MEB Posted January 21, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm sorry if this question seems silly...I am very new to Leica ownership and use. I keep seeing the word "MATE" and I have no idea what it means. Can someone please explain. Thank you, Mark (East Lansing, Michigan) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 Hi MEB, Take a look here MATE?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted January 21, 2009 Share #2 Posted January 21, 2009 Mark, MATE = 'Medium Angle Tri-Elmar' - i.e. the 28/35/50 lens WATE = 'Wide Angle Tri-Elmar' - i.e. the 16/18/21 lens Hope that helps. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEB Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #3 Posted January 21, 2009 Thank you for the explanation. I feel much better now that I know the secret code. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bwcolor Posted January 21, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 21, 2009 Mark, I fully understand your confusion about the Leica alphabet soup. The afficianados on this site are sometimes like a cabal mumbling their secret code of "insider knowledge". But if you become really involved with Leica, and develop an interest in the older equipment (some of which is quite important today because it is out of production but can be used with the current M cameras, including M8), you will find that Leica used an alphabetic code to identify their accessories. And these codes have become a sort of language among Leica-philes (and Leica-phobes, too). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmith Posted January 21, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 21, 2009 Do you pronounce them 'mate and wait' or 'matay and watay'? Alwyn Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker Posted January 21, 2009 Share #6 Posted January 21, 2009 Mark, I fully understand your confusion about the Leica alphabet soup. The afficianados on this site are sometimes like a cabal mumbling their secret code of "insider knowledge". But if you become really involved with Leica, and develop an interest in the older equipment (some of which is quite important today because it is out of production but can be used with the current M cameras, including M8), you will find that Leica used an alphabetic code to identify their accessories. And these codes have become a sort of language among Leica-philes (and Leica-phobes, too). AFAIK WATE & MATE are not Leica codes - simply ways of differentiating the two Tri-Elmars that evolved on this forum after the release of the WATE. But then again WTFDIK? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olsen Posted January 21, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you for the explanation. I feel much better now that I know the secret code. Mark Mark, It is indeed a secret code! We hope that we can trust you, so don't give this code away to - hum - people (if you can call them that) that are not Leica owners. On your way you might meet, say, a simple fellow, with his - hum - Nikon, or Panasony or whatever; let him live in the dark about what a WATE or MATE really is. Power is all about language and codes, I am sure you agree. If he want to know he better be so damned good as to buy the stuff! OK? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEB Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted January 21, 2009 I have had security clearances twice in my adult life from the Federal government. I hope that is sufficiently high to get me past the initiation process here. Plus, I own an M8! Thanks again, Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted January 21, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 21, 2009 That may not be enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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