Pretty much my sentiments exactly. Even the Leica has been "downgraded" a bit, although, in all honesty, some cameras I've tried that have a little plastic in them still seem to be quite solid, and feel pretty close to the old metal-marvels, but there are damned few of them, and their frames are not plastic. Three that come to mind are the Leica M6, Mamiya 7 II, and the Konica Hexar RF. I'm sure there are others that feel pretty well, too.
But you're right, the age of the pure mechanical camera, with the exception of larger formats, is pretty well gone. History. Thank goodness many of those old cameras can still be repaired and adjusted, and can still perform as new. Another thing I like about older cameras is that they show a "patina of age" - something that I find quite satisfying. They show brass, edges get a little softer and smoother, and their well-adjusted mechanisms are a joy to use. To actually feel the film advance or rewind is a pleasure, and to not have to override the camera's decisions or defaults when making photographs simplifies the process for me. The "camera as mother" telling us what to do - making "suggestions" - is, perhaps, one of the most annoying features of these new cameras. However, for those seeking the old-tyme satisfaction of manual cameras coupled to the high-tech features of digital exposure, some digital cameras now have a feature that allows the user to set the sound of a mechanical shutter when making an exposure. How marvelous ... Joe Wilensky wrote: > > The only thing I worry about is that there will likely never be a > true "mechanical" camera taking digital photos. Currently, although I > don't have the software at home, I have most of my rolls scanned, and > therefore get digital and traditional photos from my H2, Spotmatic, > ME Super, Leica IIIc, Retina IIa, Voigtlander Vito B, etc. -- plus > the ability to use any modern film. > > Even the few point-and-shoots I've tried are no "fun" -- just press > the button, a whirring and buzzing noise, that plastic feel. Even the > top-of-the-line digital cameras look like they handle more like > camcorders than an LX or Leica. I really like winding, rewinding, > hearing the "snick" of the shutter. I love playing with the cameras, > unloaded, putting them through their paces. The Pentax ZX series are > so light and plasticky, the MZ-S I held once was far better, but the > true metal-bodied, manual wind 35mm SLRs may be gone (I guess I > shouldn't try a Nikon FM3A, lest I be tempted! But it's very > expensive, of course.) > > Photography isn't the same to me without that "mechanical" feel -- > perhaps like comparing someone who prefers to tell time via an old, > immaculately crafted pocket watch over a new, digital, lithium > battery-powered shock-resistant, GPS-enabled wristwatch. And with > photography, you get to be even more involved in enjoying the > mechanical workings than you would be by just winding a pocket watch > -- you get to turn dials, wind levers, press buttons ... real, > ultimate mechanical gadgetry! And although I haven't done darkroom > work in a long time, I remember the pleasure of it and can imagine > that it gives many photographers a joy and satisfaction that > Photoshop doesn't. > > What may happen is that at some point, a "posh" titanium digital with > old-style dials and manual control will strike a chord and become > something of a cult camera, but it would be astronomically priced > (like the digital version of the current Contax G2? Is that the > camera I'm thinking of? There's one with old-style needle-and-scale > analog readouts of shutter speed, I think). > > But that fine mechanical feel and craftsmanship, priced moderately as > Pentax cameras always historically were, may be forever gone, > especially in the push-button world of digital. > > I can always hope for someone who will pop up on eBay, offering > digital back conversions for old Pentaxes! -- Shel Belinkoff mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.earthlink.net/~belinkoff/ - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
