I have a simple question after skimming through the LHSA catalog of goodies which are listed for the members. Why do people have a 100 Leica bodies. Obviously I doubt that they use all of them so I really do think that it is utterly a matter of the collector's itch.

Sadly I've caught a bad habit from them. Already stuck with 8 camera bodies ranging from two Voigtlanders, three Leicas, 2 Nikons (which are only my shelf decorations), 1 Canon for my friends to borrow, and eventually 1 Contax body for architectural photography. Somehow I can't always justify that I have lots of cameras for backup because they aren't all compatible but I admit to having the collector's itch :)

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), February 22, 2002

Answers

Dear Alfie,

Be at peace with yourself. Eight bodies is not a collection. It is a sample. Frankly, if you are a user you are not a collector (I don't care for the expression "user-collection"). And eventually all of your bodies do get used. I wish I'd "collected" more M6s in the past. Mine need service and I let it go because it was my number one camera of choice. I think I have only one true collector camera that works properly, my Canon 7S. I really don't use it, except for a little fun around the house. I always wanted one and bought it. But you never know.

I truly think that the time will soon come for the old M3 DS's to be retired to occational use. The DS mechanism cannot be rebuilt and even Leica's do become old dears.

In the very near future Tom Abrahamsson may be offering a Rapidwinder for the Barnack Leicas. If so, he'll be revitalizing a whole lost generation of excellent little machines.

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 22, 2002.

Alfie,

Have you been talking to my wife? I've got a IIIa, M2, M3, 2 M6s, CL, Mini, and a Digilux Zoom. Also owned a IIIf at one time.

But I take pictures with all of them so I can't be a collector can I? Wait a minute.....One my M6s is a HM, and is NIB and never seen a roll of film. Oh my Lord, maybe I am a LeicaPfile too!

I keep telling myself its a great way to avoid probate, and her that I could be spending the money on wine, women, and smoking.

Those really are bad habits.

Jerry

-- Jerome R. Pfile, Jr. (JerryPfile@msn.com), February 22, 2002.

"I could be spending the money on wine,women, and smoking.

Those really are bad habits."

Smoking is a bad habit. Wine and women are essentials. (To be more specific, the women are essential; the wine is essential to cope with them, but only when you've run out of Scotch.)

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), February 23, 2002.

Alfie, I think it's only a bad habit if one keeps a bunch of useful tools, such as cameras, for display and thereby rendering them useless. Most mostly amateurs and semi-pros I know have 5 to 10 cameras. Anyway, Mike Dixon, thanks for sharing another of your superb portrait!

-- Hoyin Lee (leehoyin@hutchcity.com), February 23, 2002.

Well Mike is at it again. Another great pic!.......anyway I don't enjoy collecting Leicas. I enjoy using them. Isn't this what photography is meant to be all about?

-- Kristian (leicashot@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

thanks again for a wonderful image of yours, Mike, looks a bit like a SUMMILUX shot. The right answer to the question IMO. This camera business actually is only about photos!! I have 10 LEICAS from the LEICA I to the M6 and a bunch of lenses. And they are all put to use at lest occasionally. Once I got used to the LEICA I never jumped away to another system.

But I´am still looking for samples of these wonderful eyes you cought in your portrait. and I admit I´am a member of your fanclub as well. At least I started to take the UV-filters off recently ...

Best wishes

-- K. G. Wolf (k.g.wolf@web.de), February 23, 2002.

Hi Alfi!

I my self have also got a number of cameras..a few leicas,contax's, a voigtländer and a couple of nikon slr's(the best of all slr work horses..period!) All manufactures state that at least every third month a camera "like" to have "a film" run through. If not, you can end up with a stuck camera and we all know how expensive repairs are, especially one leicas! (reg. the third month statement is actually stated in the leica m6 manual. best reg.

-- george arthur (pbmiljoe@1031.inord.dk), February 23, 2002.

Great image Mike! what a way to show men our weakest point, thanks, please let us what lens is it, 75'lux? so soon?

Alfie, even I now own five leica bodies, I do just because I don't want to be without one ever, I feel I need them all, 21,28,34,50,90... one for each lens.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

Liana [12], 2/21/2002

I collect photos. My "Six Month Rule": If a piece of equipment doesn't get used in six months, to the trade- in counter it goes! And I don't smoke, drink, do drugs or eat anything made from animals. Barbaric habits all.

-- Peter Hughes (ravenart@pacbell.net), February 23, 2002.

Peter- I completely respect your choices. Mike makes a great point about wine, women and scotch, though. And please don't let's get preachy about barbarism. This is no place for it- there should be room in the world for all sorts.

-- drew (swordfisher@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

"It might not take all kinds, but they're there anyway."

Peter, lovely portrait of a very expressive model.

My photo was shot with the Dual-Range Summicron on Kodak EPJ pushed two stops. A lot of credit goes to my model, Katja--I just told her the general idea, and she knew exactly what to do. At first, I tried to "fine tune" the pose a bit, but then I realized she was positioning herself better than I could, so I just shut up and worked the camera. Contrary to the model stereotype, Katja is a very bright, witty, and charming young lady who's working on her master's degree at Harvard (and she has an adorable Russian accent). Here's another fun shot of her:

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), February 23, 2002.

A thing I admire in a photographer is the ability to dignify...

...and not us as photograpers, but our subjects as projections of our self...

50 DR, Mike I will look for a pair of goggles for mine.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

great picture Peter, well not a surprice to see such work from Mike and Peter

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), February 23, 2002.

Leica collecting is a rather late in the game. Hard to find bargain. Collectors moved on Leica some thirty years ago. Better look some where else

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), February 26, 2002.

Hey Alfie, you did not have any Leicas a couple of months ago. That's a serious buying spree you've been on.

Or are you having us on again ?

;-)

-- Mani Sitaraman (bindumani@pacific.net.sg), February 27, 2002.

Alfie,

Go away. Please.

-- Alan Vandaleur (alan123@hotmail.com), March 01, 2002.