Deliberate1 Posted May 6, 2012 Share #1 Â Posted May 6, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) ...but not for the reason you think. This past week I returned from my first trip to India. I had my M9 and assorted lenses. No one in our group had any idea what a Leica is, only that it must be some sort of exotic instrument, or an anachronism, because you actually had to focus the damn thing. Imagine that. The anonymity was perfect. I will have more to report once my brain has processed the experience. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 6, 2012 Posted May 6, 2012 Hi Deliberate1, Take a look here The Leica M9 is so exotic. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Double Negative Posted May 6, 2012 Share #2 Â Posted May 6, 2012 Awesome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 7, 2012 Share #3 Â Posted May 7, 2012 During a recent 2 week vacation I observed only one person that recognized my M, a professional photographer shooting a Canon camera with an assistant. It might have helped that my wife was shooting a red Sony Nex. The anonymity was surprising to me and to this day my wife thinks the M9 is an old used camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bull40 Posted May 7, 2012 Share #4 Â Posted May 7, 2012 This is why I find it humorously ironic that there are folks who will tape over or black out the iconic red dot or Leica script for anonymity or security reasons. I've shot with Leicas since 1985 and have been approached only twice by someone who recognized it and knew what it was. If I'm out and about with either my old Nikon MF film SLRs or new DSLRs, I can count on having at least one conversation start up on each trip. Furthermore, I've only run into fellow Leica users three times, one with a IIIf, one with an M6, and the third had a compact digital. And none of those three was especially open to discussion about their cameras. Odd birds we are, I guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted May 7, 2012 Share #5 Â Posted May 7, 2012 This is why I find it humorously ironic that there are folks who will tape over or black out the iconic red dot or Leica script for anonymity or security reasons. I've shot with Leicas since 1985 and have been approached only twice by someone who recognized it and knew what it was. If I'm out and about with either my old Nikon MF film SLRs or new DSLRs, I can count on having at least one conversation start up on each trip. Furthermore, I've only run into fellow Leica users three times, one with a IIIf, one with an M6, and the third had a compact digital. And none of those three was especially open to discussion about their cameras. Odd birds we are, I guess. The world has changed though. I had never heard of Leica until a couple of years ago. With the Internet and all the mirror less cameras the comparisons and mentions of Leica are plenty. I've ony had an M for a little over a year and a few people recognize it. I'm sure plenty more have and just didn't bother mentioning it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted May 7, 2012 Share #6 Â Posted May 7, 2012 This is why I find it humorously ironic that there are folks who will tape over or black out the iconic red dot or Leica script for anonymity or security reasons.[...] Â There's a joke in there somewhere but I can't see for the tape over it. Â But now you know why Leica doesn't put a big red dot on their lens caps. Way too visible, even when making pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bull40 Posted May 7, 2012 Share #7 Â Posted May 7, 2012 Advertisement (gone after registration) Pico, two thoughts: Â Have you seen the video on YouTube on how not to use your M8 or M9! There is some poor chap trying to shoot his digital M, and while chimping realizes he's getting nothing, and frantically starts all sorts of adjustments trying to rectify his plight... missing that his lens cap is on! It's hysterical! Secondly, you've given me idea for a business enterprise. Spraypainting lens caps red, and adding the Leica logo to the full width of the cap. Would be stunning on some of the larger R lenses, and it'd probably save a lot of frustration for the poor guy on the YouTube video in the future. ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted May 7, 2012 Share #8 Â Posted May 7, 2012 [...]Secondly, you've given me idea for a business enterprise. Spraypainting lens caps red, and adding the Leica logo to the full width of the cap. Would be stunning on some of the larger R lenses, and it'd probably save a lot of frustration for the poor guy on the YouTube video in the future. ;-) Â Â Yes! We already have a famous musician as an ambassador, above. (Eric Clapton) But he's gotta lose that tacky watch. Crikey! He's even got the lens shade on backwards. Gotta expand our line. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darylgo Posted May 7, 2012 Share #9 Â Posted May 7, 2012 Secondly, you've given me idea for a business enterprise. Spraypainting lens caps red, and adding the Leica logo to the full width of the cap. Â I would purchase these, but alas compulsion would require taping over the logo :-), seriously they would be easier to find than the black ones I misplace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenPatterson Posted May 7, 2012 Share #10 Â Posted May 7, 2012 ... to this day my wife thinks the M9 is an old used camera. Â Oh, those were happy times!!! I made the mistake of allowing my wife to visit a Leica store with me. I can still remember the look on her face when she saw the Noctilux in the window with all those zeros in the price tag. I will spare you her comment... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theodor Heinrichsohn Posted May 7, 2012 Share #11 Â Posted May 7, 2012 Oh, those were happy times!!! I made the mistake of allowing my wife to visit a Leica store with me. I can still remember the look on her face when she saw the Noctilux in the window with all those zeros in the price tag. I will spare you her comment... Â That's why I visit cameras shops alone! Teddy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted May 7, 2012 Share #12 Â Posted May 7, 2012 This is why I find it humorously ironic that there are folks who will tape over or black out the iconic red dot or Leica script for anonymity or security reasons. The Leica logo is very valuable and it needs to be protected. If it gets scratched off, it will cost you a lot to have it repainted. Â And for those who can't afford this exotic camera. http://www.redbubble.com/people/benjy/works/4089530-1-leica-m9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALD Posted May 7, 2012 Share #13 Â Posted May 7, 2012 You know you are a Leica man when you see your wife taking a photo with your M camera and you cannot believe how sexy she looks!!! My wife loved our M, she took some great photographs and looked really cool doing so Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IWC Doppel Posted May 7, 2012 Share #14 Â Posted May 7, 2012 I fist heard of Leica about 20 years ago when my brother was more into photography than me, he bought an M6 and 35 cron. Henri Cartier Bresson was of interest to me at the same time via my brother. Â I have had my Leica mentioned a few times, at Cafe's when it's on the table. Most assume its an 'old' film camera Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted May 7, 2012 Share #15  Posted May 7, 2012 It's happened to me several times that people ask to take my picture with my own camera, having just photographed them (I add this here though I'm using an M6TTL). Usually they have no clue how the camera works but happily snap away thinking they've obtained perfect focus because the VF is so clear  So as not to appear rude and turn down such offers, I've tried to perfect a one or two sentence rangefinder training to give to those who ask to take my picture.  It's going so-so. Naturally, I know precisely what information needs to be conveyed but still I fail each time, which is evident because all photos are invariably out of focus.  I have a feeling a large part is due to the inability of the average person, who has little to no interest to learn rangefinder photography, to absorb the training, however brief.  So now I'm trying to perfect a polite thanks-but-no-thanks-I-know-what-I-look-like sort of excuse.  /p Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rramesh Posted May 7, 2012 Share #16 Â Posted May 7, 2012 That's what an iPhone is for. If someone volunteers to take my picture, I offer my iPhone. Maybe that's why pictures of me are so crappy these days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeingeye Posted May 7, 2012 Share #17  Posted May 7, 2012 Oh, those were happy times!!! I made the mistake of allowing my wife to visit a Leica store with me. I can still remember the look on her face when she saw the Noctilux in the window with all those zeros in the price tag. I will spare you her comment...  Wives and Leica receipts. May they never meet.  Regards  Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralf Posted May 7, 2012 Share #18  Posted May 7, 2012 Wives and Leica receipts. May they never meet.  Regards  Mike  :) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted May 7, 2012 Share #19 Â Posted May 7, 2012 My wife has actually created a number of Leica receipts, and she doesn't like to take pictures; just enjoy the ones I take. Â Fairly often people comment on my cameras, though when I have the D2 (which is just about all the time) people either ask if it's an old film camera or if it's an M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornellfrancis Posted May 7, 2012 Share #20 Â Posted May 7, 2012 Interesting... I've actually had the opposite experience than most of you. I'm in New York and I'll often take my M3 with me when I go out to dinner or a bar and 7 times out of 10 someone knows exactly what it is or asks "is that a Leica?" perhaps it's Leica's elevated status as an object of style that's resulted in fashionable New Yorkers knowing about them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.