Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/27

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Leica & Contax test
From: Donal Philby <donalphilby@earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 27 Mar 1999 14:12:38 -0800

The Linhofs are in widespread use, especially by landscape shooters such
as David Muench.  And for studio work various of the Linhof, Sinars and
Arcas are sold.  I still see Rollei TLRs around.  A friend who does
large "art" photography for sale through galleries uses an old Speed
Graphic (completely restored recently) for handheld work.  The deardorf
is a regular for many who still do 8x10--widely available and perfect
for the job of BW landscape.  Several years ago Rob Gage, one of the
best car shooters, was still using the Deardorf 8x10 he had bought in
1946 to do cars.  And sometimes when I look at my first F, I'd like to
replace the rebuilt but still worthless meter prism with the pyramid
prism and keep shooting.  I was police baton proof in the 60s, unlike my
head.

donal

Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter) wrote:
> 
> Interesting you list all the cameras that would be the cream of the crop for
> the "old timers" crowd.  Yes, they are proven but passe.  I mean, how many
> pros are really using the old Nikon Fs these days?  Few I would think.
> >
> > > At 02:13 PM 3/26/99 -0800, Mark Rabiner wrote:
> > >
> > > >...A camera with the long tradition and intelligent design evolvement
> > such
> > > >as the Leica M deserves more than a cheap brushoff.
> > > >What other cameras belong in this category?
> > > >The Rolleiflex TLR
> > > >Speed Graphic
> > > >Deardorf
> > > >Nikon F
> > > >?
> > > >Cameras that evolved to near perfection but had that perfection built
> > > >into its first inception.
> >
> > Let's not forget Linhof, who makes a version of the Speed Graphic style
> > camera still today that is the equal to Leica in sheer beauty of
> > construction and operation.  It has been in production, I'll bet, far
> > longer than the speed graphic, or virtually any other camera, and
> > virtually unchanged.  And if you haven't used a Linhof, of whatever
> > style, you are in for a treat, though Sinar and the recent Arca Swiss
> > are in the same company, though a bit more fussy of design.

- -- 
Donal Philby
San Diego
http://www.donalphilby.com