Analogue in Singapore

I am coming to the conclusion that the technical competence of a camera is becoming less important to me than the pleasure I derive from the ownership and shooting experience of the device. Like almost every camera on the market today, my Olympus E-M1 is capable of producing excellent images and is stuffed with more features than I can remember. Stick on the appropriate lens and it can handle macro, street, landscape, sports, and even snaps of little Jimmy doing his first poo on the toilet. It can knock out ten frames a second if I want it to; or shoot for a minute or so while I watch the image develop on the screen. It’s a technical marvel that is a much better camera than I am a photographer and I am very happy to own it. And yet, as previous reported, I left it at home when we went to Singapore recently.

Instead I took my 54 year old Leica IIIC. It can probably manage one shot every five seconds, if you get a move on. It has no menus (and no battery), and no options other than allowing you to set focus, exposure and shutter speed before pressing the most delicate of shutter release buttons.

I spent an hour or so wandering around the streets and it was a time of real pleasure. I concentrated on setting up and using the camera, interspersed with interactions with people who wanted to know about it, or just give it a smile. The pleasure was in using a classic, beautifully made instrument; the fact there might be some photos at the end of the process was almost academic. Of course I could have got the same shots, and “better”, with the E-M1; but I would not have enjoyed myself as much. My current plan is that I will only take a film camera for our trip to the UK; maybe this is what declining years does to a man.

Some Leica snaps from Singapore. Nothing special; but I do recall how much fun I had making them, and that’s what’s important (to me).

* Leica IIIC, XP2 film*

Comments 🔗

2015-07-20 | Ray says

A very nice set.

2015-07-21 | Grant says

It certainly is, some great shots there. I have considerable empathy with your position Spike, the means certainly should be more important and more fulfilling than the end especially if you’re shooting for fun and at our age we need to grab big handfuls of it - we’re owed! The high-tech gear is vastly clever and the technology is seductive and alluring but it takes one further and further away from operating proper mechanical (not electronic) machinery in a thoughtful and considered way and a chap needs that. You’ve got your Leica, I’ve got my Morgan, a chap up the road has a one-third scale traction engine, all fine machinery and deeply satisfying to own and use. Good on yer mate!

2015-07-23 | Spike says

Did I know you have a Morgan? I thought a shed load of buses was your thing. Surely a one-third scale anything doesn’t count?

2015-07-26 | Grant says

I don’t know, it’s HUY982, you can google it. Guilty as charged. I’ve welded the doors shut. Someone will find them in fifty years or so… http://www.steamtractionworld.com/burrellshow.htm

2015-07-26 | Spike says

Prototype eh? That must be worth a pretty penny or six.

2015-07-26 | Grant says

I hate to think, it’d spoil the fun, and believe me it’s about as much fun as you can ever have sitting down…