In the article “ODE TO LEICA
NO. 1048416” I wrote:
The following is a birthday wish written for the 20th birthday of Leica # 1048416 in January 1982. It would be interesting to know how the 50th turned out to be.
Just this morning I received an email from Bob Nandell with an update on Leica M2 1048416. He writes:
The following is a birthday wish written for the 20th birthday of Leica # 1048416 in January 1982. It would be interesting to know how the 50th turned out to be.
Just this morning I received an email from Bob Nandell with an update on Leica M2 1048416. He writes:
Hi: I stumbled
across your site and I noticed you had reproduced a photo I took in 1982 of
Leica M2 number 1048416 at the time of its 20th year
of service. Your cut-line wondered how it would be doing on its 50th birthday.
Well, attached are some scans to answer your
question.
Leica M2 number 104816 continues to be most
instrumental in my black and white fine art
photography. I am now retired from a 45 year career in
the newspaper photography business.
Number 1048416 was the prime weapon in the production
of my current (4th) book of Iowa themed poems and photographs titled 'Maple
Street Stories'(PBL Publishing LTD., Ottumwa, Iowa).
It is always loaded with
Ilford HP5. Its viewfinder has dimmed a
bit with age, but mechanically the camera is still perfect although its
exterior has literally been worn shiny by my hands over 50 years of use. It is
wearing its fourth neck-strap. The little 50mm f/2.8 Elmar continues to be
shrieking sharp. (note: it has never been 'collapsed', always left extended. I prefer it because much of what I do is shot
at f/11 or f/16 out-doors. I want depth, not speed.
Over the decades I used a number of Leica M and SLR
bodies for film work, but through it all this M2 has been the prime battle-ax.
The little 50 simply stays put on the front of it. It's just the way I see
things for composition purposes. It's that simple. It's how I see photos,
through those little 50mm frame-lines in the view finder.
Quite often when I am picture hunting Number 1048416
is the only camera I am carrying. Nobody cares about or notices an old guy
walking down a small town street with an old worn-out-looking camera in his
hand. Yes, I own a couple digital whiz-bangs to chase grand-kids with and make
routine snaps. But my serious black and white film and print photography is
still done with the Leica. It has been my friend for 50 years now.
Robert Nandell
I am sure I speak for more
than just myself in wishing number 1048416 a belated Happy Fiftieth. May it go for another fifty.
The 20th birthday
wish can be found here:
ODE TO LEICA NO. 1048416
http://gmpphoto.blogspot.com/2012/07/ode-to-leica-no-1048416.html
Other articles by Bob
Nandell:
Other articles by Bob
Nandell:
THE 90 ELAMR THAT NOBODY
WANTED
ARE LEICAS TOUGH?
I think it is really interesting to see reports and pictures of this camera over the course of 50 years. Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteNice photos there! I love it.
ReplyDelete