the RF Culture

[pmun]

I drive a '71 Alfa Romeo Spider not because it's old or a status symbol (I don't know, or care, if it is; heck I don't think most people even know what it is anymore) but because I like the sound, feel, and smell of it; it's the only car that's consistently put a smile on my face, and I feel connected to it. I shave with a double-edge razor because I honestly think it does a better job than the many-bladed overpriced monstrosities that are foisted on us (and the Merkur has a pleasant heft to it), and I use a shaving brush and soap not out of some "Art of Shaving" metrosexual pretense, but because I like warm lather. I got really tired of cold goo every morning. I play vinyl because I prefer it, the smell of the sleeves reminds me of college radio,

Nice post. Basically it seems that you really appreciate things and are particularly conscious of them. Interestingly all the things you mentioned are traditional, do you think it might be nostalgia? Do you think that any modern conveniences can also induce a lingering satisfaction? (Not trying to make any points here, but genuinely curious to know your opinion).

 

[Farace]

Nice post. Basically it seems that you really appreciate things and are particularly conscious of them. Interestingly all the things you mentioned are traditional, do you think it might be nostalgia? Do you think that any modern conveniences can also induce a lingering satisfaction? (Not trying to make any points here, but genuinely curious to know your opinion).

I don't think it's nostalgia. I've often thought that "nostalgia" sounds like a disease, and that it probably is one. It might also be just me, but I tend to think that one can't have nostalgia for something that one didn't live through, or something that may have been around but wasn't part of your life in the past. I never used a fountain pen before adulthood; I was eleven when my Alfa was new, but I had no appreciation of them then; I don't remember anyone in my family ever using a shaving brush. The vinyl might be a different story, but in comparison, while I sometimes have fun with 8-track tapes, I don't prefer them by any means; LPs sound better to my ears, warmer and more inviting, and I like that the cover art is so much larger than that on CDs. There are qualities that I appreciate in many of these things. The Alfa, for instance, if I take it apart I can sometimes get a sense of the passion of the men that designed it. I don't get that sense under the hood of my minivan. The fountain pens are designed to last and often exhibit the personality of the person that designed it, like the Eversharp Skyline, designed by Henry Dreyfuss (and I also aesthetically like celluloid, which isn't used much anymore); there's often an obvious care that went into their manufacture that I guess just isn't economical now. Do I get the same lingering satisfaction from some modern items, yes; Apple Computer's products come immediately to mind. OS X, though it's not anything tangible, continues to surprise me with its usability and stability (and I've been using Macs since OS 6), and I really like Jonathan Ive's industrial design for Apple. There are electric basses being made now that are just as good or better than the ones I own. Then there's a category of things that I'm not sure whether they belong in the past or the present day; for instance I've handled a fly rod built by a maker in northwest Connecticut that was just stunning; casting it was almost effortless. It is a bamboo fly rod, based on work done by a particular builder a hundred years ago, but made today with amazing craftsmanship and care. Is it nostalgia to want to use it? Is it old because of the design, or is it modern because of its manufacture? Does it really matter? It's an amazing fly rod. (I only wish I could afford it.) Anyway, back to the question, yes, there are modern things that bring the same satisfaction, it just seems there are fewer of them (though I should say there are still some fantastic fountain pens being made). (Or even without the satisfaction, there are modern items I'd rather use over an older one; I'm happy to type--and be able to edit--on a computer rather than on a typewriter, for instance, even though the typewriter exhibits more craftsmanship and will still be working long after this computer no longer boots up.) Bottom line is that if a thirty- or fifty-year-old RF (or anything else) feels right to me, I don't think it's nostalgia that makes me choose it over something more modern.

 

[pmun]

Thanks Bob, I'm with you on a lot of things there, especially quality of engineering and Apple OS/design principles. That was an interesting point about nostalgia that I'd never considered. I bet you like a nice glass of malt as well😉

In the digital world, design principles are now more obvious than the engineering values behind film cameras. I do miss dials and levers, but there are some real classic digital designs out there such as the Ricoh GRD series.


www.urbanpaths.net

 

[Benjamin]

my occupation requires laptop/blackberry/digi-this'n-that/etc. but the keepers in my world are mechanical RFs, play guitar, button down collars & jeans ... and the last time I looked, I still have a Norton Commando and a BSA Rocket.3 in the barn. my wife just calls it "hopeless packratism of old stuff."

Which Commando do you have? I'm somewhat partial to Nortons, and Dominators in particular. Not that I can afford one!

 

[Fausto]

I shoot RF Leica, play lead guitar in a rock band, drive a black paint Ferrari, and once dated Sharon Stone. I drink Chivas on the rocks, love my Esprsso, and dine at Mortons (filet mignon please). You'll reognize me by the 2Karat stone in my left ear and my black RayBans (Mick Jagger copied me). I love to dance salsa in Rio.

You may be the only one salsa-ing in Rio. In Brazil they do the samba.

 

[PhotoMat]

I'm all over the place from 1930's Leicas to 5DMkII's, a 1969 428 Cobra Jet Mach One ...

O.K., you dropped the teaser. Now... any pics of the Mach 1?

 

[MatthewThompson]

I find there's something soothing about a well engineered product that you just don't get with most modern disposable crap.

I listen to tube audio, make my own breads & furniture. I'm happy to use hand planes and modern router sets on the same project. I own a couple fedoras and a couple good driving caps. It's not about a fashion or lifestyle, it's just a comfort zone. I like pocket watches and would really like a vintage Breitling or Omega wristwatch, but I see the utility and value in the solar Ecodrive I wear everyday. I use straight and safety razors, but trim up with an electric clipper.

On the other hand, I like newer motorcycles, vehicles and technology too. It's about the empower to decide and choose for yourself. I make money with a 5D, and shoot film for fun.

 

[franco r]

I love my leica m8; I'd like to come back to analogic but I don't have skill, time and space for a darkroom.
I mostly used to move with an indian royal enfield bullet motorcycle with a davida helmet and googles. An affordable hamilton mechanical watch is always on my wrist. I love my fountain pen, I hate my fountain pen when at a business meeting gets dirty my fingers.
I become attached to few clothes, so generally I wear always in the same way..
I really love to see photo prints, to touch them; even for the books sometime I discover myself my touch the picture like a blind read the braille.

 

[csouvannarath]

I rather ride my motorcycle than drive my car. I love rangefinder cameras my favorite rangefinder is my Fed 1, I also use an Olympus OM1.

 

[Gawain Hewitt]

Yes, I tick a lot of those boxes. I think it's because I love good design and good engineering, and hate quick obsolescence in products. I'm a recording engineer as well and similarly love Neumann, Neve but also modern designs like Metric Halo where quality, good design and commitment to product take precedent. When I'm programming music I like hardware sequencers, which are a lot like using a Leica M8 I suppose, a simple, in many ways inferier technology which taps into a deeper creative place and frees up creativity.
My Gadgets:
Leica M8
Tissot Watch
1950's theme wedding
Brompton Folding bike
lots of Vespas and Lambretta's in my past (sadly non at the moment) - used to fix them as well
Clothes - yes vintage although the vintage clothing scene has been hijacked in London recently, much harder to get good stuff at good prices. Also Paul smith (for design), Birkenstock (well engineered) among others
Music - pretty much digital for convenience. I also used to DJ vinyl a lot, but I'm mainly MP3 and CD for pleasure now.

G

 

[mawz]

I have an admiration for well engineered simplicity, be it modern or classic. My watch is a modern Seiko, my cameras are mostly 70's era stuff. I don't drive much, but my bicycles are quite simple setups (barcons and 9speed kit on the old MTB, singlespeed on the new one). My taste in cars is decidedly minimalistic although I do like some modern stuff.

I'm not really into 'classic' per se, I just don't like over-complex stuff, especially if it has poor reliability.

 

[johank]

Film cameras, Rf and SLR, yes there are a few Digitals too.
TB and E-type are classic. As my CB750 from 74. Bikes made to size are great, mine are from the -80s. My wife claims I'm a collector maybe she is close......
Taylor made, shoes and suits makes you keep your size.
My farm orgins 1600 so.....YES!

 

[d_ross]

I don't wear a watch, I have a mobile phone on me any time I need to know the time, which is rarely. I drive a Nissan car, I enjoy looking at old cars and motorbikes etc if I come across them, but would never seek them out. I listen to any music thats on and own a wide variety of it. I read, being a man it's always autobiographical or art history. And life and art have always been one for me. I have several cameras including a point and shoot digital. But the camera I use for the majority of my work is a rangefinder! I cant really explain it but apart from the obvious advantages of the RF for certain types of work, I see and think differently when I use one!

I think perhaps the thing that unites RF users is our having the ability or nouse to use the tool that's best for the job, and not just accept the advertising hype of the canon and Nikon corporations etc saying that the latest is actually also the greatest. I use digital when digital suits!

 

[DSikes]

A common thread I find with film users in general is an appreciation for tangible things you can hold in your hand (i.e. negatives, prints, records, etc...) Most of the people I know that shoot film (in real life and online) also are comfortably co-existing with digital technology. They may buy records but they also have a mp3 player and a cell phone. They also tend to appreciate quality. The reference was made to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance; Trying to define quality drove the man mad. I can't define quality, but I know it when I see it/feel it.

There is something about the straight forwardness of a Rangefinder that I find really appealing. The less is more aesthetic. It's a quality that is shared with a lot of old cars/bikes. Everything you need and nothing you don't...

 

[lightshot]

I had to laugh over the initial post! I do prefer steam trains and drive a vintage 230 SL! Too funny!

That's in part what turned me towards vintage cameras and film photography - the desire to go use the older equipment that will not figure out how to take the picture for me.

Sure it's nice to have the convenience of a DSLR for photos on the fly, but it is so much more satisfying to look through the viewfinder on my Yashica and compose the picture, after carefully adjusting the F stops, the focus knob, and the shutter speed. Then you gently wind the film advance crank and then pull it back to set the shutter for the next one. Ahhh.....

 

[mph]

I dont have a (digital)/rangefinder-i cant afford any...
I got (digital)cameras with rangefinder soul (canon G5, ricoh GX100, panasonic L1)

I got an automatic-analog Hamilton watch and a plastic swatch skin)

I drive a 2007 Fiat Punto but I really love old cars and motocycles

I am almost always dressed on casual clothes

I usually listen to music on my rega P3 turntable and on un internet radio when I am home, and on my i-pod touch when not.

I dodnt really like reading books, but I love poes and good films.

I listen to many kinds of music, including classical.

I play classical, acoustic and electric guitar, as well as some percussion and tzoura (greek folk instrument like boozooki)

and yesser! I am a Bauhaus lover!!!

😎

 

[docolmo]

Funny you asked. I listen to rock music of the 70's (Frank Zappa), but also have appreciated jazz music before my time (John Coltraine, Blossom Dearie). I listen through a Jadis vacuum tube amp but with a digital CD player. Wish I still have my Linn Sondek and SMC arm (but have given away all my vinyls). Started cycling after age 50 on modern carbon racing bikes, but contemplating getting an old threaded steering tube steel bicycle. Have an old Merc. I rotate every two or three months to wear my three automatic (mechanical) watches. I only trust my leather sole Loake shoes as they easily last ten years with proper maintenance and repair. And, of course, the Leica M8. However, the MP and M3 sit in the dry box in immaculate condition.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Funny you asked. I listen to rock music of the 70's (Frank Zappa), but also have appreciated jazz music before my time (John Coltraine, Blossom Dearie). I listen through a Jadis vacuum tube amp but with a digital CD player. Wish I still have my Linn Sondek and SMC arm (but have given away all my vinyls). Started cycling after age 50 on modern carbon racing bikes, but contemplating getting an old threaded steering tube steel bicycle. Have an old Merc. I rotate every two or three months to wear my three automatic (mechanical) watches. I only trust my leather sole Loake shoes as they easily last ten years with proper maintenance and repair. And, of course, the Leica M8. However, the MP and M3 sit in the dry box in immaculate condition.

......WOW!.....amazing....and so impressive!! 🙄

 

[rodfelici]

I think that you get the point.
I have a lot of vintage Rf cameras (Xa, Retina IIIc, Canonet GIII QL17...) that use everyday, but I use digital for work, D200, and I have a lot of digital cameras too; I have a 1970 Super Beetle Cabrio that I use every day, but a peugeot 206 for long trips and work, I like Hendrix, Mozart, Beethoven, Genesis etc., and I hear it on mp3, but I have a lot of vinyls...
I think if you TRY (I try, I do not know If I succed) to match art and life toghether, then you can appreciate beautiful pieces of design and art of any time in history.
And, obviously, there are a lot of things that are beautiful pieces of design and art if you look back in the past, for a statistical reason.

 

[piazza63]

This an awesome bike! My buddy just picked up a Grand Sport off of Craigslist a couple of weeks ago and it's beautiful, full of high quality components.