[Leica] Roy Moss & Viewfinder

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

In my posts, last week, it may have sounded like I was disparaging both Roy
Moss and Viewfinder. Since this is not true, a minor course correction is
in order.

I don't know Roy Moss. I do get Viewfinder as I belong to LHSA. I like
Viewfinder very much and I (personally) have no problem with Roy Moss as an
editor.

My discourse was about trust in technical articles. I, as an engineer and
photographer, put a lot of trust in technical articles. We all have to.
This is how information is disseminated. If someone didn't write about it,
no one else would know about it. Each of us cannot do all of the research
in all areas for everything we need to know to accomplish our job. Or just
to be well informed.

Marc was complaining that an article in Viewfinder was technically flawed
and that the editor (Roy Moss) was ultimately responsible. I haven't seen
the articles therefore I cannot comment on them, however, there is no
reason for Marc to make-up such statements. Marc is very well informed, and
himself, a fountain of accurate information.

I completely agree with Marc, that any editor of any highly respected
magazine, journal, or periodical, has the "responsibility" of doing their
very best at insuring technical accuracy. That is as "deep" as my statement
is. It is neither degrading Roy nor Viewfinder. As I said, I like
Viewfinder and from those articles that I have read in the past, I have no
complaints.

However, should a periodical become tainted with an "inaccuracy" label,
then it will take a long time to become respected, again, as a technical
authority "and", it will be difficult to attract highly respected technical
authors in the interim. One method of hastening the process, is to publish
corrections in subsequent issues. Fully visible, not as a footnote.

Jim