The Marks of a Leica That Has Not Been Used as a Fashion Accessory

kxl said:
It would have more deserving of applause if the photographer had not aggrandized the heavy use as some sort of badge of courage. In a way he IS using the camera as an accessory of sorts.
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Yeah, maybe. Unless he did the whole thing as a joke.
 
Or perhaps he looked at the camera one day, realized how beat up it was, and said to himself, "Oh %^$#, is this how I spent the last 20 years of my life?!"
 
While I use my cameras a LOT, I by no means abuse them. While I don't mind them getting knocks, dings, and scratches from use, when they do get damaged, I get them repaired properly. If a camera is a tool, then each tool must be in proper working condition to work the way they were intended to. If a part must be replaced, then get it replaced properly - this is how you take care of tools and make sure they will serve you for years to come.
 
That's not the worst I've come across. I've seen a couple with the vulcanite just worn completely away.

The message on the bottom plate was lifted from Woody Guthrie's guitar, I think.
 
Johann Espiritu said:
While I use my cameras a LOT, I by no means abuse them. While I don't mind them getting knocks, dings, and scratches from use, when they do get damaged, I get them repaired properly. If a camera is a tool, then each tool must be in proper working condition to work the way they were intended to. If a part must be replaced, then get it replaced properly - this is how you take care of tools and make sure they will serve you for years to come.
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Well, sometimes you can't afford a proper repair, and if a piece of tape allows you to keep working, then it's a perfectly effective repair. I certainly have been in that situation. In my case, it was rubber bands not tape. And yes, I just keep changing them. The photos don't know they were shot with a camera repaired with a rubber band. :D
 
People who intentionally ride their gear hard and put 'em away wet as an antithesis to the shrink wrapped neck jewelry brigade are just as comically attention seeking when they proudly display their worn out trophies.
They're trying too hard to be cool and just stepped into the shoes of the posers they're deriding.

(Edit.. gee you guys are fast. I wanted to edit the above for brevity but since there have already been replies, I'll let the original stand.)
 
keep it in the bottom half of an ever ready case and you can use it without crappin' it up. Who'd have thunk eh?
 
Pablito said:
really slows you down if you need to change film fast. Useless, therefore, if you ever work under pressure.
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What percentage of the people using cameras do so for leisure or hobby purposes? ;)

Beside that, in the spectrum of things that consume time related to loading film in a leica, the four seconds spent unscrewing the case from the camera is relatively little in relation to rewinding or loading new film.
 
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Just to prove that not only Leica's gets a bit of a bashing. This is an early SP that I was given many years ago. It had belonged to a Chicago Herald Tribune photographer who used it for close to 40 years. The outside does not have a square mm without a scratch or dent, the film gate is notched, with notches big enough to let small bugs in and out - the black coating is worn through on the film cassette end. However, it is silky smooth to operate, the rangefinder is clear and contrasty - and it is quiet. I have added some dings and dents to it - had it cleaned once 5-6 years ago - and I do not worry about it when I take it out - rain or shine!. Even if I wanted to use a half-case on it - it would not fit as at some time the baseplate got dented badly enough that a half case wont go on it.
Only time when I have wanted a "thumb nail" memory on a camera and could go back and see all the images that the former owner shot with it!!!
 
tunalegs said:
What percentage of the people using cameras do so for leisure or hobby purposes? ;)

Beside that, in the spectrum of things that consume time related to loading film in a leica, the four seconds spent unscrewing the case from the camera is relatively little in relation to rewinding or loading new film.
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Leisure or hobby camera owners can certainly use those things if it pleases them. Even get fine Corinthian Leather ones if they like or fancy Italian ones :D

But if you are working under pressure you don't want any extra gadgets. Not only do you not want to waste those extra seconds, but you don't want another THING interfering with the workflow. The never-ready case adds NOTHING to your ability to make pictures. :eek:
 
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So here is a well seasoned M2. I bought this one new in 1964 (I think it was about $240 - which was a lot of money at the time). It is now on its third top-plate and has been rebuilt twice. Still works like a charm. I just need to replace the take-up spool and tighten up the advance now - but as I have no idea of how many rolls has gone through it - but we are talking 1000's - mostly TriX - I cant really complain. Still in many ways my "go to it camera" when traveling - usually with a 35 on it.
 
Viewfinder glass cracked...clicker message reads "This machine kills fascists"...

He must have smashed it into fascists :D
 
hehe, I think you guys thought I am a madman: When in japan, I had my original MP #302 with me, visited a leica shop there ( the guys wearing white gloves) dropped the MP on the table. An audible OOOH went thru the shop. After that questions: Is your camera for sale.?? hehe, nope !

In my mind: The leica cameras are nice, good tools, I still have my 1954 M3 working like a dream, no leather whatsoever left... The leica fanatics... surreal...
 
Pablito said:
but that is not from wear, the notches were put there on purpose to identify which body was used...
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Most of my cameras have these notches in them. I use a small jewelers file - one half-round and one V shaped to code bodies. This way, when something goes wrong I can look at the negatives and identify which body is screwing up - without having to run tests on the ones used at the time.
The notches in the SP are a wee bit too big though - they almost go through the frame edges!!!! Mine are usually more discreet.
 
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