Interesting thread on photomalaysia forum about Leica!!!

[rosewood1969]

hi guys,
was just shooting the breeze and came across this post in photomalaysia forum.

http://www.photomalaysia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59892:bigeyes:

 

[raytoei]

Hi,

less to do with camera and more to the state of mind.

This is similar, in my opinion to this question:

"Why shoot B&W, why not just convert from color to b&w in photo editor ?"

Many website talk about the virtues of shooting color then converting to B&W.
The key benefits are:
* flexibility
* allows for adding in filters when converting
* more details

But the no.1 counter-point to this argument is
that shooting only in b&w keeps things simple,
the shooter is forced to think about composition
and the subject on hand and not worry
about color.

I think this statement: "this dslr is so powerful and versatile, i hardly use it anymore" is very true. No ?

 

[artspraken]

Short answer: less is more.

This video talks about M9, but all of it is applicable to RF in general. It explains why the simplicity of RF makes people prefer it to the complicated, bloated DSLRS.

Simple answer from John Rickard: RF camera = simple = fewer distractions = get deep into photography.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZtj1o9oy4c&feature=player_embedded#at=88

As regards B&W, that is because B&W photography does not distract the eye with color, and the composition becomes more pronounced. Its more a question of narrowing down your priorities. If my objective and subject matter involves color scheme, then i would shoot in color. But most of my photography is composition related. So I favour B&W because B&W is less distracting and makes the eye look at composition.

 

[Thedraperyfalls]

This is interesting.
All points mentioned so far are great, if somebody who's into form and geometry, BW would naturally be his choice.
And sometimes colour can really be distracting as well.
Or simply because that it's easier to develop your own BW negatives.

Here's my two cents' worth -
If you think about it, photography hasn't been around for that long.
And colour photography, even lesser.
To be exact, the first successful color process was introduced by the Lumière brothers in 1907.
Kodachrome, the first modern color film came about only in 1935.

So since the camera obscura in 1826 until 1935, what people associate photography with is the black and white image.
As such, even in modern times, BW photography inspire within people a sense of 'history' and 'authenticity'.
Simply because they associate it with the origins of photography -
or what they perceive, consciously or subconsciously, true or 'pure' photography.
It just appears and appeals to them as being more stately and regal.

And it so happens that the by-line of Leica, or film photography is -
you guessed it - history, heritage, purity, analogue, authenticity.
The list goes on.

 

[Dslrman]

Its about the feeling of personal self-gratification and living the dream from owning the object of desire (in this case, for example, the camera) that associates with a legacy of certain historical events and then lastly, to be metaphorically merged with yourself with object of desire to achieve the ultimate personal being of excellence.

People wants to have certain things that is special so that they can feel special. Camera ownership is not difference amongst other things.

Personally I feel special and like a million buck toting my Soviet FSU rangefinders around. It got very dim view-finder, it got no electronic metering and no electronic parts for that matter, it got un-precise focusing rangefinder, it got some specks of dust and many hair-line scratches on the lens, it got inaccurate shutter-speed settings, etc. But this is what makes it so special!!

To me, seeing all those digital or flim cameras and the likes people are carrying seems like standard SAF standard issues is not special.

To me, special-ness does not mean excellent or perfect. In this world nothing is perfect. Even pure gold no body dare to guaranteed 100%.

What is the use of owning a percieved perfect camera with rich history behind and the owner still shoots the same old crappy photos after 5 years of owning it??

For me, I own many very imperfect cameras, always shoot new (but crappy) photos. But I feel really special and enjoying it very much.