The Marks of a Leica That Has Not Been Used as a Fashion Accessory

I love the graphics he made pointing out all the identifying features. Now that's a working camera.

PF
 
I hereby give notice that I am commencing the Society for the prevention of cruelty to Leicas. Membership sought within.

Seriously while there are people who are happy to have their camera look like this (and some wannabes who artifically age them so they can "look like a PJ") I am just too fussy. OK if I was a front line war reporter - perhaps thats another story. I cannot conceive why anyone who was not something like a war reporter or in another line where equipment naturally takes a beating would treat their gear so roughly. Some marks and badges of honour, sure - that happens but this camera looks as if its done 20 minute round in a cement mixer with half a ton of course gravel.

For example can you imagine car enthusiasts (including racing pros) who deliberately mistreat their cars? I cannot. So I kinda think its what we in Australia would call a "bit of a w#nk" for a photographer to say - "Oh yeh, its only equipment, I am not interested in that, its the pictures that are important to me." I am sure other countries understadn what I mean.
 
It's somewhat disappointing to see a camera in such poor shape. I'm sure many photographers have worn through paint, chrome, scratches and dings, but this one looks seriously neglected, not just "field" worn. How does one crack the rear viewfinder glass?

Rather than a fashion accessory he might have also used it as a makeshift hammer, doorstop, chew toy. Used to murder fascists by blunt force trauma perhaps?


I can almost picture it being swung at riot police shields!
 
Nice to see someone who actually uses their camera. I was frankly relieved after I gave my M its first scratches!
 
Peterm1, I do understand what you mean.
I've had camera gear for over 30 years. My first camera, a Nikon F3, still looks and works like new. I've had it maintained by Nikon when it needed it. It cost me a lot of 1983 money in order to save up for that camera. I can't imagine the need to beat such an expensive item up. Leicas are even more expensive than the typical Nikon. As you say, would you trash your car up just because you're in a hurry?

Yes, I've taken thousands of photographs, in all kinds of weather. But, my camera still looks and acts like new.
 
That's a sweet looking camera, Years ago I used to love new looking gear but now
my two Nikon Rangefinders have their share of wear marks and I love them more.

Range
 
I had Nikon F's and F3's that looked a lot worse back in the day. We usually carried two or three cameras with different prime lenses and film in them around our necks. They banged together constantly, were set down on whatever surface was available - often gravel, concrete, dirt...you name it. In the 1970's and 80's, I put over 100 rolls a week through my cameras. The finishes wore off. They got beat up.

Seriously, cameras are tools of the trade. You used them like any other tool, and serviced them when they broke. When unrepairable, you threw them in the trash and pulled a new one out of the box. They are expendable.
 
I scratched the hell out of my mint condition, new to me, M4 back in 2004 after I overwound the winder and stripped the main winding shaft when I fell on the camera during a 122mm rocket attack in Fallujah, Iraq. Took a set of sharp channel locks, jeweler's screwdrivers, pliers, and my Swiss Army knife to the camera to get it apart and fix it. I still have the camera and it works fantastically. I never babied it but I never abused it either. I treated it like the durable tool that it is and it has never let me down.

Phil Forrest
 
Pickett Wilson said:
If you are constantly thinking about keeping your camera pristine when you are out shooting, you are thinking about the wrong thing.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Worrying about the state of the camera will always get in the way of getting the shot. It'll cause hesitation and doubt in the ability of both the camera and one's ability. Especially where you shoot, Pickett! (I'm talking about your fantastic rodeo work.) The camera needs to be a seamless tool in one's work, like a part of your hand. Too much thinking and we all might as well be just fondling our gear instead of actually making images.

Phil Forrest
 
It would have more deserving of applause if the photographer had not aggrandized the heavy use as some sort of badge of courage. In a way he IS using the camera as an accessory of sorts.
 
I've dropped lenses in the ocean from the crows nest of a tall masted ship, smashed an F4s on a concrete pad during a "hard" helicopter landing, landed on top of them after being pushed down during Vietnam war protests on college campuses, and shot the shutters completely out of some of them.

It is amazing we survived our misspent youth. Many cameras didn't. :)
 
peterm1 said:
[ Some marks and badges of honour, sure - that happens but this camera looks as if its done 20 minute round in a cement mixer with half a ton of course gravel.
Click to expand...

It looks more like a camera that's seen and captured 20 years worth of experiences to me. Wait, that is what it is! There's a difference between taking sandpaper to a camera and chucking it down a set of stairs and just using it to do the job it was made to do over a long period of time.
 
Pickett Wilson explains well the effects of wearing two cameras and working with them day in day out. But this Leica is something else. I believe some people collect Leicas and store them still in the transparent wrap. I can't believe there is anyone who uses Leica as jewellery. That sounds like an anti-dentist ranter's line to me. My M2 looks as good as the day I got it in 1977 but it's been well used. I use my M9 every day and since I hate keeping that plastic on the baseplate there are a few marks there from resting the camera on things and deflowering the tripod bush, but it will never look like the user M6 here.
 
I like Winogrand's cameras. You can see where the man's hands literally wore the finish from the cameras. Man, that is hard core. That is special.
 
It's good to take care of your equipment, but remember the old saying. [Expletive deleted] happens! Take care of your gear, but don't cry over it when it is no longer pristine. They are tools meant to be used. I was told by a clerk and Bass Pro Shop that cane fly rods should be kept safe as collectors items. What a maroon. They are meant to catch fish. LOL.
 
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