Is the Leica Forum a Leica Forum?

[uulrich]

I came along at some posted photos, which are apparently not made w/ the help of any kind of Leica gear. Perhaps the enlarger is made by Leica but otherwise there are no traces or even hints posted by the author that the contribution is in any way related to Leica.

I would love to put some comments into the photo forum but since in some cases their photos lack of any kind of relationship w.r.t Leica tools I hesitate to do so. Personally I don't enjoy the idea to encourage people in this way to continue submitting pictures for constructive critiques not made w/ Leica gear on this platform. Actually, it could result into a continued posting of photos not related to our favorites.

Since there are so many sites around the net paying attention to photography either in general or focused on a particular brand I often catch myself wondering why posting of MF photos or photos apparently made w/out any Leica lenses or cameras are shown here.

Is my opinion too narrow minded...?

[stunsworth]

Hi Uwe, could post links to the photos in question? I don't look at every posted image so I've probably missed them.

My personal opinion is that provided it's an occasional image then there isn't a problem. Sometimes people have an exceptional image that they want to share, and in those circumstances I don't have a problem.

I think this should be the exception, since it's Leica that are paying for the hosting and bandwidth.

[starwatcher]

Uwe,

no, your opinion is correct. The rules clearly state that Leica equipment should be used for photos displayed in this forum. There have been numerous discussions about the understanding of "equipment" and I believe the term stands for itself and means either a body, a lens or both. A filter would not do...

We not do proactively search for non-leica photos but hope and encourage everybody to obey these rules. As everywhere in life you have some falling through the grid...

best - Klaus

[andybarton]

Any shots in particular?

The rules are pretty clear, in that Leica cameras or lenses must have been used to produce the photographs. This, therefore, allows the use of Panasonics with Leica lenses and Canon bodies with Leica R lenses mounted via an adaptor

There are very few MF images posted here. There was one yesterday or the day before that was just outstanding, but that's the only one I can recall for a while. They are not encouraged though, but are allowed if they are illustrating a point which is relevant.

Whenever I post my shots, as I did a couple yesterday, I always include which camera, which lens and which film. I am not anal enough to record shutter speeds and apertures, but could hazard a good guess for each of my shots. Posters should, I believe, be encouraged to quote what equipment they have used, what film etc, since this is relevant to the discussion and the image and can help others.

So, the answer is "Yes", this IS the Leica Forum and all shots posted here should conform to the rules and be made with Leica equipment somewhere along the line.

[stuny]

Since Leica bears all the cost of this Forum, and since I value the Forum as a learning place and want to have it available to me, I believe that we should follow the rules. However, I can see an exception: If in a discussion a photo made on other gear helps make or clarify a pont, then I feel it would be acceptable.

[kreusch]

Is that correct?
Gerd

Originally Posted by kreusch

Is that correct?
Gerd

Are you serious, Gerd? To show us your Leitz-Filter ... i would say YES !

(But better don´t post images made with this combination!)

[jmr]

I, for one, am happy to trust the good judgement of Andreas, and the moderators on the forum, to apply a little latitude to the rule; say in the case of an established poster who might have the occasional nice MF shot to share with us. I don't think this'll open any floodgates.

I don't think the rule should be opened up too much. It would be unjust to those who make photos with equipment of different firms, but are not allowed to show them. If a single non-Leica photo is showed within a thread to demonstrate something: ok. Otherwise: there are several forums around where such photos can be showed and discussed.
That's my opinion - though me myself have many MF-photos besides the Leica ones ....

Greetings, Astrid

[admin]

Let me put it that way:

We have a clear rule for everyone.
How close we insist on this rule is decided by the moderators from case to case.

Can you live with that?

Regards
Andreas

[kreusch]

ok, ok,
good bye
gerd

[uulrich]

I do not intend to post URLs about these photos in question. At the end of the day I might find myself filing statistics about who posted what image made w/ what camera. :-( I am not a nitpicker and I do not want to make it personal also. IMHO this would not judge the topic at all.

I am always happy to give some advice to people who publish their photos on this site in order to allow them to get the best results out of their Leica gear. That said, if I look at other sites I can certainly find much more photos made w/ R and M lenses or cameras then it is the case here.

Personally I don't like the idea of having 3G/cell phone camera shots or MF scans mixed up w/ Leica photos uploaded just to gain good ideas out of no-nonsense comments. I would be delighted if some day I could just pop in and browse smart photos w/out worrying if a particular scan is based on Leica.

I could have turned my back on this topic and I could have a look elsewhere also. At other places people post the equipment they used for a particular shot.

If you would search the internet for Leica photographs and the result of any search engine would bring you more or less accidentally here to this site would you like the idea to have a glance on N or C photos? I doubt we do ourself a great favor if we continue posting photos in question.

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by uulrich

Personally I don't like the idea of having 3G/cell phone camera shots .. .

Now, I definitely haven't spotted any of those - they would stand out a mile.

[brucemcl]

Note that there is an exclamation point in the lower left corner of each post. That can be used to discreetly alert the moderators of a questionable post without giving the poster any extra attention. The moderators can correct me if I'm wrong but I think using the exclamation point to flag a post the should be considered for deletion would be proper.

[andybarton]

Go ahead and push the "!", Bruce...

Make my day!



Yes, that is the way that you can advise discretely any post that you find questionable or objectionable. But, I am sure that no one wants a "heavy-handed moderator" forum.

The rules on the posting of non Leica images are simple and straightforward.

[imported_jtorral]

How would you tellif a picture was shot with a leica or say canon, minolta, nikon fed, contax etc ... Unless the photographer stated shot with a Nikon or exif data shos otherwise, I would not know the difference.

[stunsworth]

You can' t tell Jorge, it's a matter of trust.

"""Is my opinion too narrow minded...?""


yes, I think it is.....



if from time to time there are photos NOT MADE WITH LEICA .. and? have fun.... look after yourself, not what others do...

happy regards

[mgcd]

Originally Posted by imported_stefan_r

"""Is my opinion too narrow minded...?""


yes, I think it is.....



if from time to time there are photos NOT MADE WITH LEICA .. and? have fun.... look after yourself, not what others do...

happy regards

That's why we have moderators and an administrator, with rules clearly stating that images HAVE to taken with Leica equipment.

Originally Posted by mgcd

That's why we have moderators and an administrator, with rules clearly stating that images HAVE to taken with Leica equipment.

I agree and they will decide what to do.... good night