24, 2009; 11:37 a.m.
I was just day dreaming and thought I'd share my thoughts.
I started travel/street photography at age seven. Now, three decades later, I've realized that the joy of photography has more to do with the 'struggle' or challenge of taking a photograph than the end result. If only the end result were important then I might as well go out and buy postcards instead.
In addition to this philosophy is attached the beauty of the mechanics and engineering of the camera itself. Cameras such as Leica M's and Hasselblad V's have really intrigued me. They are solid mechanical works of art that serve a unique purpose. And this purpose is juxtaposed by the joy of using them as well as their beauty when staring at them.
Over the years, I spent money on camera after camera while focusing on acquiring better automatic and electronic gadgetry. I started with a no-name point and shoot, moved up to an Olympus XA rangefinder for sixteen years while yearning for an auto SLR, got a low-level Pentax MZ5n, and then finally build up to a Pentax MZ-S and LX with several prime lenses, including their top quality limited editions.
Now I've realized that fast autofocus with auto modes and electric settings don't matter when taking the photo. In the end the only thing that counts the most is your shutter speed and aperture. Of course the quality of your lens and film is also a factor, along with stability and light quality. But in terms of camera technology, you only have the shutter speed and aperture in your control that will have an effect on the photo.
This brings me to the thought that photography in its raw form is best enjoyed with a manual camera. Using an auto camera (and especially a digital camera), one tends to start firing away like a machine gun with little thought put into the process as well as the end result. Consequently, this machine gun approach takes away from the joy of using the camera and the 'struggle' and challenge in taking the photograph.
This 'struggle' is a must in order to enjoy the hobby and art of photography. If cameras could do everything for the photographer and guarantee a perfect shot everytime while also making your breakfast and cleaning your house then we wouldn't really have to take photos at all. A couple of analogies; Why do people climb Everest? I'd say it's because individuals needs a struggle in order to acquire a sense of achievement. Why do people with endless amounts of money remain unsatisfied? I'd say its because they have no 'struggles' in their lives. And I actually dare to add on this photo website in a digital era that the reason we often find people turned off from digital photography is that their is a lack of 'struggle' in taking photos, and photography begins to feel bland and no longer challenging.
So one day, I hope to get back to the basics with a Leica M film camera and a Hasselblad 501CM. Thats when I'll use my automatic Pentax MZ-S to take photos of the two cameras side by side.
Maybe you'd like to suggest to me how to spend $1500 that I've saved up to spend on entering into one of these two brands.
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In praise of Leica and Hasselblad
Asim Raza Khan , Jan 24, 2009; 11:37 a.m.
I was just day dreaming and thought I'd share my thoughts.
I started travel/street photography at age seven. Now, three decades later, I've realized that the joy of photography has more to do with the 'struggle' or challenge of taking a photograph than the end result. If only the end result were important then I might as well go out and buy postcards instead.
In addition to this philosophy is attached the beauty of the mechanics and engineering of the camera itself. Cameras such as Leica M's and Hasselblad V's have really intrigued me. They are solid mechanical works of art that serve a unique purpose. And this purpose is juxtaposed by the joy of using them as well as their beauty when staring at them.
Over the years, I spent money on camera after camera while focusing on acquiring better automatic and electronic gadgetry. I started with a no-name point and shoot, moved up to an Olympus XA rangefinder for sixteen years while yearning for an auto SLR, got a low-level Pentax MZ5n, and then finally build up to a Pentax MZ-S and LX with several prime lenses, including their top quality limited editions.
Now I've realized that fast autofocus with auto modes and electric settings don't matter when taking the photo. In the end the only thing that counts the most is your shutter speed and aperture. Of course the quality of your lens and film is also a factor, along with stability and light quality. But in terms of camera technology, you only have the shutter speed and aperture in your control that will have an effect on the photo.
This brings me to the thought that photography in its raw form is best enjoyed with a manual camera. Using an auto camera (and especially a digital camera), one tends to start firing away like a machine gun with little thought put into the process as well as the end result. Consequently, this machine gun approach takes away from the joy of using the camera and the 'struggle' and challenge in taking the photograph.
This 'struggle' is a must in order to enjoy the hobby and art of photography. If cameras could do everything for the photographer and guarantee a perfect shot everytime while also making your breakfast and cleaning your house then we wouldn't really have to take photos at all. A couple of analogies; Why do people climb Everest? I'd say it's because individuals needs a struggle in order to acquire a sense of achievement. Why do people with endless amounts of money remain unsatisfied? I'd say its because they have no 'struggles' in their lives. And I actually dare to add on this photo website in a digital era that the reason we often find people turned off from digital photography is that their is a lack of 'struggle' in taking photos, and photography begins to feel bland and no longer challenging.
So one day, I hope to get back to the basics with a Leica M film camera and a Hasselblad 501CM. Thats when I'll use my automatic Pentax MZ-S to take photos of the two cameras side by side.
Maybe you'd like to suggest to me how to spend $1500 that I've saved up to spend on entering into one of these two brands.
