Camera Geekery

Jim Jones

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Just yesterday I saw about 300 vehicles at a car show. Yuk! Car geekery has been inflicted on once beautiful or historically significant automobiles for perhaps a century.
 

E. von Hoegh

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A "geek" was once sideshow freak, typically performing by biting the heads off snakes, chckens, lizards, etc.. It is more often than not misused, however the above usage seems quite apt.
Three expensive classic cameras, tarted up like something you might see after eating those funny mushrooms, how does that serve to popularise analog photography?? I bet you could by a pretty nice car for what's been sunk into those abortions.
More like 'camera masturbation'.
 

E. von Hoegh

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And furthermore, you can't claim "it's just a coat of paint". Paint doesn't bond well to chrome - the original chrome has almost certainly been stripped from these, corrupting forever three mechanical marvels the like of which will never ever be made again.
 

paul ron

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Its a nice way of resurrecting dead junk cameras for display on the mantel.

Looks like a fun idea. Love the paint jobs.
 

tim_walls

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Clearly some Leica fetishists are going to have a problem with it - but hell, I'm gonna break the mould and say I love 'em.

It's a tool. A mass produced tool, not a one-of-a-kind artifact from the past - hell, they cranked out 200,000 M3s. If a builder wants to paint flames on his favourite hammer I'm not going to have a fit of the vapours about the desecration involved, and I fail to see how a metal box with a hole on the front for a lens and a hole in the bottom to stick film in is broadly different.

If they were grinding the lenses up to make pixie dust I'd be more concerned. But they make clear all are fully CLAd, working, and intended to be used as working cameras.

Plus, the pink-and-white one looks f'ing awesome.
 

TerryMcC

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For years I restored classic Morris Minis to original or near original standards. One day I did something different-only a modern steering wheel, mag wheels and a different seat. Suddenly I was enjoying driving the mini again. It's the same with cameras- trying new classic cameras for the heck of it even though my photos are relatively ordinary. I have over 20 collectable cameras which I use as the whim takes me and have FUN.
 

paul ron

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hahahah yeah junkers are more common than working in good condition.

Because the front of a lens looks fine in a photo doesnt mean its working. Could be missing elements or rear cells, internals fingus eatten, separation... etc... etc.

Do you actually believe every camera out there is working? Dreamer, dream on.

Beauty is only skin deep.
I have a closet full of great looking junk in mint condition. I also have a bridge for sale if you're interested.
 

MattKing

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Horst Wenzel in Vancouver is having a great time re-painting and fixing up Leica rangefinders (and maybe other cameras too). The green ones look awesome! The difference (EDIT: advantage), of course, is that you get a fully overhauled camera as part of the deal.
 
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tim_walls

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MattKing said:
Horst Wenzel in Vancouver is having a great time re-painting and fixing up Leica rangefinders (and maybe other cameras too). The green ones look awesome! The difference, of course, is that you get a fully overhauled camera as part of the deal.
Click to expand...
Different in the sense of being "exactly the same"?

From the original link:
None of the donor bodies are new cameras. If anything, all these cameras have been given a new lease on life, having been cleaned, lubed, and adjusted to “like new” condition by professionals who truly love photography.
Click to expand...
 

MattKing

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Thanks Tim. I've amended slightly my original post, and reminded myself to read a posted reference carefully before responding to a post.
Horst's re-paints do look less flashy though than the really bright ones in the link.
 

Theo Sulphate

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tim_walls said:
Clearly some Leica fetishists are going to have a problem with it ...
Click to expand...

Well, I have seven Leicas of various types but this doesn't bother me at all. In fact, Leica itself I think tarnished its image somewhat with all those silly commemorative editions (Royal Danish Wedding, Ein Stück, Øresundsbron, et alia - check out the Cameraquest site).

Plus, the pink-and-white one looks f'ing awesome.
Click to expand...

Yes, it does! Leica should make a Hello Kitty M6 - it'd be an instant success.
 
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