Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/02/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Don Bledsoe wrote: > > > From: Paul T. Collura <pcollura@epix.net> > > > I couldn't agree with you more. Thank you for your fine treatise on the > state of the Viewfinder and the evolving dichotomy between collectors > ,users<< > > I recently joined the Leica Historical Society of America. In doing so I > also sent for the last 3 years issues of the Viewfinder, which I have been > reading for a few weeks now. The Viewfinder seems to have a significant > number of articles addressing the use of the Leica camera, and maybe as > many aimed at history. They also feature new items from Leica. I see > nothing there fueling the "dichotomy" you speak of. Most of the articles > seem to be written by Leica users, not the hard-core collector cadre others > imaginatively blame for the perceived parting of the ways. If there is a > dichotomy it seems to me it is being pushed by the so-called hard-core > users, not the collectors. In other words it seems to be something from > the minds of the so-called hard-core users. > > I am not a collector, although I have a few old Leicas in beautiful > condition. I enjoy using my Leicas, though only one or two to any heavy > extent, and also enjoy the history. I see nothing wrong with collectors > practicing their hobby and preserving pristine samples of the beauty of the > Leica line. How many cameras has Leica made over the years? A couple > million maybe? I suspect that there are a lot more user cameras out there > than there are collector cameras hoarded away by those pesky collectors, > which is something the hard-core users seem to anguish over. > > A Leica camera should be used however the owner desires it to be used. If > that use is to not be used, so what? Is he/she depriving us of our use? I > don't think so. If there is a person here who claims they can't find a > Leica at a reasonable price because of the collectors, then they are likely > just to lazy to get out and look in the right places. > > The problems that Leica users are experiencing, or seem to complain about, > are not a result of the collectors. If anything the collector is helping > the user by taking old Leicas out of circulation. The problems are the > result of other users not buying Leicas because other cameras have the > features they want at the price they want to pay. If the users were > demanding more from Leica, while also buying more, there would be more, but they are not. and more... > My 2 cents > Don Good Post, Don. Colin