Leica M7 a la carte arrived yesterday!

[segedi]

Here are some shots from the first roll through the new M7 / Summilux 50mm ASPH on new Portra 400:

Alyssa, before shaving her head. Hair donated to make wigs for cancer patients.

My step-daughter with freshly shaven head to raise awareness and donations to AlbertaCancer.ca/givetolive

Her climbing coach who shaved his head (his hair was pretty long too!) in support of Alyssa and two of her teammates.

 

[zsas]

Wonderful portraits!!! Glad to see you liking the new camera. Congrats!

 

[Bateleur]

Lovely portraits and a fabulous cause too. Makes for a good combination.

 

[zeta3]

You now need to check out the motor winder for it. More noisy but allows you to bracket (exposure and focus) in many situations without removing your eye. It is also good for getting through a roll of film faster. I tried the "take just the one perfect photo" but have gone towards the method of "look, frame - fire a couple just in case someone blinked".

 

[segedi]

I think I'll hold off in the winder despite the worthy advantages you described. The AE speeds things up for me nicely and I realized just last night that I am getting much faster at focusing intuitively. And I don't mind taking some time with a roll if film.

 

[Green Goddess]

2F/2F - It's called capitalism i.e. survival of the fittest. If you really want all humans to live on a standard fixed meagre income and not enjoy certain luxuries then you should choose to live in a communist country. If you have the same ill feeling towards any new Leica owner then why read these threads? I'm happy for the OP, he has a beautiful new camera to enjoy. I wouldn't mind betting you own a car worth a similar amount of money. If so, why not sell it and give the proceeds to the homeless? After all, a car is a luxury too.

 

[Klainmeister]

2F/2F - It's called capitalism i.e. survival of the fittest. If you really want all humans to live on a standard fixed meagre income and not enjoy certain luxuries then you should choose to live in a communist country. If you have the same ill feeling towards any new Leica owner then why read these threads? I'm happy for the OP, he has a beautiful new camera to enjoy. I wouldn't mind betting you own a car worth a similar amount of money. If so, why not sell it and give the proceeds to the homeless? After all, a car is a luxury too.

Great first post....

 

[DanielStone]

nice camera! Photography started out as something that was only for the rich, well, more AFFLUENT...

Its still that way in some ways. Definitely a "luxury" IMO, at least for most of us. I'm not rich(yet ), I haven't worked hard enough yet to warrant a nice camera like this. However, I'm happy for the OP, he's excited about a new toy(or tool, depending on your POV), and felt obliged to share his excitement with us. Maybe his wife/partner hates his photography hobby, and he needed to share his excitement with us. We can only speculate. I hope this isn't the case .

Segedi(OP): ENJOY THE CAMERA! May many, many rolls of film pass through it, and provide you with endless amounts of pleasure!

-Dan

 

[xo-whiplock]

Nice camera. Happy for the OP. $4600 is nothing if you have it and love Lecia. I can think of a lot of other things that cost as much, but are a complete waste of money... drugs, alcohol, and smoking for a year. Give up these, and save the money, and you can buy a Lecia too.

 

[segedi]

Maybe his wife/partner hates his photography hobby, and he needed to share his excitement with us. We can only speculate. I hope this isn't the case .

Segedi(OP): ENJOY THE CAMERA! May many, many rolls of film pass through it, and provide you with endless amounts of pleasure!

My wife is very supportive of my photography, she bought me the camera!

And I expect many more rolls to pass through And will post photos when I can.

 

[vpwphoto]

Oh no... not again! Hey post a few photos made with this eye/hand/ear candy!

 

[snegron]

Congrats on the camera! I have always wanted to buy a Leica rangefinder but never thought I could afford one. Ironically, if I were to add up how much I have spent on Nikon film and digital gear I could have purchased a very nice Leica M system instead. The only rangefinder I own is a Nikon S2 with 5cm 1.4 lens. I rarely use it because I am afraid to damage it (if I had a Leica M camera I wouldn't be as concerned because I know I would be able to find repair/replacement parts more easily).

Anyway, enjoy your new M7!

p.s. I have stayed away from here for some time because of negative, condescending comments posted by several people in the past. While I lurk every now and then, I rarely post anything anymore to avoid the negativity.

 

[adam h]

I am 20 percent jealous and 80 percent disgusted! Kind of like when I see a beautiful Ferrari on the road, but then actually think about the fact that someone spend more money than I'll make in 20 years on that car just to drive it in stop and go traffic on the 101, passing thousands of hungry homeless people on the way to wherever it is he/she is headed.

I think if a person works hard, and makes good money, he/she should be able to spend their money any way he/she sees fit without feeling guilty ,bc other people are hungry and homeless.

 

[segedi]

snegron - thanks for you comments. The Nikon rangefinders are a work of beauty. I was a bit apprehensive in using an MP when I first got it but after shooting, really enjoyed the experience. I like the feel of the camera and that the quiet shutter provides stealth for street shots. I think rangefinders allowed me to reconnect to photography in a different level. Like driving a manual transmission compared to an automatic.

As far as negative comments, try not to let them get ya down. Overall, the APUG community has a wealth of information, but it is powered by humans--we are a quirky lot!

 

[adam h]

I am 20 percent jealous and 80 percent disgusted! Kind of like when I see a beautiful Ferrari on the road, but then actually think about the fact that someone spend more money than I'll make in 20 years on that car just to drive it in stop and go traffic on the 101, passing thousands of hungry homeless people on the way to wherever it is he/she is headed.

It amazes me how many people who are into the arts (like photography,) are NOT into Capitalism. Photography seems to attract so many leftists. I just don't get it. I love photography, and analogue photography, in particular, yet I have NO guilt over passing homeless, hungry people in my BMW. I'm not saying this to brag, AND, let me make myself clear: I don't for one second think that owning a BMW ,makes me in any way a better person than a homeless person. Money doesn't make one a "better person." However, I do not feel a sense of responsiblity to feed the world, save the children, stop the FICTITIOUS Global Warming, created by people who HATE CAPITALISM, or "Go Green." I don't base the photo chemicals I buy, based on my fear of "hurting the environment." I enjoy my photography habit, while I work my a___ off in a small business I run, take care of my two young children, and support every TEA PARTY cause I can find. I'm a good father, and a loyal, American who believes in American exceptionalism. Not that I don't respect many other countries, bc I do. What gets me indignant are photographers, specifically, who don't appreciate the freedoms we have, here, in the U.S. Freedoms we take for granted. I'm trying this into the OP, bc he shouldn't be made to feel 20% or 80% guilty over enjoying his expensive camera (even if he passes thousands of public-sector union-supporting, homeless, hungry, bleeding-heart, leftist, athiests, looking for THEIR ENTITLMENTS on his way to his top-paying job, where he sacrifices time with his family, in order to better to provide for them, and build their future security. Leave the OP alone, poor guy.

Adam
s

 

[Diapositivo]

I am leftist, and I do think that anybody is entitled to enjoy his money regardless of whether he works hard or not. Fingerpointing and "feel guilty" arguments are totally extraneous to leftist culture in my country. A leftist person thinks in terms of collective solidarity not in terms of making the rich feel guilty. That's more a typical attitude of "charities" especially religiously based-inspired ones.

I do feel a sense of responsibility for the world, I do worry about a POTENTIAL global warming and think that the precaution principle should be at work here, I think and act as "green" as possible cum grano salis, I adore tea, not so much tea parties . I would feel embarrassed in passing with a Ferrari in front of a hungry person, without feeling guilty for hunger or for my Ferrari, but certainly I would find embarrassing, if I were rich, to sport my richness in front of the poor, so I would avoid any ostentation of wealth in an environment where this would be perceived as a slap in the face of poverty.

I don't think the OP was "sporting his richness", I think he was merely sharing his enthusiasm with us for a new "toy". Another poster found the OP was "sporting" and found this of bad taste. He clarified his thought already and I see no reason to further this polemic. Besides, I don't see correlation between his post and being leftist, atheist or union-supporting, which are all fine things by the way (I'm not atheist).

 

[Tony Egan]

It amazes me how many people who are into the arts (like photography,) are NOT into Capitalism. Photography seems to attract so many leftists. I just don't get it. I love photography, and analogue photography, in particular, yet I have NO guilt over passing homeless, hungry people in my BMW. I'm not saying this to brag, AND, let me make myself clear: I don't for one second think that owning a BMW ,makes me in any way a better person than a homeless person. Money doesn't make one a "better person." However, I do not feel a sense of responsiblity to feed the world, save the children, stop the FICTITIOUS Global Warming, created by people who HATE CAPITALISM, or "Go Green." I don't base the photo chemicals I buy, based on my fear of "hurting the environment." I enjoy my photography habit, while I work my a___ off in a small business I run, take care of my two young children, and support every TEA PARTY cause I can find. I'm a good father, and a loyal, American who believes in American exceptionalism. Not that I don't respect many other countries, bc I do. What gets me indignant are photographers, specifically, who don't appreciate the freedoms we have, here, in the U.S. Freedoms we take for granted. I'm trying this into the OP, bc he shouldn't be made to feel 20% or 80% guilty over enjoying his expensive camera (even if he passes thousands of public-sector union-supporting, homeless, hungry, bleeding-heart, leftist, athiests, looking for THEIR ENTITLMENTS on his way to his top-paying job, where he sacrifices time with his family, in order to better to provide for them, and build their future security. Leave the OP alone, poor guy.

Adam
s

Thanks, that was hilarious! I needed a laugh. And they say Americans don't understand irony or sophisticated satire. Wonderful!

 

[2F/2F]

Apparently my sarcastic comment about Ferraris and homeless people was taken the wrong way by just about everyone who has responded to it.

Where did I suggest that equal distribution of wealth should be carried out, or that capitalism is a sham, or that people should never buy luxury items, and instead sell everything they have and give the money to the poor (as Christ suggested)? What in the comment makes me a pinko commie faggot, like so many of you have assumed?

The comment was meant to roll the eyes at a certain kind of person who spends ridiculous amounts of money on a luxury item, and then uses it "stupidly" (e.g. a Ferrari in bumper to bumper traffic), making it nothing but jewelry in the end. Sorry, but that is just stupid. It is a waste. That was my point. The homeless comment was made to make the point of waste even stronger. While so many people with money waste it on shit like jewelry, there are other people in their own community who cannot even stay warm or take enough calories per day to stay healthy. It is about the screwed up priorities and self-centered obliviousness of certain idiots, not about capitalism, per se.

In other words, I was telling the OP, "Don't be that dick; go use your camera to do amazing stuff," not, "You are that dick."

The OP and I have settled this between the two of us. He understands that I was simply making sarcastic commentary, and not some politically-fueled and literal personal attack. I was just giving him some grief and making some general commentary as well. Get over it.

 

[sandholm]

It amazes me how many people who are into the arts (like photography,) are NOT into Capitalism. Photography seems to attract so many leftists. I just don't get it. I love photography, and analogue photography, in particular, yet I have NO guilt over passing homeless, hungry people in my BMW. I'm not saying this to brag, AND, let me make myself clear: I don't for one second think that owning a BMW ,makes me in any way a better person than a homeless person. Money doesn't make one a "better person." However, I do not feel a sense of responsiblity to feed the world, save the children, stop the FICTITIOUS Global Warming, created by people who HATE CAPITALISM, or "Go Green." I don't base the photo chemicals I buy, based on my fear of "hurting the environment." I enjoy my photography habit, while I work my a___ off in a small business I run, take care of my two young children, and support every TEA PARTY cause I can find. I'm a good father, and a loyal, American who believes in American exceptionalism. Not that I don't respect many other countries, bc I do. What gets me indignant are photographers, specifically, who don't appreciate the freedoms we have, here, in the U.S. Freedoms we take for granted. I'm trying this into the OP, bc he shouldn't be made to feel 20% or 80% guilty over enjoying his expensive camera (even if he passes thousands of public-sector union-supporting, homeless, hungry, bleeding-heart, leftist, athiests, looking for THEIR ENTITLMENTS on his way to his top-paying job, where he sacrifices time with his family, in order to better to provide for them, and build their future security. Leave the OP alone, poor guy.

Adam
s

Thanks, that was hilarious! I needed a laugh. And they say Americans don't understand irony or sophisticated satire. Wonderful!

I can only agree, I think the best part were the Tea Party bit, just hillaries, I can only say "Go Sarah Palin" or as she said "Drill Baby Drill" and I sure she had no clue who Bill Epton was or that he were the person who used it, but on the other hand she was almost right, because "burn baby burn" became associated with drilling later.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Follow the money , you would find the killer.

 

[adam h]

Great first post....

Yes......exactly!

 

[adam h]

Thanks, that was hilarious! I needed a laugh. And they say Americans don't understand irony or sophisticated satire. Wonderful!

Who said Americans don't understand irony?

 

[adam h]

Apparently my sarcastic comment about Ferraris and homeless people was taken the wrong way by just about everyone who has responded to it.

Where did I suggest that equal distribution of wealth should be carried out, or that capitalism is a sham, or that people should never buy luxury items, and instead sell everything they have and give the money to the poor (as Christ suggested)? What in the comment makes me a pinko commie faggot, like so many of you have assumed?

The comment was meant to roll the eyes at a certain kind of person who spends ridiculous amounts of money on a luxury item, and then uses it "stupidly" (e.g. a Ferrari in bumper to bumper traffic), making it nothing but jewelry in the end. Sorry, but that is just stupid. It is a waste. That was my point. The homeless comment was made to make the point of waste even stronger. While so many people with money waste it on shit like jewelry, there are other people in their own community who cannot even stay warm or take enough calories per day to stay healthy. It is about the screwed up priorities and self-centered obliviousness of certain idiots, not about capitalism, per se.

In other words, I was telling the OP, "Don't be that dick; go use your camera to do amazing stuff," not, "You are that dick."

The OP and I have settled this between the two of us. He understands that I was simply making sarcastic commentary, and not some politically-fueled and literal personal attack. I was just giving him some grief and making some general commentary as well. Get over it.

With all due respect, from my perspective (FWIW,) part of the beauty of Capitalism (and, also, the wonderful freedoms that make this country exceptional) is that I (or anyone else who has the ability to) can choose to spend money on whatever I can afford, 1) unfetterred by the ridiculous guilt put on us by the feft, and 2) on "shit" as you refer to it like jewelry (figurative jewelry-like the ferrari example, DESPITE the fact that people are starving or have no heat all around me. If I wish to drive a Ferrari in such a way that I'll always be stuck in traffic, and EVEN IF I bought it ONLY with the intention of showing off, surrounded by homeless people, THAT's my choice and my right. Really, who cares. Maybe, you're right, in the sense that using a Ferrari in such a way is a waste of a good Ferrari. Maybe, but, if I have the money, and I'm getting my needs met by showing off, why is it the left's business?????? Now, truthfully, personally, I wouldn't purchase a car to show off. I own the BMW, bc I love the ride. If you're ONLY point was to say that the OP was wasting a good camera, then I apologize to you. Sincerely. However, my instincts say that there are too many people on these forums who seem more interested in "saving the planet," at the expense of our economies, and too many who seem all to eager to "level the playing field." From each according to his abilities.......an so on. Our freedoms are precious. My rant is over. I apologize to you.

 

[2F/2F]

With all due respect, from my perspective (FWIW,) part of the beauty of Capitalism (and, also, the wonderful freedoms that make this country exceptional) is that I (or anyone else who has the ability to) can choose to spend money on whatever I can afford, 1) unfetterred by the ridiculous guilt put on us by the feft, and 2) on "shit" as you refer to it like jewelry (figurative jewelry-like the ferrari example, DESPITE the fact that people are starving or have no heat all around me. If I wish to drive a Ferrari in such a way that I'll always be stuck in traffic, and EVEN IF I bought it ONLY with the intention of showing off, surrounded by homeless people, THAT's my choice and my right. Really, who cares. Maybe, you're right, in the sense that using a Ferrari in such a way is a waste of a good Ferrari. Maybe, but, if I have the money, and I'm getting my needs met by showing off, why is it the left's business?????? Now, truthfully, personally, I wouldn't purchase a car to show off. I own the BMW, bc I love the ride. If you're ONLY point was to say that the OP was wasting a good camera, then I apologize to you. Sincerely. However, my instincts say that there are too many people on these forums who seem more interested in "saving the planet," at the expense of our economies, and too many who seem all to eager to "level the playing field." From each according to his abilities.......an so on. Our freedoms are precious. My rant is over. I apologize to you.

I don't think you even get the gist of what I wrote initially, because you, and many others, are attributing ideas to me that I did not argue. Additionally, as much as anyone has the liberty to drive that Ferrari in traffic (and tell me where I said they do not, please), someone also may think it is ridiculous, and say so. Having the constitutional and economic liberty to do something doesn't mean it is off limits from critical commentary. People have the liberty to do lots of things; it doesn't mean the things are right, or that they are not idiots and/or @$$holes for doing them. Criticism does not equal a "guilt trip." But that is what people seem to be saying. Sorry, but it does not. What I said was simply not a "shame on you!" I have heard the response several times, "How dare you make me feel guilty for having money and spending it on nice things. I'll buy whatever I damned please." OK. Of course you can, and of course you will. And I will tell you what I think about it if the topic comes up in a forum for discussion where opinions are solicited. Of course!

My comments were not about liberty or politics. They were about personal idiocy, obsession, greed, superficiality, and obliviousness. It is a great camera, but I would be disgusted if the OP was that guy in the Ferrari stuck in traffic on the 101 freeway. <==That was the gist of what I said. Yet plenty of people have used the comments I made as a soap box on which to stand to shout out their own beliefs on politics and economics. The fact that my post could be used as a jumping off point for anything political, such as slamming leftist commies and pronouncing the Tea Party king, or vise versa, or anything in between, is completely idiotic to me. It's a snarky comment made in good fun to a fellow photographer...who, by the way, I have apologized to, and who has said that this is settled and asked that we move on.

 

[adam h]

I don't think you even get the gist of what I wrote initially, because you, and many others, are attributing ideas to me that I did not argue. Additionally, as much as anyone has the liberty to drive that Ferrari in traffic (and tell me where I said they do not, please), someone also may think it is ridiculous, and say so. Having the constitutional and economic liberty to do something doesn't mean it is off limits from critical commentary. People have the liberty to do lots of things; it doesn't mean the things are right, or that they are not idiots and/or @$$holes for doing them. Criticism does not equal a "guilt trip." But that is what people seem to be saying. Sorry, but it does not. What I said was simply not a "shame on you!" I have heard the response several times, "How dare you make me feel guilty for having money and spending it on nice things. I'll buy whatever I damned please." OK. Of course you can, and of course you will. And I will tell you what I think about it if the topic comes up in a forum for discussion where opinions are solicited. Of course!

My comments were not about liberty or politics. They were about personal idiocy, obsession, greed, superficiality, and obliviousness. It is a great camera, but I would be disgusted if the OP was that guy in the Ferrari stuck in traffic on the 101 freeway. <==That was the gist of what I said. Yet plenty of people have used the comments I made as a soap box on which to stand to shout out their own beliefs on politics and economics. The fact that my post could be used as a jumping off point for anything political, such as slamming leftist commies and pronouncing the Tea Party king, or vise versa, or anything in between, is completely idiotic to me. It's a snarky comment made in good fun to a fellow photographer...who, by the way, I have apologized to, and who has said that this is settled and asked that we move on.

At the end of the day...I apologize to you. In fact, I've read many of your posts, here, and I've learned a lot from you about analogue photography, so for that, I thank you. Maybe, this is my issue, only, but, I've become much more sensitive, recently, to any whiff of people who openly advocate the "socializing of this country," bc I'm VERY proud of my country. If I smell a whiff of Bill Ayres "in the air" or Jeramiah Wright, or George Soros, I become instantly indignant, and protective of my homeland. You're intelligent, and, I'm sure you understand the references. I realize I'm OT, and, I'm sorry for that-I just don't understand why my PERCEPTION is that so many photographers, artists, etc... SEEM to be leftists-or, at least, more concerned about the environment, even over their own families' self-interest. Sorry for the OT rant. Again, I respect your input, here.


Adam