LUF Admin #1 Posted September 20, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) I almost missed it… The Leica Forum turns 20 years old today! Over the last days some people on LinkedIn have congratulated me on the 18th anniversary of the Leica Forum, because I gave September 2002 as the starting date. Like with old divas, the date of birth is sometimes blurred in the fog of early times and can't be determined exactly. But it's a fact:The first Leica Customer Forum - then still part of the Leica website - was launched at photokina 2000, which opened its gates on September 20, 2000. A screenshot of the first version (a badly crafted Perl script) can no longer be found, but here is an archive version of the Leica website: https://web.archive.org/web/20001017174410/http://www.leica-camera.com/markt/forum/index_e.html Hello guest! Please register or sign in to view the hidden content. Hallo Gast! Du willst die Bilder sehen? Einfach registrieren oder anmelden! So: Congratulations on your twentieth birthday, Leica Forum! I will write a detailed documentation of the interesting and tortuous history of the forum when I retire. Until then only a short „thank you“: To Leica Camera AG for the first assignment and for the discussion topics To the first members who breathed life into the Leica Forum All moderators and ex-moderators who keep the store running All advertisers, sponsors and premium members who support the forum financially …and of course to all members who make the forum a lively community! Andreas 44 18 Ecar, David_Berry, Keith (M) and 59 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
farnz #2 Posted September 20, 2020 🎂 Happy birthday to the forum, Andreas! And thank you for taking on the running of the forum, keeping it going, and making it a very pleasant place to visit. Pete. 11 michali, David_Berry, robert_parker and 8 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stunsworth #3 Posted September 20, 2020 Twenty years? How time flies. I think I was here from more or less the beginning. In some ways I wish Leica had kept it as their official forum, but I understand that was a commercial decision on their part - and it gave Andreas the opportunity to fill the gap they left behind. So congratulations to Andreas, the mods, and all the other participants, and here’s to the next twenty years. 5 Michael-IIIf, firoze, robert_parker and 2 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LocalHero1953 #4 Posted September 20, 2020 (edited) Strange days, when a documentary record from 20 years ago is completely lost to us, just as if it were a lost mediaeval text! I add my thanks to Andreas, and the mods, for making this forum so successful. Edited September 20, 2020 by LocalHero1953 3 hamey, robert_parker and LUF Admin reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
105012 #5 Posted September 20, 2020 Happy 20th Birthday Leica Forum! Thanks to all involved in running it, the moderators and most especially all the members who make this a kind and knowledgeable place to discuss Leica Photography (in the old sense)... and sometimes the gear! 2 hamey and robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
helged #6 Posted September 20, 2020 Congratulations! A great place to visit, discuss, learn and to get inspired. Looking forward to the next 20! 3 michali, hamey and robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
earleygallery #7 Posted September 20, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Happy Birthday! Of course it is much more that 'just' a forum, I've had some excellent times meeting fellow members over the years and hope to do so again in the future when it's possile again! 3 robert_parker, Graham (G4FUJ) and firoze reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaapv #8 Posted September 20, 2020 46 minutes ago, stunsworth said: Twenty years? How time flies. I think I was here from more or less the beginning. In some ways I wish Leica had kept it as their official forum, but I understand that was a commercial decision on their part - and it gave Andreas the opportunity to fill the gap they left behind. So congratulations to Andreas, the mods, and all the other participants, and here’s to the next twenty years. You joined Sept. 30, 2002. I was two years minus six days later A bit like comparing the date of one's commission 3 robert_parker, firoze and jonoslack reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stunsworth #9 Posted September 20, 2020 1 minute ago, jaapv said: You joined Sept. 30, 2002. I was two years minus six days later A bit like comparing the date of one's commission I think that was when the forum software changed and the dates were reset. I could be wrong though - it’s a long time ago <grin>. 2 robert_parker and Michael-IIIf reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaapv #10 Posted September 20, 2020 At any rate, you are the most senior active member I have found up to now 2 robert_parker and firoze reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stunsworth #11 Posted September 20, 2020 1 minute ago, jaapv said: At any rate, you are the most senior active member I have found up to now I’m not sure how I feel about that. Do I get a prize? 3 robert_parker, Michael-IIIf and firoze reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kwesi #12 Posted September 20, 2020 Congratulations to Andreas for making the forum always feel fresh and up to date and Jaap and all the folks who keep the forum running and ensuring its always such a wonderful place to visit and share ideas, Bravo!! 1 robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evikne #13 Posted September 20, 2020 Congratulations on the 20th birthday! My relatively short participation here has been very useful and informative. I visit the forum daily and really enjoy it. And thanks to all the good advice (and temptations) I have received here, I have spent a lot of money that I would not have spent otherwise. 😬 1 robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Graham (G4FUJ) #14 Posted September 20, 2020 1 hour ago, earleygallery said: Happy Birthday! Of course it is much more that 'just' a forum, I've had some excellent times meeting fellow members over the years and hope to do so again in the future when it's possile again! I'll second all that! 1 robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andybarton #15 Posted September 20, 2020 Congratulations to Andreas! I joined in mid 2002, as well. I was interested in the original Digilux, but had to settle for a Panasonic LC5. I had a different username at the beginning. 2 robert_parker and firoze reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pocholin #16 Posted September 20, 2020 Wow, 20 years is indeed a great accomplishment in this digital age, congratulations and may more to come! 1 robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
m410 #17 Posted September 20, 2020 Nice job. Happy 20th. 1 robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robert blu #18 Posted September 20, 2020 Buon Compleanno ! 1 robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith (M) #19 Posted September 20, 2020 Congratulations to Andreas! My favourite photo-forum and long may it continue. Thanks too to the mods who keep the wheels turning smoothly. 2 MarkP and robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ejd #20 Posted September 20, 2020 Congratulations! and Happy Birthday to the Leica Forum. It has been great to meet everyone over the years. The forum is a rich resource on all Leica-related matters. 1 robert_parker reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
