Just arrived home (couldn't stay all weekend).
What a great couple of days I have had. Met up with some old friends (Robert Parker, Carl B, Andreas, Ron Schmidt to name but a few) and met some guys for the first time (Jaap, Ivar, Ravi, Robert Hill, Andy from Munich, to name a few more) They are still enjoying themselves in the sunshine in the forest, and I wish I were with them.
I will say it here now, it was a pleasure being there.
Had the full tour of the factory from blank glass to the M8 line, in the company of a charming and very helpful member of the Akademie. It was a real eye-opener, and whilst I knew how lenses are made in Solms (as opposed to anywhere else...), the scale of the operation was a surprise.
At dinner last night, we were fortunate enough to have Stefan Daniel with us. While my German is so bad I had to have a Norwegian translate for me (Thanks to fluent Carl for that), I did enjoy what Herr Daniel had to tell us, as did the other hundred or so members who attended. Many thanks must go to him and his colleague for taking the time out from their weeks in the run up to what will, no doubt, be a very interesting Photokina
So, I look forward to seeing the results of the walk round Wetzlar yesterday, and the wildlife stuff the other guys were doing, plus all the workshops today and tomorrow. For €15, the weekend's activities and lectures etc can't be beat! I would propose a single thread on the German for all the results.
So, if you haven't been to this year's meeting (or even if you have) and can make the next one (whenever that will be), I can thoroughly recommend it.
Congratulations and many thanks to all the organisers, sponsors, the wonderful people at Leica and everyone else.
[That's enough gushing for now - Ed]