the RF Culture

Many in my family were farmers. Having seen it done to cattle, I've never had any instinct to want to get branded...
As did I.

Sorry, I have no intent to offend but there are many ways and many reasons for branding that do not require the use of the branding iron and fire of past times. I have branded many cattle and sheep without a single fire.
 
I don't know that I fit any category (or branding). I don't own a rangefinder camera--unless you count the little pop up square "electronic rangefinder" in the X-Pro2 as a real rangefinder. I like old cameras but I have no desire to ever shoot another frame of film again. I don't care for vintage vehicles except as art objects--I want a comfortable modern automobile that is reliable enough to get me where I wanna go without having to work on it. I once owned a Triumph motorcycle and a Ford Maverick car so I remember the drill on how you had to know how to fix broken things to keep going. I have a few band T-shirts and one that says "Nippon Kogaku Tokyo" that leaves many people puzzled. I'm not a bumper sticker type person but I kind of fancy having one made that says "Armed Democrat on Board" to test the reaction of the public.

How 'bout I quote from another old popular song. This by Kris Kristofferson:

He's a walking contradiction
Partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction
On his lonely way back home.

I like that better than Whitman's "I contain multitudes".
 
No, I dont.
Can you see the difference between categorisation and branding?
Ahh, but Andy. You didn't call it "categorization". You specifically called it "branding". Not only that but you specifically pointed out Americans are the ones that love to do it.

I have to admit, I am a little confused. My confusion, as well as curiosity is more regarding why you chose that statement? In the context of this thread it was my impression that we were talking about whether or not we felt we were part of the rangefinder culture, irregardless of our nationality, so why you moved from that context to one of branding just seemed odd.
 
As did I.

Sorry, I have no intent to offend but there are many ways and many reasons for branding that do not require the use of the branding iron and fire of past times. I have branded many cattle and sheep without a single fire.

I was just being goofy. No offense was taken ;)
 
I don't know that I fit any category (or branding). I don't own a rangefinder camera--unless you count the little pop up square "electronic rangefinder" in the X-Pro2 as a real rangefinder. I like old cameras but I have no desire to ever shoot another frame of film again. I don't care for vintage vehicles except as art objects--I want a comfortable modern automobile that is reliable enough to get me where I wanna go without having to work on it. I once owned a Triumph motorcycle and a Ford Maverick car so I remember the drill on how you had to know how to fix broken things to keep going. I have a few band T-shirts and one that says "Nippon Kogaku Tokyo" that leaves many people puzzled. I'm not a bumper sticker type person but I kind of fancy having one made that says "Armed Democrat on Board" to test the reaction of the public.

How 'bout I quote from another old popular song. This by Kris Kristofferson:

He's a walking contradiction
Partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction
On his lonely way back home.

I like that better than Whitman's "I contain multitudes".
Oh I agree. I don't see myself as fitting completely within a rangefinder culture either, and I seriously doubt that any of us really do. But it is certainly fun to think about what that means and how we do, or do not, fit that mold.
 
type person but I kind of fancy having one made that says "Armed Democrat on Board" to test the reaction of the public.

I grew up around a good many of those (and Armed Republicans, for that matter). You are not alone.

How 'bout I quote from another old popular song. This by Kris Kristofferson:

He's a walking contradiction
Partly truth and partly fiction
Taking every wrong direction
On his lonely way back home.

I like that better than Whitman's "I contain multitudes".


Whaaaaat? You don't fit in a nifty little definition promoted by the political elites, the cultural mobsters, and the various and sundry virtue police? Tsk, tsk. However will they: A) Control you and B) Market to you ;)
 
I didn't set out to own a classic automobile, it just sort of happened that way :rolleyes: It's a side-effect of growing old I guess. But the new GR-Corolla looks exactly like the sort of thing I might want, if I were more into cars - just a practical 3-cylinder hatchback with a 6-speed. I admire well-kept vintage automobiles, but sometimes I wonder if they all wind up being really costly unless bought new and never allowed to rot in the first place.

Cameras: Film accounts for maybe 5% of my photography, with the rest being done with modern digital systems. Either is pretty comfortable to me, but with film, I need to be more mindful of limitations. I used Leica M film and digital rangefinder cameras for a couple of decades, and enjoyed them, but ...

Leica - Mirrorless.jpg
 
I don't really fit into a RF culture as defined by the OP.

Classic cars are fine but I don't hanker after them, as modern safety features, reliability and cruise control are important for the driving I do.

While I love pens and notebooks, the convenience and security of digital documents outweighs them for regular use. I've gone full circle with watches, starting with digital watches as a kid, going to quartz analogue watches, then many automatics, and now I'm back to digital watches from G Shock.

The oldest film cameras I like are from the late 70s, and I hardly shoot film at all now, preferring the convenience and quality of digital. As far as using a RF goes, I waver between the physical experience of a rangefinder and the convenience of a small mirrorless camera. Just on the weekend, I took my Panasonic G9 to the state art gallery and only missed my M9 in some extra dark exhibition spaces which would have benefited from the M9's sensor and Zeiss glass. But the M9 is still my favourite camera of all time, and the pleasure I get from shooting it is unmatched.
 
I don't mean to steer off topic but identity politics (which personally I do find is bit of a reactionary term) is nothing new. In fact, creating groups based on a trait or identity is as old as humanity, religions are a prime example of it. And moreso, lack of tolerance to others opinions was far greater in the past, than it is now. But anyway, I feel the aim of this topic is more akin to "what are the people drawn to rangefinders like, what is the diversity of the forum like?" rather than seeing what homogenous traits there are among us, to see the diversity of the group.

I use rangefinders, like I use any other of my film and digital cameras, but I don't personally feel they define my photography style. However, I like them because they tend to be simple cameras, quick and easy to use, and that does align with the way I shoot. A lot of them strike a good balance between having enough features, and still requiring not much training to use, and that is probably why they are still popular.
What is your estimate of the diversity of the people participating in this string? Would we pass the DEI criteria?
 
I don't really fit into a RF culture as defined by the OP.

Classic cars are fine but I don't hanker after them, as modern safety features, reliability and cruise control are important for the driving I do.

While I love pens and notebooks, the convenience and security of digital documents outweighs them for regular use. I've gone full circle with watches, starting with digital watches as a kid, going to quartz analogue watches, then many automatics, and now I'm back to digital watches from G Shock.

The oldest film cameras I like are from the late 70s, and I hardly shoot film at all now, preferring the convenience and quality of digital. As far as using a RF goes, I waver between the physical experience of a rangefinder and the convenience of a small mirrorless camera. Just on the weekend, I took my Panasonic G9 to the state art gallery and only missed my M9 in some extra dark exhibition spaces which would have benefited from the M9's sensor and Zeiss glass. But the M9 is still my favourite camera of all time, and the pleasure I get from shooting it is unmatched.
Roughly where I`m at. Love my RF`s ( M4/246) but mostly use mirrorless cameras (a CL and rarely an SL2s) a lot more .
Watches ? Never been interested frankly. Pens and notebook ?I have a pen and a couple of Moleskine notebooks but again TBH they don`t see much use. I thought that they might .... but no. Oddly ,perhaps I do enjoy reading about others enthusiasm for these accoutrements. Apart perhaps from watches .
 
Anyone feel free to swear at me or even curse me for saying it, but... I think we are now completely off the rails.
You took my posting out of context. Did you read the original msg I was answering?
 
Are you telling us you're American?

I mean if it's not a sarcastic self-referencing joke, the comment is particularly perplexing, given the thread was started by a Parisian.
No, I am not American. Why are you perplexed?
 
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