For M8/8.2/9 owners

[Ron (Netherlands)]

When I got the M8.2 (chromium) most people that commented said it was the best camera once made for film

[Paul Luscher]

While using an M3 years ago, I was once told by one character who noticed I was using a rangefinder, that I would take better pictures if I stopped using "that old piece of s**t"....

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by photomoof

You have had bad experiences with the type of women attracted by cameras?

No experience... because I'm usually too shy to capitalize. It's probably happened a grand total of 10 times in 2 years (in which woman comment on my Leica or Fuji). I guess my point is that if you want women who are attracted more to your belongings than you, you might as well get a fancy watch or car or fancy clothing... something they know is worth crazy loot.

[tom.w.bn]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

No experience... because I'm usually too shy to capitalize. It's probably happened a grand total of 10 times in 2 years (in which woman comment on my Leica or Fuji). I guess my point is that if you want women who are attracted more to your belongings than you, you might as well get a fancy watch or car or fancy clothing... something they know is worth crazy loot.

If you want this, invest in a Porsche and/or a cosmetic surgeon

[Jobin]

A 70 year-old woman commented on my m6, "that's a nice camera." Iv had many comments on my x100 as well as m6. When I had my m8 many asked why I was using a film camera. Peeves me when "professional" photographers laugh at me for using film.

[Richard G]

I get many more comments about my chrome M5 than my other Leicas. People are impressed by that brutalist masterpiece. All but one of the comments regarding the chrome M9-P have been from young women, already interested in film photogrpahy. I think one person to whom I showed the darkened LCD screen thought I was trying to have a lend of them as the conversation stopped suddenly at that point. Recently, when I was carrying the M9-P in one hand, strap around the wrist, a woman in her 50s kept stride with me and asked me what it was. "Aaaah! The M9." She is a professional photographer. Clearly she hadn't been sure it was an M9, and clearly she wanted one. She turned away from me to reveal her backpack. "That's my D3 in there." She's a professional photographer, a tiny woman, and she just cannot keep lugging that heavy rig. I let her hold it - it's not that light, and I extolled the virtues of the D3. But I think she was won over, if not before she saw it.

In the same part of the city I saw someone with an X100 last year. My first thought was 'Leica'. It took seconds for me to decipher the face of that camera and recognize it as the same as my own X100.

My M9-P then passes for an M2 in the eyes of almost everyone. But contrary to JSR's contention above, carrying an old film camera or look alike is almost as good as walking a dog for starting a conversation.

[furcafe]

In my experience, Leicas (& film cameras in general), mostly attract attention from middle-aged to elderly men. I've had guys literally stare for several minutes before working up the courage to engage in conversation. Since I carry my cameras on a strap "bandolier" style, this often results in them staring @ my chest. I find this phenomenon so predictable, & creepy, that I joke that I now know what large-breasted women feel like. Yo, eyes up here!

I was down in Miami to check out Art Basel & mentioned this to some non-photographer friends during drinks. They laughed, but thought I was exaggerating. Later on, though, as were all standing on the street waiting for the valet to bring their car up, 3 middle-aged European (German, I think) guys walking by suddenly stopped in their tracks, stared @ my Leica & talked amongst themselves for a good 30 seconds, & then 1 of them asked "Is that an M9?"

I'm putting this out there since this could be useful information for straight gals & gay dudes looking for a photo sugar daddy.

Originally Posted by jsrockit

No experience... because I'm usually too shy to capitalize. It's probably happened a grand total of 10 times in 2 years (in which woman comment on my Leica or Fuji). I guess my point is that if you want women who are attracted more to your belongings than you, you might as well get a fancy watch or car or fancy clothing... something they know is worth crazy loot.

[Bob Michaels]

Originally Posted by photomoof

You have had bad experiences with the type of women attracted by cameras?

I notice they are either old, fat or ugly. Sometimes two. Sometimes all three attributes.

Oh wait! I just realized it is the same when I am not carrying a camera.

[kbg32]

Years ago I was walking down a street with my black Contax G2 in hand. I passed a homeless man sitting against a wall who kept yelling "Leica! Leica!" as I walked by.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by tom.w.bn

If you want this, invest in a Porsche and/or a cosmetic surgeon

I didn't say I want that... I was saying that it is silly to buy a camera in order to get "chicks."

[efix]

The only two times people perceived my M8 as a Leica, it were both elderly gentlemen who obviously knew what a Leica was. Only one of them, however, realized it was digital -- himself being a Sony a33 user, so pretty up to date.

In that sense, there isn't really ever any chance to "show off" -- besides the fact that this is the last thing I desire to do with my M8 ...

[semrich]

I've been asked by two young men while on the ferry if my M8 was an "antique camera."

[Paul Jenkin]

I don't have a digital Leica (I have an M6TTL and an M4-P). Strangely, I get the polar opposite reaction insofar as I have had pople asking to have a look at photos I've taken immediately after hitting the shutter.

On the few occasions it's happened, the would-be viewers seem very surprised that I still use film. At that point I make my excuses and leave as I cannot understand digi-crusaders, despite enjopying using my own digita cameras from time to time.

[Richard G]

The X100 is the spoiler. I have had friends and colleagues who know of my old film cameras check themselves after asking for flash or asking to see the image immediately, only to be completely bamboozled by the on-board flash going off and me leaning across to show them the image.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by Richard G

The X100 is the spoiler. I have had friends and colleagues who know of my old film cameras check themselves after asking for flash or asking to see the image immediately, only to be completely bamboozled by the on-board flash going off and me leaning across to show them the image.

Ah, I love a good bamboozling. I'm going to steal this move.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

I didn't say I want that... I was saying that it is silly to buy a camera in order to get "chicks."

Depends on the chicks you're chasing, and where you are.

If I were 20 years old again; at art school; and as unscrupulous as the average 20-year-old male, I think I'd choose quite carefully which camera pulled the largest number of attractive young ladies. Different cameras certainly used to differ in pulling power, and I imagine they still do.

In all probability, too, they attract different kinds of girls. I think I'd almost certainly prefer the ones who wanted something a bit out of the ordinary (no DSLRs, therefore) and who fancied young men who clearly knew how to use what they had...

My wife says that if she were 20, and studying theatre at USC again, she'd feel much the same way. At that age, any advantage you can get is welcome when it comes to spotting attractive companions. It's what you do with it afterwards (whether you're a decent human being or not) that matters.

Cheers,

R.

[jsrockit]

True Roger, but the M6 I used in Art school didn't get me any women. I guess even a Leica cannot polish this turd.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Originally Posted by tjh

I was at a wedding with my M9 last weekend and was asked, "Where do you get film these days?".

Seven years ago, I had an M6 at work, and a guy looked at it, and said: "Very nice! How many megapixels?"

Then I had my first taste of "film vs. digital" when somebody at a wedding went on and on just how digital was not the same, and then at another party somebody went on and on about how film was stupid.

I'm not mocking. I just find it curious how we all make assumptions and move forward as if we're right from the get-go.

[Roger Hicks]

Originally Posted by jsrockit

True Roger, but the M6 I used in Art school didn't get me any women. I guess even a Leica cannot polish this turd.

No, no, dear boy: you went to the wrong art school!

Cheers,

R.

[dreamsandart]

In the two years I've had the M9 I've had exactly one person comment on it and recognize it for what it was, and that was a woman that was part of a national television crew that was doing a special on a temple here in Kyoto I was visiting.

I can't say I've even gotten a sideways glace that I've noticed.

Now when my black paint M4 was my usual knock around camera I'd have people in the know raving to their girlfriend's and pointing telling them what it was.

In general Japanese a fairly well educated about cameras. So I don't know.