View Full Version : Amazing -- People recognize LTM Leicas
I just returned from two weeks at Lake Tahoe. I took my Leica IIIC. I was stopped a number of times by complete strangers, on the street, on the trail, in stores, who recongized my Leica, wanted to see see it close up, etc. Many of these were comparatively young (I'm 67). I found this amazing -- and somewhat gratifying. When I carry my digital SLR or my Nikon F5, I never have anyone look twice.
Dave
coelacanth
08-04-2009, 21:28
I see similar things happening to me very often. When I use TLR, Leica, Rollei 35 and other film cams, people talk to me asking questions, telling me their film days, thinking that's a new line of digital camera (lol), etc.
Same thing with motorcycle. When we go for a ride, none of my mates riding sports bikes get any comments good or bad, but people of all ages, types and gender talk to me when they see me riding a Triumph Bonneville. ;)
Al Kaplan
08-04-2009, 21:30
You should try carrying a Rolleiflex or Minolta Autocord! One day last winter just for grins I went to my neighhborhood Starbucks with a 4x5 Speed Graphic with a big side mount flash unit sporting a 7 inch reflector and put it on the table next to my coffee. Everybody had seen one in the movies but never in real life.
It does one thing a Leica doesn't: You can open the shutter and show people the upside down picture on the "LCD"...LOL
I had it happen a couple of times here in Japan, too. As Al mentioned, carrying a Rolleiflex is a warranty that a least one stranger will start a conversation about old cameras, the screw-mount Leicas come second (I have an IIIf) and third the M2, M3, M4 especially when a lens with googles is mounted.
Same thing in Helsinki, Finland. I don't have Leica but a TLR (Rollie/Yashi etc.) is surely noticed and people come to talk. First thing they ask is "can you still buy film for that thing?".
David Murphy
08-04-2009, 22:33
I've gotten positive attention with vintage 35mm rangefinders in Hong Kong and surprising interest in Carmel, California (a place that sports a pretty upscale crowd).
Chris101
08-04-2009, 22:56
... When I carry my digital SLR or my Nikon F5, I never have anyone look twice.Well, an F5 LOOKS like a DSLR, and everybody has one of those these days.
Alex Krasotkin
08-04-2009, 23:10
It happens with my Rolleiflex all the time.:)
Yeah, the Rolleiflex has something catchy to it, but if I take my Tachi 4x5 to the city - people just can't stop wondering. Now if I had something like 7x17" ...
" .. can you still get film for that camera? ... that is a HUGE LCD ... " :)
vdonovan
08-04-2009, 23:43
My Leica IIIC was a total chick magnet. New magnet: folding Polaroid camera loaded up with some Fuji 3000B.
Austerby
08-05-2009, 00:14
I took my M3 to a wedding recently and spent a lot of time fielding questions about it - people thought it was really interesting. They were also very interested and complementary about the photo's I took that day when I shared them. They recognise that whilst it may not be for them, these old cameras can be used to depict a different view of the world from the modern kit.
elshaneo
08-05-2009, 00:18
Yeah me too, I always get stopped on the streets with compliments on my Leica IIIf RD ST, everybody's surprised especially when I tell that it was made in the 1950s ;-)
Ronald_H
08-05-2009, 00:31
Don't have a screw mount (although I think they are beautiful) but the Yashica Mat 124 draws a LOT of attention and I get frequent comments on my Leica too, even if people don't know or even understand what it is.
I had the same thing happen with a Vito B, when a guy stopped abruptly, smiled and told me his father used the same camera when he was a teen.
urban_alchemist
08-05-2009, 01:38
My Leica seems to get alot of attention in London, whilst in Israel, the PenFT seems to be the camera most people want to fondle.
It's the Hasselblad that gets universal interest though... everyone's seen them on TV/in the movies and just want to see one up-close...
urban_alchemist
08-05-2009, 01:40
My Leica IIIC was a total chick magnet. New magnet: folding Polaroid camera loaded up with some Fuji 3000B.
Oooh... now this is interesting - do the new Fuji Instant films just slot right in to old Polaroids? If so, I feel an uncontrollable eBay urge coming...
Is there a colour film too?
hans voralberg
08-05-2009, 01:54
Oooh... now this is interesting - do the new Fuji Instant films just slot right in to old Polaroids? If so, I feel an uncontrollable eBay urge coming...
Is there a colour film too?
Usable with any Polaroid camera that take peel-apart film. Fuji have colour ISO 100, BW ISO 100 and 3000. They also have the same range in 4x5 instant film.
I use the Mamiya Universal Press with Polaroid back, very nice set up, but a bit heavy. A member here is also selling a Pathfinder A converted to take instant peel-apart which looks absolutely gorgeous.
urban_alchemist
08-05-2009, 02:00
Usable with any Polaroid camera that take peel-apart film. Fuji have colour ISO 100, BW ISO 100 and 3000. They also have the same range in 4x5 instant film.
I use the Mamiya Universal Press with Polaroid back, very nice set up, but a bit heavy. A member here is also selling a Pathfinder A converted to take instant peel-apart which looks absolutely gorgeous.
Well, you just tipped me over the edge... thanks! I now have a Polaplus back for my Hassie winging its way to me via eBay... Is the B&W rated at 3,000?
Pickett Wilson
08-05-2009, 02:08
My RB67 with the Proshade hanging off the front gets a lot of attention...mainly looks of pity, though. ;)
I have to say that the IIIc or IIIf does attract more attention than the M6 for me. Although none of the older cameras have ever worked as a chick magnet.
hans voralberg
08-05-2009, 02:12
Well, you just tipped me over the edge... thanks! I now have a Polaplus back for my Hassie winging its way to me via eBay... Is the B&W rated at 3,000?
Yes, see here for sample http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=Fuji+FP-3000&m=text
Back on topic: I also manage to attract attention with my M3 and IIIf, lots of old people reminiscing their Leica past.
martin s
08-05-2009, 02:16
Nothing with neither the Hasselblad nor the Leica hanging from my shoulder. I might scare people, actually, not sure how, though.
Ah well.
martin
Sonny Boy Havidson
08-05-2009, 02:24
I do not get much interest when I shot with my III f but my TLR have much comments (expecially in Germany). But I use the Barnack because of their non-obtrusive aspect so...
Mr_Flibble
08-05-2009, 03:11
The only chicks my cameras attract are those that are married, engaged or so far out of my age-group that it never leads to more then a pleasant conversation about the camera in question, being my Leica IIIc, Speed Graphic or Pilot-6. ;)
Hmmm...I wonder if I'd be able to prompt a conversation with this...
http://www.pbase.com/marke/image/109090851/original.jpg
urban_alchemist
08-05-2009, 04:07
Hmmm...I wonder if I'd be able to prompt a conversation with this...
http://www.pbase.com/marke/image/109090851/original.jpg
Where's the smiley for "DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL"?!?!?
I've gotten positive attention with vintage 35mm rangefinders in Hong Kong and surprising interest in Carmel, California (a place that sports a pretty upscale crowd).
Well, Ansel and Weston DID live in Carmel!
Luddite Frank
08-05-2009, 11:54
I was on a steam excursion to historic Jim Thorpe (formerly Mauch Chunck), Pennsylvania last summer, and was strolling the main street of that quaint little town with my black Leica F (black III, 1933), with 50mm Summar.
It wasn't long before one 30-something chap with trendy glasses and a DSLR stopped, looked straight at my torso, elbowed his friend, started pointing at me, and talking very excitedly... as I passed, I stopped and said - "Yes, it's a screw-mount Leica"... :D
The onlooker asked the year, etc , and I know the sighting made his day.
I've caused similar disturbances with my Zeiss 9x12 plate camera, 4x5 brass-bound Premo, 1955 Exakta VX-II, and even my Spotmatic SP-500...
My favorite question is: "Can you still get film for that?", especially when I'm lugging a 35mm camera... :cool:
The best part (for me), is that I'm just out there taking pictures...
:)
Luddite Frank
...and surprising interest in Carmel, California (a place that sports a pretty upscale crowd).
there's a fairly well-known Leica camera shop (Camera West) in neighboring Monterey, so it's probably not that surprising. And of course there's an older (as you say) upscale crowd there, so what better place is there for luxury items? :)
/
last remark from a cousin of my wife at a wedding, when seing me winding my M2:
"Hey, wha..what..what did you just do with your thumb???"
the day after she saw me winding my IIIf and almost fainted...
last remark from a cousin of my wife at a wedding, when seing me winding my M2:
"Hey, wha..what..what did you just do with your thumb???"
the day after she saw me winding my IIIf and almost fainted...
Hahaha now THAT is funny
Vince Lupo
08-05-2009, 14:01
I've found vintage cameras to be a great ice-breaker, particularly on vacation in an unfamiliar country. I'd like to think that I've even gotten better treatment in stores/restaurants/etc while on vacation and my Leica around my neck. Seems to work really well in Europe!
We're going to Vienna this winter, and I plan on bringing my Leica I C Standard, and my Zeiss Contaflex TLR, so that oughtta freak 'em out!
BillBingham2
08-05-2009, 14:18
I get looks have a 28mm CV Black Metal Bright Line on the top of my GR-D I!
B2 (;->
shadowfox
08-05-2009, 14:22
Last year in Arkansas, I saw a lady taking picture of her two boys at the lake side with a ... Yashica Mat 124. I just had to ask her, why? and she answered,
"because this is what my dad took pictures of me with, and it's still working." with a big smile. We bonded for about five minutes talking about old cameras, she never heard of Contax 137 MA I had at that time.
This year in Cape Cod, I was minding my own business taking pictures of the lighthouse with my Super Ricohflex (a cheap TLR for those of you who are not bottom-feeders like me). Came two mountain bikers who were saying to each other...
guy A: "Is that one of those..."
guy B: "Yeah, that's a Rolleiflex"
I felt the urge to yell something as they sped by to correct them, but oh well... at least they don't think I lost a screw or something.
Mephiloco
08-05-2009, 15:02
This past weekend I went to the Satchmo Summerfest (Music Festival for Louis Armstrong's bday) and brought my Canonet (m2 is in the shop) and was caught off guard while watching a brass band. This older black guy who had been getting down during the show sat next to me and saw my camera and said 'Rangefinder?' which I confirmed. 'Meter?' to which I replied 'maybe'. He patted me on the shoulder and went back to dancing.
I forget the canonet was really popular in its day
It happens to me occasionally. Seems to happen more with a IIIc than with an M6 or MP, but those get some attention too. I was shooting on the sidewalk outside Starbucks (what is it about Starbucks, Al?) in Clayton Missouri, when a fellow recognized my IIIc. More recently, a frenchman in a supermarche in Auxerre, France, pointed to my IIIc and said, "Tres Bien!"
One fellow who saw me shooting with an MP, thought Leica had been out of business for years. I told him this was the current model.
I did a little street photography with my Rollei, and someone called it an "Old box camera." Hmmpf.
eric mac
08-13-2009, 19:06
Took the M6 on the family vacation to San Francisco. A lot of street vendors and small camera shop stalls. I did spy one shop that some Tri-x in the film bin.
Anyway one street vendor saw what I was carrying and mentioned he didn't see too many of those around. I turned to look at his wares and noticed he was a photographer. He was loading up for the day, so we just smiled and went on our way. The second guy saw the camera and said Ohh, M-8? I smiled turned the camera to show him the back where the lcd screen wasn't and said Sorry, M6. I think he was a little disappointed.
Oh yeah, the M6 framelines got stuck and forced me shoot most of the vacation with the 35 summicron, but that is another story. The camera is with DAG right now (I hope).
Eric
Great anecdotes :)
I've never had anyone say anything about my M6, except a guy I stopped because I noticed him shooting with a kiev & jupiter lens, we had a good chat.
charjohncarter
08-13-2009, 20:15
Leica IIIs, Rolleiflexes: chick magnets??
Al Kaplan
08-13-2009, 20:26
Rob-F, not all Starbucks are cut from the same cloth. I go to one that's maybe 0.5km from my house on a main intersection, plenty of parking. It's within 3 or 4 km of four university campuses and under 3km from Interstate 95. Easy to get to, easy to find. Lots of co-eds to chat with. The toy monkey is the chick magnet.
Yes, the whole Vienna will come in procession.
I've found vintage cameras to be a great ice-breaker, particularly on vacation in an unfamiliar country. I'd like to think that I've even gotten better treatment in stores/restaurants/etc while on vacation and my Leica around my neck. Seems to work really well in Europe!
We're going to Vienna this winter, and I plan on bringing my Leica I C Standard, and my Zeiss Contaflex TLR, so that oughtta freak 'em out!
David Hughes
08-14-2009, 01:01
I love it when they stand there speechless with their mouths open and that am-I-dreaming look. The Zorki 2C (high top version of the 1) really gets them.
Regards, David
Time Freeze
08-14-2009, 11:47
When I use my IIIf or my Rolleiflex in NYC I always get a few comments. I was using my IIIf this week in Toronto and did not get any comments at all.
On another humerous note, I was in an antique mall ( one with many dealers) and someone had a Yashica TLR for sale with a tag that read "vintage movie camera" :D. Unfortunately the camera was way over priced.
bean_counter
08-14-2009, 13:21
At Ellis Island a couple of years ago, I had somebody ask if the VIOOH finder on my IIIf was new cutting-edge digital technology. :rolleyes:
This summer, I was standing next to and slightly behind a pro photog at an event; he heard the TAK-PLAK of my IIIf going off, and he nearly gave himself whiplash spinning around to see who was shooting a Barnack. He said he used to have one, and regretted selling it.
It seems my M is only noticed by wanna-be gear geeks and pros wondering why I'm there with an M.
Vince Lupo
08-15-2009, 03:15
Yes, the whole Vienna will come in procession.
With trumpets and banners? Key to the city? Bronze statues in our honour?
I certainly hope so, as that's what they did for us in Paris.
agricola
08-15-2009, 04:03
Anything German seems to work ... wish I could work it out. Maybe things get even better with a III?
...Anyway one street vendor saw what I was carrying and mentioned he didn't see too many of those around. I turned to look at his wares and noticed he was a photographer. He was loading up for the day, so we just smiled and went on our way. The second guy saw the camera and said Ohh, M-8? I smiled turned the camera to show him the back where the lcd screen wasn't and said Sorry, M6. I think he was a little disappointed...
Eric
You could just tell him that it's better than the M8; it's a full-frame rangefinder!!
~Joe
Spider67
08-15-2009, 11:56
Hmmm...I wonder if I'd be able to prompt a conversation with this...
http://www.pbase.com/marke/image/109090851/original.jpg
probable reaction: "as an expert for time travel what do you think......."
Graybeard
08-15-2009, 13:17
The only chicks my cameras attract are those that are married, engaged or so far out of my age-group that it never leads to more then a pleasant conversation about the camera in question, being my Leica IIIc, Speed Graphic or Pilot-6. ;)
The chicks that comment on my Barnack Leicas are, unhappily, in my age group and also gray.
It's my Tachihara that seems to draw the 20 somethings. Also some really rough looking characters when I've been down near a waterfront or on a pier. After everyone, chicks or stevedores, has taken me up on my offer to peer through the groundglass with the darkcloth over their head we're all friends.
In Europe, my Rolleiflex seems to draw Germans.
Mr_Flibble
08-16-2009, 21:59
Several people commented on my "old leica" and my Kodak Medalist this last weekend, mainly photographers and collectors, but they didn't know what to make of my R-D1.
Saw some members of the public out and about with some classic SLRs and one with a Rolleiflex too.
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