Re: [Leica] cloaked unsubstantiated statements (put up or shut up)

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

DR. BLACKTAPE CAN STAND IT NO LONGER...

...IF THE *((&^*&^%&*()+_(&*^&*!!!! CAMERA FALLS APART, IT'S NOT AS GOOD AS 
ONE THAT DOESN'T. IF IT DOESN'T FALL APART, SHUT UP AND GO TAKE SOME 
PICTURES! ;-)

P.S. "Reliable sources" have brought down at least one sitting President of 
the U.S.



>Ed Buziak wrote:
> >
> > Marc,
> >
> > Mike Johnston is a fine journalist and a photo magazine editor... as 
> such he
> > hears many things, some of which cannot be passed on openly. Although more
> > of a "rookie", as you say across the pond, I am in a similar position and
> > have heard opinions on the matter from someone who knows more about
> > repairing (and, thus, the construction of) Leicas than most today... 
> like he
> > has serviced around *one hundred* Leica-250s!
> >
> > After I sold my M6 and replaced it with an M3 I asked my friend if the
> > earlier model was indeed a better instrument, as it truly felt, but do you
> > know, his "wise-old-owl" reply was...
> >
> >     "...if you are attracted by the features which are exemplified by
> > rangefinder camera design, then
> >     despite its age, the M3 is still an excellent choice. However, the 
> Leica
> > M series has evolved and
> >     doubtless will continue to do so. The current M6 with its TTL metering
> > really does provide the
> >     photographer with a tool that is capable of excellent results."
> >
> > I can't tell you what he *really* said because (like Mike rightfully 
> argues)
> > it's off the record. But I feel confident enough, having been told by an
> > authority, to pass the information on as *fact* if I am asked... and would
> > feel rather disappointed to receive the retort "so much BS" for my
> > unattributed advice. Mike and fellow editors (and Erwin) may or may not 
> know
> > something from time to time of what is being planned for the future at
> > Solms, Tokyo and elsewhere... and we receive "secret" internet addresses
> > which show products and press releases for inclusion in forthcoming
> > publications... we can't tell you even if we wanted to... and even if 
> we did
> > we couldn't reveal our sources, period!
> >
> > Ed Buziak / Publisher
> > "Camera & Darkroom"
> >
> > ed.buziak@camera-and-darkroom.co.uk
> >
>Ed the fact that you and Mike are Journalists unfortunately puts you in a
>position where we do not expect less from you, we expect more.
>And this applies to other "authorities" on a "pedestal" of any sort who 
>want to
>announce to us the bad news or good news "inside story" about what a true 
>piece
>of cr&^ our cherished expensive little toys are.
>We don't expect a "journalist" to say or certainly write things along the 
>lines of:
>
>"Severely reliable top unnamed sources have let me in on the fact that this
>thing is not built very well"   Who cares?
>I've had high school teachers who would kick me out of the class for this type
>of statement.
>
>We are supposed to lie down and roll over because someone of "authority" 
>status
>makes sweeping cloaked unsubstantiated statements?!
>The journalists I've spoken to over the years and I have done some just don't
>speak in those terms: large unsubstantiated and/or cloaked statements.
>They know no one wants to hear it and stop listening quick.
>They know that anything they say is meaningless unless properly qualified. Why
>write? Why talk?
>I am very familiar with your magazine as well as Mikes so I am surprised such
>basic issues as these are on the floor.
>You wanna tell me something that is significant and going to "rock my 
>world" but
>you don't want to tell me where you got it from?
>We should just listen to the true rumors form the authorities who would 
>have us
>trade in our M6's for M3's or 4's.
>I'm surprised a trained and experienced Journalist would speak in these terms.
>I would hope people on this list with a more solid background in 
>Journalism will
>weigh in on this.
>I don't proclaim to be an expert on Journalism but I'll be damn amazed if 
>I'm wrong.
>Mark Rabiner