Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/01/13

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Camera of the Century
From: Ruralmopics@aol.com
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2000 09:18:33 EST

I cheated and picked five. My selects are as follows:

Kodak Brownie -- for popularizing photography with the masses

Leica A - because it launched 35mm photography -- still the format of choice 
for the bulk of semi-serious photographers -- and led the way to the 
documentary style

Speed Graphic -- merely for the history it recorded at a time when we didn't 
have 24-hour a day news coverage.

The Canon AE-1 -- because it did popularize 35mm slr photography in a way 
that even the Spotmatic and other popular models did not

The Canon Sure Shot -- because it returned popular photography to where it 
started with the Kodak Brownie ("press the button, we do the rest")

You may note that the last two choices probably were not particularly good 
influences on photography as a hobby but they are significant. 

I would also like to give honorable mention to whatever specific/individual 
cameras Eddie Adams and Huynh Cong used to make the two photos that helped 
bring an end to the Vietnam War -- the best examples of individual photos 
having worldwide impact that I can think of . . . 

If I had to pick ONE, though, I'd go with the Leica A

Bob (not too far out on the limb) McEowen