Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/10/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]If more people would submit their recognizable photo to Steve Barbour for his "Leica-Using Photographers" page, it might be easier to find the other LUGers. Jeffery Smith New Orleans, LA http://www.400tx.com http://400tx.blogspot.com/ -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Philippe Orlent Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2006 6:48 AM To: LUG Group Subject: [Leica] Photokina You all know what is being/has been presented on Photokina, so I won't bother you with that: other folks ar far more technical gifted than I am and all the news is already out. A little impression of a first timer is all I can give you. 1) The fair is huge. If you go on saturday, and if you want to see everything, be prepared to be in the middle of a buzzing herd of people that want exactly the same as you. In other words: if you can, don't go on a saturday. 2) It is a fair for boys that like big toys: a lot of 10 pounders hanging around people's necks, all showing that they have a big lens. Let's say that these combo's replace the Coke bottle that adolescents sometimes put in their trousers to impress... 3) The big ones (Canon, Nikon, Epson, Panasonic and a little bit behind that Olympus) have huge stands where everything is digital: everyone is showing screens with shots that show how much detail the sensors can get and how much detail the printers can print. Rest assured, they all perform perfectly in these circumstances. Whether these are the same as yours at home, is nother question ofcourse. They also all create 'photo opportunities' with whether a 'model' contest, some dancing show stuff, or -for the real Chimps out there- bodypainted nude ladies. Very succesful, so if you want to shoot that kind of stuff, bring a massive tele, a little ladder and post yourself a bit further away: you'll get the shot that you were looking for. Unless you want to feel like a paparazzo with your camera above your head and the lcd screen tilted down. 4) Speaking of massive teles. Remember that Zeiss 1700 of which photos have already been posted on this list? On screen it looks big. In real it's huge: imagine a full size atomic submarine and park it next to the Zeiss: it will be hard to see the size difference. 5) Which brings us to the Zeiss, Hasselblad, Alpa, Mamiya and Leica floor. That was yummy. 6) Leica: a lot of interest for the M8: everybody (waiting times up to 10 minutes to get a -too short- grip on one) wanted to hold and use it. Opinions about handling the camera were unanimous: it looks like an M, it feels like an M, it shoots like an M. The shutter sound didn't bother me: a short snappy and dry sound that wasn't too loud either. I fires away at the 3 images at 2 secs rate, which is pleasant, but not necesseraly needed IMO. It has some buffering problems though: if you fire away, you have to wait a bit to see the shots appear on the LCD. Good ergonomics: as intuitive as the Digilux 2. Everything points itself out. Which cannot be said of the Digilux 3. There are so many buttons on this one that you need a day or so to memorize the manual. Which is too much for me. I'm not into the R, so I can't say much of that: the crowd was a little smaller, but a lot of interested folks nevertheless. Same thing for the V series. Overall feeling: Leica is back on track, and I have hopes for them. Not high hopes yet, but the future looks brighter than a year ago IMO. Funny little anecdote: a German guy next to me at the M8 stand asked if he could attach his rapidwinder to the M8... 7) Most impressive stands for me were Zeiss (the smart guys: once they focused on their lenses and cover a very large market now) and Hasselblad (huge, as if they really know that's it's now or never again for them -to many very good alternatives, esp. in digital backs- so they really had to impress. Which they did.) 8) Most yummy? Alpa. But I'm afraid that will always stay a dream for me... 9) Smartest stand? Leica. Esp. the 'grandstand' they created where every model was glued to a tripod and where you could really fondle them. A massive success. 10) Did I see people I knew? Lucien tapped on my shoulder at the Leica stand and we had a good chat. He told me that Solms was planning an only B&W M8, as had been suggested on the LUG here. Which is a great idea IMO. We both said we'd wait a bit before buying one, though: the first model of a launch is always a bit tricky... Then I wandered on in the vain hope of seeing other LUGgers, but with so many people, it's hard to spot a familiar face, esp. if only known via photos. Red Leica roses in our button holes might have been a good idea. Or nail down a 'quiet' meeting point and meeting hour. Lesson learned for next time. I did see some LHSA members at a distance, though. 11) I spent the most time at the first hall, where photo exhibitions were held and books were sold. A lot of good work to see there, esp. in the Kodak Nachwuchs F?rderpreis corner. And some good books, which I brought home. 12) Will I come again in 2 years? I don't know. It is one of those events that you crave for, go to, say never again once you're there, and 2 years later the itch is back and there you go again. So probably yes. 13) Don't forget to visit the centre of K?ln when you're there. A beautiful town, good food, good beer, with an impressive cathedral (the Dom) and plenty of photo (and shopping) opportunities. Except for the Ludwig Museum, which is wonderful if you love Picasso and post 50's art, but where you're not allowed to take photographs. And they do take that very seriously! Must be that famous Deutsche Gr?ndlichkeit... 14) So did I take any? Yes, I did. But you'll have to wait for those because I only shot film: I wanted to try out my new Biogon 2,8/28 on my MP. When the lab has developed them, I'll certainly post them for your viewing and maybe for your pleasure. Cheers, Philippe _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information