When Leica geeks collide

[JOE1951]

Here in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, there aren't many Leica/rangefinder users about.

I was born here and I've lived here most of my adult life and have known maybe 4 Leica users in the the past 30yrs, and I seen a couple of others, which I'm quite surprised at for this part of the world.

Tonight I met a young NSCAD guy who mostly lurks this site named Julien or Julian. We struck up a conversation about his M6/50Summicron and my M4-P/50Summilux, and had a nice little film-geek-yak on the corner of Spring Garden and South Park St.

I'm sure I've seen him post as a different name, but I can't find any reference.

Julian, if your reading this, reply and keep in touch!!!

With that being said, anyone else have a similar experience?

 

[dave lackey]

Never had a similar experience, sadly, but do keep us posted on the developments!:angel:

 

[umcelinho]

when I started shooting with rangefinders and got my M6 i got to know two friends that were also shooting RF, it was quite amusing as I sort of had contact with one of them from fotolog, years ago, but we never really chatted. nowadays both are really great friends. maybe from our influence other friends around started using rangefinders as well, so nowadays, oddly, i'd say i know a pretty big number of people shooting rangefinders in são paulo. i don't recall seeing someone that i don't know already shooting RF, but I am aware of some. in europe it was much more common.

 

[gb hill]

I met a few leica geeks down in Atlanta a few months ago.😀

 

[cnphoto]

i saw a guy out shooting a few weeks ago on George St with a black M9, I went to double back and give a wave / say hello but he'd also double-backed and looked rather involved in what he was doing so i left it.

i saw another guy a few months ago also on George St in the Sydney CBD with a silver M7 I think? Looked like a 35 'cron or 'lux attached and a silver 12466 hood on - might have been a special edition set not sure. was in a rush though so no time to stop.

apart form that, i've not seen or run into other Leica shooters in the CBD.

 

[DonaldJ.]

Im friends with him actually too, He is on another forum that i goto more regularly. I met him in person last year. Here is his flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tunebomb/

I didn't know he had a M6 though.

EDIT: Maybe im thinking of the wrong person.

 

[WalterM]

I'm frequently in NYC, i stumbled upon a few leica users in the past two years.

 

[hausen]

I saw a guy in Ponsonby Rd Auckland on Saturday last. I was out with my Canon P + M9 and he had a Minolta CLE + 40. He was following his wife through a little market. We had a nice little chat about film and such. We were making the most of the fine day here being winter.

 

[kdellaquila]

I'll be coming up there (Halifax) next week. Ironically, I will most likely be bringing my Mamiya 645 with me rather than the Leica though.

 

[Chris101]

I work with a Persian guy who is a Leica R freak. Does that count?

 

[Nando]

About 4 or 5 years ago, a new teacher was hired at my school. This teacher was an amateur photographer like me so the principal came up and introduced him to me immediately after he was hired. At the time I taught computer courses so he naturally assumed that I would be into digital photography. He told me that he used a old film camera called a Leica and asked me if I had heard of the company. I then reached into my bag and pulled out my MP. "Like this one?" I asked. He was speechless! We're from a very small town so the odds of meeting another Leica user is very slim. Since then we've become very good friends and we motivate each other to move forward with our photography.

 

[wafflecakee]

Dated my room mates older sister. He's a class act.

Tunebomb that is...

 

[Harry S.]

I dont like when people stop me to talk about my gear really. I dont like to talk about gear and i think its a bit tasteless to do so, but the politeness in me goes along with the conversation.

Theres so many people with cameras these days that I dont even like being seen with a camera.

 

[JOE1951]

I dont like when people stop me to talk about my gear really. I dont like to talk about gear and i think its a bit tasteless to do so, but the politeness in me goes along with the conversation.

I generally agree, most times it's someone who just wants to talk about Leica, and they are never carrying any sort camera themselves. I find that annoying. I smile and acknowledge them and continue on my way.

This guy had some kit when I encountered him. I think he was surprised to see someone else shooting similar kit. One of the first things I asked him about was if he used this forum. That made things different.

Interesting to find there are members who also know him. Apparently there is a group of NSCAD students who are really into shooting film, which is nice to hear.

 

[Rayt]

When I set up my 4x5 there is always a small crowd gathering around me asking questions. Young girls with digicams taking turns posing with me and the camera. Young lads want to look under the dark cloth. I don't mind going into the fundamentals of photography as long as I am not chasing the light. I find the whole thing more amusing than annoying. When I travel with a Leica around my neck there sure will be someone talking to me because of that. I used to ride a motorcycle and was the type who enjoyed meeting fellow bikers so am used to it.

 

[Roger Hicks]

This very seldom happens to me. I get the occasional "Nice camera!" or similar, but as for conversations about Leicas (or indeed any other camera), no, very rarely. Though in the Canaries 15 or 20 years ago I did run into a couple of Germans who'd read some of my books and were mightily puzzled that I wasn't using (a) the latest and greatest kit and (b) all marque lenses.

Most serious photographers I know prefer to use the oldest, cheapest kit that can give them the results they want: they only 'upgrade' when it is a genuine upgrade that does what they want, better. Unfortunately, if you want FF digi RF, the oldest, cheapest kit available is not all that old or cheap...

Cheers,

R.

 

[nakedcellist]

Well, last year when I was in New York, in Chinatown I saw this guy taking pictures with an M8. I walked up to him and said that I admired his taste in cameras and showed my M8..

 

[sazerac]

I never quite know what to say when people ask me about my camera. The few who know Leica nod approvingly and those who don't look genuinely confused. I get prints made at the local camera shop. It seems that if you are under 30 then the concept of film is completely foreign. I'm 35 and consider myself lucky to know how to bulk load and develop my own film. I just wish I had a darkroom instead of just a film scanner...

 

[rogerzilla]

Everyone ignores my Leicas because they're too busy fiddling with the menus on their DSLRs. All DSLRs look the same to me; big, black and from the Alien vs Predator school of industrial design.

The only other Leica I've ever seen being used was an M6 by the swing bridge in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I had a IIIa at the time.

 

[dave lackey]

Ran into a bunch more geeks today at my granddaughter's birthday party. They all had Canon and Nikon DSLR's with the hoods attached and...cough, cough, they were all soccer moms.😉

Didn't even take a camera so I felt very comfortable watching the geekettes. Almost as much fun as watching the geeks (guys) at the flag football games last week with huge lenses on their DSLR's.

Not once have I seen an RF geek on the street or at a football game around my little neck of the woods, though.

Feeling lonely...😛