Essay on the leica M8

[reven]

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So, I'm planing to write about our loved M8, not a review, but more a summit and meaning of our camera, as object of desire. Or better Decoding an object (M8) of desire.

 

I also don't want to talk just from my own thinking an meaning, but also include other oppinions, so I post here the main idea and it would be helpful, if some of you could write to each point what you mean. (1,2,3,4)

 

Thanks

 

In order for the object to function as a sign (symbol), we must consider:

a) Every aspect of its contextual situation, e.g. its position in time and location

Every aspect of the reader’s perceptual make up and location.

c) The social and cultural myths which are active at the specific time.

 

Analyse what persuades us that we need to possess this "object of desire"?

 

1) Connotations. What is suggested by the name? What else is connotative (e.g. colour, form, materials etc which link or fix meaning by association)?

2) Mythologies. What contemporary myths does the object associate with?

Myths are culturally held beliefs, which may or may not be true, and may be either positive or negative. For example, racial myths, such as that "Germans are highly efficient”, that their technological manufacturing equals quality and reliability, but that they are essentially a dangerous and belligerent people ". Or that the French are stylish, sophisticated people, and that frenchness equals sexiness, good-living, but may also suggest a dislike of America / arrogance, rudeness and untrustworthyness”. Myths can also be more general, such as "to be healthy/ thin/fat non-smoking/drug-addicted young/ gay/ mad/ angry/ rich/ poor/ single/ bearded etc. is to be happy”. Where do these myths come from?

Trace the origins of these myths. Why does an Eskimo perfume or a pipe smoking athleteseem anomalous to us?

What supports these myths- (i.e. linkage)?

What is the object’s stream of associations (i.e. relay)?

 

3) Relay Where else in our culture do these myths exist (e.g. in a film, other areas of media, an attitude or belief held by a certain sub culture Linkage. By which means is the object's conceptual status authorised through agencies or institutions? These can be within media or elsewhere. These can be direct (as in advertising) or indirect (as in media interest or endorsement by a personality or cultural groups ownership of the object). Are there negative myths or meta-narratives operating here? If I don't have this will I appear fat, ugly, poor, unfashionable, uneducated etc. Where do these attitudes appear?

4) Anchorage

What fixes the object’s meaning?

[marknorton]

Imants, master of the abstruse post! Where are you when we need you?

[stunsworth]

Just so that the other side is present :-)...

 

None of that interests me. It's a camera and what I'm interested in is how well it does that job. I've tried lots of other cameras and the M gives me the closest fit to my ideal - as for what my ideal is, I don't know, I lack the imagination to work that out. But it's closer to it than any Nikon, Pentax, or Canon that I've used.

 

When you are writing the article I would suggest the word "Bauhaus" and that you work forward from that.

[Venkman]

I just bought a camera which was told to be good.

It is.

[larry]

I haven't thought about anthropology since I was required to take it in college. Hmm, the M8 as a talisman, what an interesting idea.

 

Larry

[sdai]

Without the M8 AND LUF, life would be an error.

[hankg]

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If you want about to write about the cultural impact of a camera. Write about the barnack camera of the 21st century: the cell phone -or mini-videocams or You-Tube and Flickr. The devices and technologies that are having the sort of impact on the culture today that the original little Leica camera had in the beginning of the last century.

 

The last thing Leica needs now is more mumbo-jumbo about it's cameras as objects of desire or talismans. If Leica can't get photographers to take the M8 seriously as a simple working tool, rather then the photographic equivelent of an Hermes bag then the company is going to go the way of the dinasaurs.

[chris_tribble]

Oh dear oh dear. Isn't it a just tool? Don't we buy it because it does a job? I know there was the Hermes / a la carte diversion (must have had Oskar spinning in his grave)... but a Leica has never been jewellery for most of us, it's a camera. It's satisfying like a well balanced hammer is satisfying. Form and function come together so you can give the nail a good thwack and job's done. Couldn't agree with Hank more!

 

But hey - have fun, because we all choose how we spend our time, and it's perfectly possible to to deconstruct the M (as we've seen in a practical sense on this list) or in more abstract ways if we wish ...

 

I'm off to make some photographs...

[reven]

Ok, I think some of you got one thing wrong, I'm not talking about the M8 as any object for desire, but for photographers, like for many useres a 1DsMk2 will be a object of desire. (I'm not talking about people who don't have abnything to do with the subject.)

 

Also since when did an object of desire get so low in value ? Why is it negative for all of you ? The M8 is not really an object of desire because it is expensive. It is one because of it's quality, what it delievers what it can do and so on, certainly there are also some negative aspects, but certainly not all of them.

[Guest sirvine]

Well, it seems to me that there is a place for fashion in photography, since fashion is in fact one of the most important commercial outlets for photographers and the breeding ground for some of the most innovative artists behind a camera. At some point, you've got to acknowledge that a person whose style pervades their entire being will prefer a tool that appeals to their aesthetics over one that does not, even where there might be technical advantage in the other. Perception is, quite literally, everything, after all. And while the Hermes influence was misguided (largely because it tried too hard to be fashionable), the truth is that Leica rangefinders have been fashionable throughout most of their history because, like a Saville Row bespoke suit or handmade Chelsea boots or a good watch, it strikes a tasteful, utilitarian note that appeals to stylemakers, for whatever reasons.

 

I know people bristle at the idea of a camera being more than a tool, but I'm not totally sure I understand why. Is it a little like wearing those horrible Croc sandals and explaining to everyone that your comfort dictates that you wear neon clogs?

[stunsworth]

Sol, we can only report our own feelings. Sure there will be people who buy a Leica as a 'fashion statement', but next year they'll be buying something in it's place that is percieved as cooler. I'd like to think that a. they're low in number and b. people here have more sense and aren't such airheads :-)

[Guest sirvine]

I guess I'm saying that those people aren't necessarily airheads, and that some fashion is timeless precisely because it works and looks good.

[Stevez4]

As you focus on the icon of the M-8 consider the sea change in Leica users that has taken place.

[jrc]

I use the Leica to symbolize my engagement with mise-en-scene.

 

JC

[Jager]

I'll certainly allow that I love my M8. It has stimulated my passion for the craft of photography more than anything else ever has.

 

And yet representing it as an "object of desire" misses the point entirely, IMHO. My love for the camera derives from two things - its basic ergonomics which remove everything extraneous, leaving only the distilled essence of what is necessary, a trait which it shares with its M predecessors and which allows it to "disappear" in use; and, very much related to that first trait - the images which result.

 

It's as simple as that.

 

Jeff

[andit]

Hi Christopher,

 

What does the M8 mean to me, and what sets it apart from others. I switched to digital in 2000 with a Canon D60 (the first camera to perfect the use of the CMOS sensor). While I created amazing images with this camera, photography lost it's fun and appeal. You could shoot real fast, not really concentrate on the entire image and still come home with usable shots.

 

Last year I had to upgrade. The question was whether to move to a Canon 5D, or 1Ds. These camera's have a great deal more features built in than what the M8 will ever have. I had Canon prime lenses and it was not the feasable decision to move to the M8 (especially since I had no M optics). However, the thing that one can not put a price to is enjoyment of use. The M8 forces you to slow down again and take the whole process of creating the image seriously again.

 

In another thread, one of the members called the M8 a "masters tool" - that sums it up quite well. You could give just about anyone a Canon or Nikon, the right lenses and a subject and they will come back with brilliant results.

 

Not so with the M8 - the first pictures that I took with the M8 were terrible (infact I had taken better photo's with a disposable camera in the past)! With the M8 you are forced to take all factors into consideration again - that is what makes photography fun... When all the factors are used correctly, the M8 will return results that are far superior to those taken with another manufacturers camera.

 

Why, you ask. Its not the lenses or features (the other manufacturers also make brilliant optics). The answer is simple: by looking at all aspects yourself, you put feeling into your images - it is that feeling that makes the difference.

 

Sounds very philosophical, but one really does see the difference.

 

Hope this helps you.

 

Andreas

[jaapv]

Hmmm... I have been using Leicas for more than 35 years because they delivered extremely high quality and because the ergonomics match the way I like a camera to handle. I like digital because I like the control over the final output and don't like messing around with chemicals any more and hate what labs do to my photographs, so there is no alternative for me... And it has delivered beyond expectation.

[terence fairweather]

Hi,

I agree with Andreas. This is my second post on the forum as I have just purchased a M8. I had to make a decision M8 or divorce. No contest i`m going to see my solicitor tomorrow.

 

I too have had have had many new cameras of late and have to admit to becoming lazy in the fact of letting the camera decide everything. I now enjoy having to think about focus, metering etc. It`s made me slow down and not just press the shutter. I know now that when I take a crap photo I cant say my camera is no good.

 

I bought the M8 eyes wide open knowing of the initial problems ie filters etc. That did`nt stop me I always have a uv on my lenses anyway( wash my mouth out you say!)

 

I feel confident that Leica will sort out everything with future firmware. I`ts a great camera.

 

Fashion accessory??? Who cares!!

[David Wogan]

As Oscar Wilde might have said about the M8

 

"The M8 merely represents a point along a line that stretches between the great immensities of birth and death. One's purpose in life is to establish where upon that line your M8 does is precisely situated".

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[ericperlberg]

So, I'm planing to write about our loved M8, not a review, but more a summit and meaning of our camera, as object of desire. Or better Decoding an object (M8) of desire. Snip

 

The only way I can relate to your question and not become cynical is to say the M8 was an object of desire for me because I do a lot of photography and the camera seemed to offer solutions to the very things which bothered me most about my Canon 1ds MKii while still delivering exemplery files. The canon is a great photo tool but its heavy and not discrete. The Leica is discrete and light and for certain kinds of photography can compete with the Canon 1dsII head on. I have the money. I bought the camera. I was correct in the analysis.

 

Nobody who owns a Leica is unaware of its history and mechanical integrity. But few if any working photographers would consider its simeotic meanings in purchasing one. I guess collectors might. And the sales people at The Classic Camera. Maybe you should ask them? (I guess I just became cynical...)