the 111f is perfect for street today NOT the M or phone cam

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😱Last week i used my LG G3 at the local market to try the video which i dont use much🙁
Everyone well almost waved their hands or turned away--no photos please

Today i went with my 111f to try a Jupiter-8,nobody minded a bit
Only one woman burst out laughing while she sorted through bras for 1€ but didnt mind she held a bra up smiled, then i saw id forgotten to remove the lens cap🙁

On the veg stall no one even looked as i took photos(having long removed the lens cap)

The 111f and all the other non M look so small and classic they are invisible
 
Well, clearly they're not invisible as that woman noticed you hadn't taken the lens cap off 🙂

I think older cameras may be perceived as less threatening which is why they're nice to do street with.
 
You have to admit that shooting with a barnack, elmar and SBOOI, or a rolleiflex for that matter immediately classifies you into the nice weirdos, NOT the terrorist/peodphile/IRS/stepmom private investigator etc. that switches on that red light in some people's mind.
It's not about being invisible, on the contrary...
 
sanmich said:
You have to admit that shooting with a barnack, elmar and SBOOI, or a rolleiflex for that matter immediately classifies you into the nice weirdos, NOT the terrorist/peodphile/IRS/stepmom private investigator etc. that switches on that red light in some people's mind.
It's not about being invisible, on the contrary...
Click to expand...

Exactly. The whole 'stealth' thing is where it gets creepy...
 
I think getting classified as "nice weirdos" is a good thing in today's society when it comes to photographing in public. Compared to big SLRs, I feel M Leica is already in that category depending on the location and the situation I'm in, but I remember IIIf+Elmar+SBOOI combo really made people relaxed, smile, and let the guard down.

I guess the 20th century idea of stealth street photo (black camera, taped logo etc) is the North Wind approach today, and the super classic camera/weirdo style is the Sun approach. 😉
 
coelacanth said:
I think getting classified as "nice weirdos" is a good thing in today's society when it comes to photographing in public. Compared to big SLRs, I feel M Leica is already in that category depending on the location and the situation I'm in, but I remember IIIf+Elmar+SBOOI combo really made people relaxed, smile, and let the guard down.

I guess the 20th century idea of stealth street photo (black camera, taped logo etc) is the North Wind approach today, and the super classic camera/weirdo style is the Sun approach. 😉
Click to expand...


I like the Sun approach. 🙂
 
Wondering the same thing, I did a little experiment several years ago. On the first day in downtown Charleston SC I wore jeans, combat jump boots, a photog's vest, and dark sunglasses, and was armed with my Canon 20d with battery grip and a 75-300mm zoom. People were either scowling and turning away or they came up and asked me what story I was shooting for the newspaper.

Second day I tried the classic HCB look. Nice grey flannel pinstripe suit and tie, shined wing-tips, and my fathers Fedora. I was shooting my FED 1d with the I-26 on it. What a difference! People were either neutral or really pleasant and interested. Lots of questions from passersby and smiles from the younger folks.
 
What can I say, I believe the OP is right ! 🙂

both-XL.jpg
 
My IIIC is definitely a head turner or even a conversation starter. I'm surprised at how many people I've met that start talking to me about the camera, or just give me nods of approval or looks of "what the heck is that?". It's often older gentleman that hold a nostalgia for older cameras that start conversations with me.

I had a cop stop me and tell me his story about how he used to photograph for the Cambridge, MA city police with his M2 and M3 back in the day. He kept telling me how "cute" he thought my IIIC was.

I had another older gentleman talk to my on the subway about old cameras, and how he used to us a Kodak Brownie back in his day.
 
I did an event last week that involved the attendance of a couple politicians and my interaction with their communications staff, each of whom commented on my M. One asked the usual question about why I would be shooting film at such an event, only to be surprised to learn it was a digital camera. It's the first question probably 80% ask. The second, to my surprise, asked if it was an M240, which it was.

This is pretty typical at such events, as well as at weddings. There's bound to be someone curious about the Leica. No one ever asks about the Canon 1DX hanging off my other shoulder. 🙂
 
Today i used my 11c i found myself looking down at it as i wound on then aiming from waist height i pressed the shutter
Rewound and another image,
If i had had my LG phone held up as you must to see what its looking at i wouldn't have done it
same it i had my NEX 6 then i would be looking down at the screen and Photographing
With the 11c---111f im just fiddling after all theres no screen nor huge lens pointing and the shutter is almost silent

The very act of rewinding give the impression of fiddling with an object not a working imaging camera
 
I mostly do street photography.
My own life's events have forced smaller cameras on me.
Point and shoot digitals, on a string hanging in front with my keys..
Nerd , no!, Old Nerd personified.

Next way use a Spotmatic or K-1000 in the leather case.
You are regarded as a student, beginner or idiot.

Now you want close ups, portraits..
Haul along the Rollei Automat with Tessar.
Yes Rollei Club, the Planar is better.
Get ready with more film as people want you to snap them, chat, have coffees, meet their Great grandfather who also used that camera.

Buy tickets with numbers.
You now get a Large Format camera on tripod.
Get a controller or set director as EVERYBODY wants to be photographed.
 
sanmich said:
You have to admit that shooting with a barnack, elmar and SBOOI, or a rolleiflex for that matter immediately classifies you into the nice weirdos, NOT the terrorist/peodphile/IRS/stepmom private investigator etc. that switches on that red light in some people's mind.
It's not about being invisible, on the contrary...
Click to expand...

I keep saying it, if you want to see the 'nice weirdo approach' brought to perfection, watch this Garry Winogrand clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RM9KcYEYXs


And see that it works perfectly!

😀 😀 😀
 
Johan--thanks for the link--ti was almost as if he was "desperately" looking for pictures---he was certainly giving the camera a workout!
Thanks again...
Paul
 
Yeah, he seemed fidgety and a little nervous but ultimately just another harmless hobbyist. If I had encountered him on the street, I would have ignored him, which is what he would have probably wanted!
 
I used IIf instead. Parallax error, tiny and dual things to look into...
My 4-2 is the same in terms how people not "seeing" it.
LTMs are good match for wide angle lenses with external VF, IMO.
 
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