[Leica] Photokina

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

On Oct 1, 2006, at 6:49 AM, Jeffery Smith wrote:

> If more people would submit their recognizable photo to Steve  
> Barbour for
> his "Leica-Using Photographers" page, it might be easier to find  
> the other
> LUGers.


happy to assist... and then I may turn the images over to Brian Reid  
for safe keeping on his leica site,


if he agrees....Steve
>
> Jeffery Smith
> New Orleans, LA
> http://www.400tx.com
> http://400tx.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of  
> Philippe
> Orlent
> Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 6:48 AM
> To: LUG Group
> Subject: [Leica] Photokina
>
>
> You all know what is being/has been presented on Photokina, so I
> won't bother you with that: other folks ar far more technical gifted
> than I am and all the news is already out.
>
> A little impression of a first timer is all I can give you.
>
> 1) The fair is huge. If you go on saturday, and if you want to see
> everything, be prepared to be in the middle of a buzzing herd of
> people that want exactly the same as you.
> In other words: if you can, don't go on a saturday.
>
> 2) It is a fair for boys that like big toys: a lot of 10 pounders
> hanging around people's necks, all showing that they have a big lens.
> Let's say that these combo's replace the Coke bottle that adolescents
> sometimes put in their trousers to impress...
>
> 3) The big ones (Canon, Nikon, Epson, Panasonic and a little bit
> behind that Olympus) have huge stands where everything is digital:
> everyone is showing screens with shots that show how much detail the
> sensors can get and how much detail the printers can print. Rest
> assured, they all perform perfectly in these circumstances. Whether
> these are the same as yours at home, is nother question ofcourse.  
> They also
> all create 'photo opportunities' with whether a 'model'
> contest, some dancing show stuff, or -for the real Chimps out there-
> bodypainted nude ladies. Very succesful, so if you want to shoot that
> kind of stuff, bring a massive tele, a little ladder and post
> yourself a bit further away: you'll get the shot that you were
> looking for. Unless you want to feel like a paparazzo with your
> camera above your head and the lcd screen tilted down.
>
> 4) Speaking of massive teles. Remember that Zeiss 1700 of which
> photos have already been posted on this list? On screen it looks big.
> In real it's huge: imagine a full size atomic submarine and park it
> next to the Zeiss: it will be hard to see the size difference.
>
> 5) Which brings us to the Zeiss, Hasselblad, Alpa, Mamiya and Leica
> floor. That was yummy.
>
> 6) Leica: a lot of interest for the M8: everybody (waiting times up
> to 10 minutes to get a -too short- grip on one) wanted to hold and
> use it. Opinions about handling the camera were unanimous: it looks
> like an M, it feels like an M, it shoots like an M. The shutter sound
> didn't bother me: a short snappy and dry sound that wasn't too loud
> either. I fires away at the 3 images at 2 secs rate, which is
> pleasant, but not necesseraly needed IMO. It has some buffering
> problems though: if you fire away, you have to wait a bit to see the
> shots appear on the LCD. Good ergonomics: as intuitive as the Digilux
> 2. Everything points itself out.
> Which cannot be said of the Digilux 3. There are so many buttons on
> this one that you need a day or so to memorize the manual. Which is
> too much for me.
> I'm not into the R, so I can't say much of that: the crowd was a
> little smaller, but a lot of interested folks nevertheless. Same
> thing for the V series.
> Overall feeling: Leica is back on track, and I have hopes for them.
> Not high hopes yet, but the future looks brighter than a year ago  
> IMO. Funny
> little anecdote: a German guy next to me at the M8 stand asked
> if he could attach his rapidwinder to the M8...
>
> 7) Most impressive stands for me were Zeiss (the smart guys: once
> they focused on their lenses and cover a very large market now) and
> Hasselblad (huge, as if they really know that's it's now or never
> again for them -to many very good alternatives, esp. in digital
> backs- so they really had to impress. Which they did.)
>
> 8) Most yummy? Alpa. But I'm afraid that will always stay a dream for
> me...
>
> 9) Smartest stand? Leica. Esp. the 'grandstand' they created where
> every model was glued to a tripod and where you could really fondle
> them. A massive success.
>
> 10) Did I see people I knew? Lucien tapped on my shoulder at the
> Leica stand and we had a good chat. He told me that Solms was
> planning an only B&W M8, as had been suggested on the LUG here. Which
> is a great idea IMO.
> We both said we'd wait a bit before buying one, though: the first
> model of a launch is always a bit tricky...
> Then I wandered on in the vain hope of seeing other LUGgers, but with
> so many people, it's hard to spot a familiar face, esp. if only known
> via photos. Red Leica roses in our button holes might have been a
> good idea. Or nail down a 'quiet' meeting point and meeting hour.
> Lesson learned for next time. I did see some LHSA members at a
> distance, though.
>
> 11) I spent the most time at the first hall, where photo exhibitions
> were held and books were sold. A lot of good work to see there, esp.
> in the Kodak Nachwuchs F?rderpreis corner. And some good books, which
> I brought home.
>
> 12) Will I come again in 2 years? I don't know. It is one of those
> events that you crave for, go to, say never again once you're there,
> and 2 years later the itch is back and there you go again. So
> probably yes.
>
> 13) Don't forget to visit the centre of K?ln when you're there. A
> beautiful town, good food, good beer, with an impressive cathedral
> (the Dom) and plenty of photo (and shopping) opportunities. Except
> for the Ludwig Museum, which is wonderful if you love Picasso and
> post 50's art, but where you're not allowed to take photographs. And
> they do take that very seriously! Must be that famous Deutsche
> Gr?ndlichkeit...
>
> 14) So did I take any? Yes, I did. But you'll have to wait for those
> because I only shot film: I wanted to try out my new Biogon 2,8/28 on
> my MP.  When the lab has developed them, I'll certainly post them for
> your viewing and maybe for your pleasure.
>
> Cheers,
> Philippe
>
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