Well said, Frank .... and it should be pointed out that many photogs other than Leica users tape their cameras. Check out Nachtwey's Canon gear the next time you watch "War Photographer." Anyway, why should it be an issue for anyone how someone else chooses to "decorate" their camera. It seems that a particular list member's reptile-skinned LX meets with approval here, but tape over some logos is called pretentious and seems to be looked down upon. It's all such bullshit, and so irrelevant.
Shel > [Original Message] > From: frank theriault <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 9/13/2004 6:54:22 AM > Subject: Re: black cloaking tape (was: Re: istD in style) > > On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 06:14:21 -0400, Paul Stenquist > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The discussion had turned to black taping cameras in general. I didn't > > even recall that it had originated with Juan. To the amusing little > > list of reasons why one might tape up a camera, the pretensions of the > > Leica fondlers are certainly relevant. > > > > Paul, > > I know you're being humourous, but I can't help but notice that you've > commented on "Leica fondlers" on several occasions prior to this > thread. They seem to be a real bone of contention with you. > > I know that Leica Fondlers are out there, but I've gotta say, they > seem to be in the minority of Leica owners. I've only been on a > couple of Leica lists, but the Leica users on those lists seem to be > anything but fondlers. They tend to be fine photographers, who take > great joy in using their equipment. They enjoy using gear from many > different eras, and one is as likely to see a photo posted taken with > an M3 as with a Digilux. > > That there are some who buy Leicas as investments, there is no doubt. > Some of those people may be non-photographers, and some of them may be > users of other Leica gear who have decided to buy a NIB collectors > edition with the express intent of never using it. > > But, those who fondle (as I think someone else mentioned) would never > put black tape on their pristine investments, lest some irremovable > gunk be depositied on their mint investments. Those who do put tape > on their cams are likely users who, for some reason, want to emulate > HCB or some other Magnum Icon who did the same "back in the day". > > When I was on LUG (haven't been there for many months now), For Sale > Friday was a pretty big deal, with lots of very expensive gear being > posted for sale. My recollection is that almost everything posted was > "user" gear. I don't recall one "Collectors Edition NIB" being posted > in almost a year that I was active on that list. > > As a side note, someone on that list mentioned that for what one would > have had to pay for a brand new M3 about 40 years ago, even if they > kept it new in the box, a putting the same money into a relatively > conservative investment vehicle would yield a far larger sum of money > today than the pristine M3. They simply aren't the investment > everyone thinks they are.
