[Leica] LUG membership, "A Waiting for Go/Dig" issue.

[joelmail at mchsi.com (Joel E. Anderson)]

This almost sounded like Dylan Thomas there towards the end..... :)

At 06:53 PM 8/9/2004, you wrote:
>I do think it was the digital thing which has widened the gap between Leica
>use and Leica conversation on the LUG and in the real world.
>Some of us are bound to feel a bit sheepish about what we talk like we are a
>user of and what we really do use.
>And have found it hard to have our hearts and minds in a film-in-Leica-M
>place...
>When we are in a CompactFlash-in-DSLR grove.
>
>Of course the vast majority of our usually over a thousand people list are
>lurkers as we only mainly hear from a couple a dozen.
>
>We all have an interest in Leica cameras.
>But that has been becoming a nostalgic interest.
>Even before the digital thing hit a couple of years ago.
>Even before that we we having fun talking about the gear we really no longer
>used. Not me but I think quite a few of us...
>Our Leica M with a lens or two were sitting on the shelf, maybe behind glass
>and when we go out shooting it's with a film point and shoot.
>
>Now they can't sell a film point and shoot anywhere in the world to nobody
>no how.
>The shooting is being done with digital point and shoots.
>
>But on this list are we are at very least photo enthusiasts the move I think
>went to digital SLR's. With a non Leica digital point and shoot on the side.
>For our purse.
>
>We'd all have a lot more to say about Leica use if we used our Leicas. How
>many of us do? It's a rare bird indeed...
>
>How many of us have been selling off our Leica glass and bodies to get Canon
>or Nikon micro motor microchip extravaganzas?
>Not me but I think one or two of us.
>And one or two of "us" have come on to the list only for that purpose.
>Those people would be gleefully covered with tar and lit on fire put on a
>post and run outa town.
>
>I think I am seen as one of the more die hard Leica fanatics on the list and
>I'd be posting a lot more if I'd shot with my Leicas in the past several
>months...
>or years but I really haven't.
>Maybe just a few with my Digilux point and shoot.
>The one that looks like an Argus.
>Or a Brownie Instamatic 100.
>My Leica system which is for the most part Leica M glass has sat like a
>wonderful investment filled with burgeoning potential for well over a year
>not doing much. In a plastic pelican case.
>But it has not been completely idol.
>It's been WAITING.
>Which I believe this whole list has been actively doing.
>WAITING FOR EPSON.
>Waiting for the Epson R1D1.
>Waiting for Leica R Modul or Leica M body..
>Waiting for who ever and when ever is going to make our Leica M or R systems
>come alive again with little yeses and no's or zeros and ones.
>And THAT is going to make for some real LUG conversation and of the on topic
>kind.
>The Epson has been spotted in Tokyo and with it's price falling.
>
>The R back is due to come out by the end of the year which is just less than
>a half a year away.
>If it does come out anywhere near on time and if it "hits" like a Hollywood
>film does it could get Luggers selling off their Canon and Leica DSLR's for
>gorgeous Leicas SLR's with D backs.
>Assuming any of use can bare to capture digital files without auto focus.
>I find this highly likely despite where the smart money may reside.
>More than a 50 50 chance.
>The Digitally enabled R system could make R use ubiquitous.
>Although you may have to squint and only look at them out of the corner of
>your eye. Like those lizard things on "Dead Like Me".
>R use will move up a notch. Or two or three or four notches
>
>Maybe with that new 15mm Super Angulon I mean Elmarit lens and we get are
>21mm focal length we are so into!
>
>But it's the Epson for the M lenses which is right upon us and which is the
>main thing.
>And I think a lot of us have not sold off our Leica M glass for Lexar 2 gig
>cards yet.
>So we're waiting it for really hit in the next weeks to months. Hear about
>how well it's doing and how well the price is doing. And start pre
>visualizing our bankroll heading in that direction.
>I kind of can.
>
>I can visualize this time next year scores of us with our Canon and Nikon
>DSLR's on the shelf but with our Epson and Leica M glass out with us. Then
>back to our terminals sucking it all in while we tell the LUG all about it
>and upload it for all to see. Leica use and the conversation which comes out
>of it.
>That has to be what the basis of what the lug is all about and not what it
>is about now. Now it's about waiting.
>Not imaging but imagining.
>
>But I think that is going to happen.
>The Epson R1D1 is going to "hit".
>And then when the R2D2 comes out with a motor drive that will really "HIT"!
>
>A dozen years ago I gravitated away from my Nikon SLR use to Leica
>rangefinder use both in my personal but then in commercial 35mm work as
>well.
>But before going Leica rangefinder I'd given up zooms and AF for the most
>part. Which made for shooting with 85 f2's and 105 f 2.5's and 2.8's with
>Nikon FE2's or even tupperware 8008's.
>
>But now with this new digital DSLR thing for me came a look at where AF and
>zooms have come to in the past dozen years.
>And I find myself all the time zooming silent wavingly.
>With variable apertures.
>On program mode. Don't tell anybody.
>
>Am I going to get bored with all this high tech stuff in lieu of my ultra
>superb Leica M glass lineup on my rangefinder Epson?
>Tune in next month or year or a week to find out.
>I think it's not just me.
>
>Is it possible we are really into non-monster rangefinder cameras when all
>is said and done and our micromoters go full circle?
>
>I'm beginning to come round to that opinion.
>All my life I've tried to put it from me, saying Rabimir, be reasonable, you
>haven't yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle.
>
>Am I?
>
>I'm glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever
>
>Me too.
>
>There's man all over for you, blaming on his boots the faults of his feet.
>
>I remember the maps of the Holy Land. Coloured they were. Very pretty. The
>Dead Sea was pale blue. The very look of it made me thirsty. That's where
>we'll go, I used to say, that's where we'll go for our honeymoon. We'll
>swim. We'll be happy.
>
>
>(apologies to SM)
>
>Mark Rabiner
>Photography
>Portland Oregon........
>http://rabinergroup.com/
>
>
>
>
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