fotografz Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Let's have some fun shall we. Why did you first choose Leica.? What first hooked you? I'll start. My first serious camera was a Canon F1. At first, I paid a UofM student to develop my B&W negs and make 5X7 prints. As a natural part of getting into photography, I started to collect books on the subject. Monographs by famous photographers. Aperture magazine, etc.. It was then that I noticed a thread that linked many of works that appealed to me. They were shot with a Leica camera, which I had never heard of, let alone ever seen. Eventually the evidence became overwhelming. I decided to seek one out. The price horrified me. Not until later could I afford one, even a used one. In time I decided to bite the bullet, and I purchased a M4. New! I vividly recall taking that camera out of the box. A flood of history came out with it. All those wonderful images I had admired. I remember saying to myself "no more excuses". Now it was all up to me. A challenging sense of creative responsibility was heaped directly on my shoulders that day. No more excuses. Sincerely, --Marc Williams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Herbert Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Many years ago my father owned a business called Fizroy Photography.He used to do most of the Giant Enlargements for West-End Cinamas in London.Many hand- coloured.He was one of the many people who first got involved in colour photoghaphy.De vere and others often gave him free equipment.Among those was Nikon who gave him a Nikon Photomic.He had little regard for those who were unable to work out their own appts.spd and passed those cameras to me,to play with.I used to wander around with these first auto cameras being a 13 year old pest.My first photograph experience was taking a photo of Vera Lynn(THERE BE BLUEBIRDS OVER THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER)opening her brothers new shop in Blackfen,Sidcup,Kent.A group of pro photographers stepping back while a 13 year old marched forward with the most advanced camera of the age.Which was not avialable in the UK OR ANYWHERE.Vera looked in disbelieve and i took her photo.I am not that old,buy the way, late mistake. <p> As time passed on i got interested in actually taking the photos myself instead of the camera,hence Leicas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiblanke Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 I started with a Praktika MTL5, which after many faithful years failed. That made me look for another camera, and I bought two (used): A Contax RTS and a Canonet 17 QL III. The first showed me how important good lenses (Zeiss) are and latter made me go deeper into rangefinders. So I took the plunge after I got a real nice offer for an M2 and a Summaron 35/2.8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografz Posted March 28, 2002 Author Share Posted March 28, 2002 Allen, What an excellent story. A 13 year old with a big honking new Nikon. Man, what a cool Dad. Was he a good photographer? Sounds like he was a purest. Sincerely, --Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoeica images Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 As a newer Leica user(I'm 29, using Leica for about 10 years), my first Leica was a 1934 Leica model III w/50 f2 Summar lens.That was it--I got hooked. A IIIf, IIIc, M1, M3 and a M6TTL soon joined the III. Even though the Summar was a bit soft, the glass was mint,coated, and no fogging, I was stupid to trade it for a not so mint Summitar. Live and learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobtodrick Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 I still wonder about my first Leica. In 1974 I bought a IIIc w/50 Elmar at a local camera shop for about $100.00 - pretty big money at the time. I had just started my first job in photography (shooting for AV training films) using an Nikon F2 kit. Bought the IIIc as a 'personal camera'. A few months after I had it our receptionist, who was going on vacation for a month to India asked if she could borrow a camera. Couldn't let her have the work cameras, but gave her the Leica as we'd known each other long enough to trust her. She never came back. We didn't know how to contact her family, but since she left over $1500.00 in vacation pay and commissions, we've always wondered if she came to no good or just dropped out of life. To this day I wonder if she's okay or ended up in some back alley in god knows where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stb Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Last September. A year before I was swearing I could not see the point of such a basic camera. By then, my outfit was: EOS 3, ESO 50, EOS 650, EF 28-70/2.8L, EF 100/2, Sigma 17-35EX, EF 70-200/4. <p> And that day, I saw it. Like new. It actually was looking at me from its display in the window. It was built in 1997 and the Summicron 50 as well. I went into the shop, asked to have a look at it. The price was right, steep, but as much as I expected. I had the money there in the bank. I left the shop, went for a walk in the nearby, called a few friends just to hear that I was crasy to think about it, I only got encouragements to buy it now, went back to the shop and that was it. I was in awe, start the same evening with street photography. <p> Decembr 31st, I traded all my Canon gear for an Elamrit 90 and a Elamrit 21 asph. In the mean time I had bought a Summicron 28. <p> Since, then, hapiness, better photography, more fun, no more questionning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay8 Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 When I was about 13, an elderly friend of my father's with no family of his own, left me his Leicas: IIIa, IIIfBD, 35/3.5 Summaron, 50/3.5 Elmar (late coated), 50/2 Collapsible Summicron, 90/4 Elmar (late) and 135/4.5 Hektor(late). I still have them, they were CLA'd about 4 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamw Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 More or less the same story as Stephane above. Had a full kit of EOS cameras and primes/zooms. Tried a friend's Leica back in August 2001 and really liked it. Easy to handle/ carry/ etc. However it took me until end of October before I found a nice 2nd hand model. Bought it the same day with a 50 mm. One month later I sold the complete EOS kit and got myself a 35 mm & 90 mm. Also got a small bag et voilà! <p> No regrets, only pleasure eventhough it's just a camera in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_j._hanlon Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 When I was 13 I borrowed my parents Kodak Duaflex and with some help from my uncle, started shooting and developing. Got hooked and at 15 had saved enough to buy a Minolta A2 (second hand) from the shop of B. Hoferichter (Lakeshore, Toronto). When it finally broke the next year, I purchased my first "new" camera a Zorki 4. Within the next year, I had actually managed to sell some photos, and purchased an enlarger timer and my first Leica, a used M3 for $265 (also from Mr. Hoferichter's shop). It had a dual range Summicron complete with the "eyes" and was my constant companion until the year I turned 26 and purchased a brand new M4-P.The year was 1982 and is memorable for me as it was the year I got married. To my great joy, both my marriage and the camera have stood well the test of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_fleetwood Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 A $50 summitar that I used on a Canon 7. The Canon 7 with 35/1.5 was my first RF (still have and use both, and the summitar). My first Leica camera was a IIIf - Nikkor 28/3.5 - Leitz 28 BL finder, purchased from Mr. Chris Williams, of this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donald_maldonado Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 I became interested in photography about 30+ years ago when I took my hard-earned cash, about $25.00, and purchased my first camera; a brand new Minolta rangefinder. That camera served me well for over 10 years until getting into SLRs and buying a Fuji 35 mm. It was not until the late 80�s that I gave up the Fuji and devoted my interests to the Nikon line with a FE2, great camera. Since that time, I have gone the way of MF with Hasselblad, Noblex, then again to 35 mm with the heavy F5 and all the AF-S lenses. About 3 years ago, I opted for the Leica M system and have never regretted my decision. The optics are superb and the kit is quite light in comparison to the MF/F5 systems which served me well for many years. I never really became comfortable with the F5 and all it�s automation. <p> I, for one, will most likely embrace the digital revolution but only when I can continue to use my Leica lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godfrey Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 My father had a Leica, my grandfather had a Leica. In 1969 I bought two (a IIf and a IIc, with lenses) because they were cheap ($100 for both), old, beat up and cheap; I wanted another camera to use besides my Nikon F. And because my father and grandfather had one. That's about it really. I have one now because I like it and it takes good pictures. <p> Godfrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godfrey Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 BTW, in 1969 I was 15. I'd had my Nikon for about a year at that point. I paid for all my cameras myself although my uncle helped out by getting me a good price for the Nikon. <p> Godfrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reinier_de_vlaam Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Once upon a time, long, long ago I had a praktica so that was my first camera. Then I moved to Minolta X700 with 35-70 and 80-200 and I loved it. It has been from -27C to +35C, from sea level to 6960mtr and dropped from 2mtrs high on concrete and always worked. I even recently added a 50m/1.4 to it. Just after that I could get my hands on an R4s with 50/2 for a very pleasant price. I loved the pictures from it at first sight. I shot a role with the Leica (50 at f2 and f8) and the minolta (also 50 at f2 and f8) of the same subjects and settings and there was a realy clear difference in contrast, sharpness and distortion of the pictures. So I added an elmarit 35 and 135 and telyt 250 to it and it is now my primairy set. I still use the Minolta with the 50/1.4 for very low light conditions (street fotography at night). <p> Reinier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_chen Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Allen, <p> You've only been a pest since 13? Sorry, couldn't resist 8^). I've always been a pest, but not until you dis' me first. <p> I won't go into my history w/cameras since 10 years old (mainly Nikon), but with my photography, which I'm still learning with some of your help. <p> My uncle used/uses(?) Leicas among Canon and Hassy. He did weddings among other events on the side - main line was cancer research. He and his family traveled all over the world and USA and sometimes I went along. Travel photography for him is to document the family (poses). It's completely different from my style of photography when I travel. <p> Anyway, I got my First Leica (M3 + 50 'lux) shortly after I got a real engineering job that paid real money. I didn't really start to improve my results and good/bad ratio until a few years later (M learning curve). <p> BTW, following a past thread: I keep ALL of my pic's; even the bad ones. Even the tossed accidents (darn, hit the button) have a blank spot telling me one is missing in the file. Talk about anal. <p> So, here I stand M in hand...happily addicted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Herbert Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Forgive my warped sense of humour Chris,yes i have always been a pest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony_brookes5 Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 I borrowed my first Leica in 1981 - before subsequently buying it. My first film was a disaster - I didn't know I had to pull out the Summar lens ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_chen Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Marc, <p> I went to a U of M too. What was yours? Mine was Michigan. Go Blue! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay_. Posted March 28, 2002 Share Posted March 28, 2002 Well as long as you're still willing to admit being a Wolverine after last season...I bought my M4 second-hand from Quarry Photo on State St. next door to Follett's, across from the LSA building, back in '74 when I was a sophomore. Don't think either store is there anymore, but some say I am still just as sophomoric:>) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike dixon Posted March 29, 2002 Share Posted March 29, 2002 Nope, those stores were gone when I was in grad school there in the early- and mid-90s. There was a decent pro shop further down State a few blocks past Stadium (I lived on White St. at Stadium--we paid for our parties by selling parking in the yard for home games). <p> I prefer not to think about the bowl game again UT-Knoxville . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alfie wang Posted March 30, 2002 Share Posted March 30, 2002 My first leica was a Leicaflex :) Mark 2 Alfie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_kelly1 Posted March 30, 2002 Share Posted March 30, 2002 Jeeze....before allthese Ann Arbor guys break into a chorus of Hail to the Victor Valiant: I bought my first Leica when I was a very junior english instructor at Northwestern, the league doormat, in 1968. That was a bad year to try to teach college kids; but there were interesting things to photograph on the streets of Chicago. I quickly discovered that the Nikon F I had purchased after seeing the film "Blow up" was too slow to focus. You could easily lose the shot, or a Chicago cop could wail on you with his nightstick (they were testy that year). I went to one of the big camera stores in the Loop, Helix or Central (my memories of 1968 have big gaps) and paid $275 for a double stroke glass pressure plate M3 with collapsible Summicron. The problem with speed went away, though my lack of visual talent remained. Then I married a beautiful art historian. I stupidly sold the M3 at a loss to get a 300 for the Nikon so she could document the sculptural programs of various cathedrals. Of course there were always better slides than we could make, taken by local photographers usinmg scaffolding, for sale at the cathedral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george_b1 Posted March 30, 2002 Share Posted March 30, 2002 My first Leica was a IIIc that I obtained in Germany in 1945. That lasted until we were able to buy a used M4 in 1973. My wife is just as much into Leica photography as I am. We added a 35 chron and a 90TE, then we bought an early M6. We have an M7 on order from Rich Pinto - - - that means I will no longer have to beg my wife for permission to use the M6 < grin > - - - or, maybe she will take possession of the M7 and leave me with the M6. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_chen Posted March 30, 2002 Share Posted March 30, 2002 Mike, <p> Did you shoot any of the pretty ladies at UM? <p> For the rest of you, it's a trick question...there aren't any...they all go to MSU...just kidding 8^)= <p> The parties are better at state too. <p> Kinda like A&M vs. Texas (accepted to these, but $$$ for out of state). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now