I am revealed as a fraud.

[Peter H]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

The other day I was using my M9 to photograph the opening night of an exhibition at an art gallery.

 

Halfway through the evening one of the exhibiting artists came up to me and, looking very closely at the camera, said in an accusative tone "Is that really an old camera?"

 

I might have hesitated for a moment before saying "No, its fairly new." because I wasn't quite sure where this was leading.

 

She soon clarified it for me when she said "I thought so, its a fraud isn't it? Its just a new digital thing trying to look like an old camera. I saw the window on the back. It gave you away." She screwed her face into one of those "I know your game, you can't catch me out" sort of expressions and, shaking her head dismissively, wandered off to refill her wine glass.

 

Well, being a poster on the L.Camera forum for a little while now, I'm getting used to being accused of all manner offenses I'd never intended, but this did take me by surprise.

 

I caught up with her later and tried to explain, but whilst she became a bit more friendly on a personal level, she never was convinced that I was anything but a fraud.

 

I got a good photo of her though!

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[Jeff S]

I might have told her that the 'fraud' allowed you to use the same lenses that you were using with your film versions decades ago (don't know how old you are), and to generally maintain your same shooting style, camera bag(s), etc. And, there's not another full frame digital option from which you might choose.

 

Better yet, I would have sent her a nice photo to prove I wasn't a fraud.

 

Jeff

[Peter H]

I might have told her that the 'fraud' allowed you to use the same lenses that you were using with your film versions decades ago (don't know how old you are), and to generally maintain your same shooting style, camera bag(s), etc. And, there's not another full frame digital option from which you might choose.

 

Better yet, I would have sent her a nice photo to prove I wasn't a fraud.

 

Jeff

 

I've sent her a photo. I'll let you know how she responds.

 

(And Jeff, I'm old enough that what you say is 100% true!)

[Washington]

Funny story! Thanks.

[barcoder]

i'd like to see the photo.

[jsrockit]

She sounds like many people on this forum... i.e. if it isn't film it isn't photography. Out of all the digital cameras, Leica is not trying to be nostalgic... they just haven't changed anything.

[Rick]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Every once in a while one of these threads pops up and it always amazes me how different my experience is with the public and Leica. I never meet anyone who has the slightest notion about my camera.

 

Honestly, I've barely met anyone who knew what my M8 or my M9 were. And, if they do, they don't know anything about it. Most I've met haven't heard of Leica.

 

For example, in my Optometry practice, I walk into exam rooms and very often throughout the day someone will have picked up the photography magazine to read while they wait. I always toss out a friendly comment like, "so, are you a photography enthusiast?" And, then ask about their camera or style or what not. As I work the name Leica into the conversation it always goes right past them. Nobody even has it on their radar screen or knows anything about Leica. Conversations always center around all of the semi-pro equipment they have (D90, D50, D300...). When I mention the FF pro Nikon or Canon stuff it is always rebutted as being ridiculously expensive and something that is not worth buying and they would never consider it.

 

So, I stopped telling anyone about my Leica stuff long ago because I've learned: 1) nobody knows what I'm talking about, they just change the subject back to Nikon or Canon. And, 2) God forbid I answer their questions about what it costs. That goes nowhere fast and it just ends up making me sound like somebody buying something expensive for the sake of status.

 

Mine, is a lonesome path.

[Peter H]

Every once in a while one of these threads pops up and it always amazes me how differently my experience is with the public and Leica. I never meet anyone who has the slightest notion about my camera.

 

Honestly, I've barely met anyone who knew what my M8 or my M9 were. And, if they do, they don't know anything about it. Most I've met haven't heard of Leica.

 

.....

Mine, is a lonesome path.

 

You're not alone Rick - my protagonist had no idea or interest in what make of camera it was, simply that it looked old and was digital. The two things didn't compute so she concluded it was an attempt to deceive her.

 

The more I think about it though, the more I see it fits with the popular pastime of taking against things we don't understand and assuming the worst. We humans are a funny lot!

 

[zlatkob]

Good story! To avoid being accused of fraud, maybe you should get one of those fat camera straps that says ''DIGITAL" in big letters along the side.

[Peter H]

Good story! To avoid being accused of fraud, maybe you should get one of those fat camera straps that says ''DIGITAL" in big letters along the side.

 

[Dannybuoy]

Maybe you should have told her the price of the camera (the body only). I'm sure that would have made her realise what kind of camera it is. It's not like you can even show her a crystal clear preview of her photo on the screen... I hate showing people (clients as well as friends) previews on the screen. They often look terrible and I have to explain they'll look amazing on a computer or printed. I sometimes feel like a fraud in that respect. "Look I'm a pro photographer, check out my blurry photos" ;-)

[pop]

Good story! To avoid being accused of fraud, maybe you should get one of those fat camera straps that says ''DIGITAL" in big letters along the side.

 

You'll only risk that people think you've glued a sheet of glass to the back of your film camera just to make believe you have a digital camera.

[Rick]

Peter - Oh, I get what happened. Yes, I've actually had that happen to me several times. And yes, I understand now that these encounters involve somebody that doesn't recognize you are shooting a Leica. It goes like this:

 

Great interest and surprise to see someone (me) using an old vintage camera in this day and age of wiz-bang high tech. Followed by, immediate disinterest and disappointment when I reveal the LCD screen and explain that this is actually the amazing new Leica FF digital. I've been through that a few times.

 

Mine, is a lonesome and sometimes disappointing path.

[NZDavid]

But does this go to show that a Leica is actually a babe magnet?!

[M. Valdemar]

A lot of fantasizing that other people are overly concerned about your camera. Nobody cares about what camera you are using.

[denoir]

But does this go to show that a Leica is actually a babe magnet?!

 

Well, in my experience it sort of is.

 

When I walk around with a big DSLR and a big 70-200/2.8 lens and somebody comes up to me I inevitably get one of two questions (often both): a) Are you a pro? I bet you can see [...] with that lens. Equally inevitably it is always guys that ask those questions.

 

With the M9 the situation is completely different. First, I get overall less attention, which is not surprising - the camera is much less conspicuous. Second, the attention I've gotten has been primarily from women. On six or seven occasions now I've gotten comments like "oh what a cute camera", or "what a pretty camera" and variations thereof. They have of course no idea of what a Leica is and generally assume it's an old camera. The exception to the above have been when I've been approached a couple of times by older guys (aged 60+) who used Leica 'back in the day'.

 

Even though I've never had any problems with a DSLR or had people complaining, my overall impression is that people in general are much more at ease when I use the M9. I suppose it's the paparazzi connotation that gives DSLRs with big lenses a bad vibe..

[jaapv]

But we do care - and thus are socially sensitive to the reaction - or non-reaction they create.

A lot of fantasizing that other people are overly concerned about your camera. Nobody cares about what camera you are using.

[pico]

She was a fool. Ignore fools lest you become part of them via arguments. Want a list of come-backs?

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Peter H]

A lot of fantasizing that other people are overly concerned about your camera. Nobody cares about what camera you are using.

 

That may be largely true, but some do care. Had the artist not cared enough to come over to me to challenge me about my camera, this thread wouldn't have existed.

[likalar]

I, for one, will never know if this camera is a babe magnet. I'm guessing that my Leica is overshadowed by my other non-babe magnet qualities: sloppy, loose, and frequently stained clothing, redish, runny nose, flaking skin, broken and scratched eyeglasses, unkempt hair, and moderate rotundity. Even my lovely wife averts her eyes when possible. The only thing magnetic here is the colorful letters that keep the doctor appointment reminders stuck to the Frigidaire. The picture to the left is really old.

 

Larry