First of all, this site
can be very different from all my previously created
sites-for-fun
kind of resources.
Meaning instead of spending few months just to develop a site of significant depth
in content can be very time consuming. A system camera has probably has hundreds
of related system accessories built around a camera type. For an example each of
these featured system camera would have a combined file size in the folder; Nikon F
(18mb), F2
(52mb), F3
(45mb), F4
(57mb), Nikon F5
(78mb) or a Canon New F1(13mb),
Canon EOS1n
(103mb), Olympus OM1/2 series (86mb), Pentax LX
system camera (21mb) etc. and even a Contax RTS series with just two featured RTS models will have a 35MB file size in its content, each of these modern
classic bodies may consist of raw content ranges between 1,500~3500 items in combination of HTML, Images, PDFs etc. which made up the
basis of a camera site. Besides, due to system compatibility it may need to further
address other related areas such as development of the optic group and so forth.
So far, I have not started any site on a particular rangefinder system but that
was essentially how each established camera label today were evolved from. One of
the primary issue was mainly due to inadequate knowledge during my early days and
lack of good images/photos which has been holding me on to even think of attempting
to create a site in this nature. However, it has taken me more than 5 years and patiently
collecting useful content as well as digesting whatever the market and individual
intelligence from good publications, online references etc. I have actually started
to create my first rangefinder resources with the Nikkor-RF optical system early this year (2008). It has taken me 2 months
where I only reached a half way stage. Amidst the course - I was thinking the Nikkor
RF may be a recognized established system but if not for the brilliance of German
optic industry which had started it all, there probably will never be a Nippon Kokagu
nor the Seiki Kokagu in their current commanding state as major photographic system
providers.
Thus, I took a pause on development of the Nikkor RF site first and has decided to
shift and begin with a sketchy Leica/Contax site here instead. Partly, to address
a particular rangefinder system without referring back to Leica/Leitz as well as
Contax Zeiss resources can be a joke because during most of the early development
stage of various oriental labels, the German optical products had always been their
ultimate reference point to replicate and/or challenged. More importantly, after
I did a few rounds on Google Search, despite all these years in the ever expanding
Internet content development, there are actually not too many high quality resources
centered on these two distinguished German labels. Here, what I did was just acted
as a compiler role - making use of readily available resources from online trading
areas and present them in an orderly manner. With close to a century-old tradition,
BOTH the German labels each has a proud history and colorful background on their
own and it can be very challenging task.
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To attempt and create a full, detail
history of various LEICA system resources is STILL beyond my capability. It can be
acted as a cross reference source only. For those who may be specifically intended
to go one-level deeper, you should consider getting high quality publications such as the few books which had in depth knowledge by seasoned
historian or photographic collectors instead of referring to the fragile content
appears herein this site.
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Whatever it is, the only advantage offer in an online resource is simply having the
edge in continual updating of content. The Internet community has its own pool of
experienced users with this kind of specific interest, use it wisely - it can be
full utilized to keep on updating quality information for all to share. Further,
regardless how knowledgeable one can be, and in the course of long history of camera
hardware development over the last one century, an opened platform may provide an
easy access channel for all to add new or previously unknown content to the Network.
Personal Note:- I am retired and I am spending a few
hours each night to do things that I like. It is just a small effort to supplement
a vacuum found on the Internet today but this site is NOT intended to rival
anyone out there. Besides, I am NOT a historian and I am quite label independent
where my primary interest is confined to photography itself but not the labels. One
important issue I have to address here is, my English was self taught, the writing
skill used herein may not be good enough to serve high expectation of a Harvard,
Stanford or Oxford graduate, so, please ignore my poor writing if the way I wrote is irritating your sight or has upset your stomach.
Well, I am a 50+ Malaysian Chinese & probably I can rank myself as the worst
local in the command of this medium.. but - come to think of it, if ever this site
is written in Chinese, I didn't force anyone to pickup Mandarin first before you
can read whatever I am preparing here too, right ? ..). In short - If you are happy
with you are seeing right now, just click around & see what I had for you deeply
nested in the primary folder(s); if not, just skip this site. Thank You.
Personally, in a most ideal situation I will try by kick-starting a visual library
as how I did earlier with the Pictorial History of Nikon or Canon A/T series, by first providing a basic framework in production sequential
order for various Leica M-series models. Second phase is more to refinement in its
details. It can be personal effort or open to Leica enthusiasts who can provide good
reviews on each interested or model that one is so familiar with as a form of site-extension
- meaning satellite site(s) in full details as what I did on any of the professional
grade Nikon, Canon, Olympuses, Minoltas or the Pentax. Along the way, for those who
may be possessing good write-up skill, one can use his strength in those areas to
patch the weakness found on the basic scracthy core development site. Individual
knowledge can be different in many areas, for an instance, when I began the Leica
M6, I has actually spent few wasteful weeks just on sourcing information which relates
on any other possible M6 variants with information on their respective issued dates,
total quantity being produced etc. Good thing is, along the way, I gathered and I
learnt. There are actually some other specific M-6 model(s) that previously I have
no previous knowledge in their existence. I guess as a responsible site developer,
it is critically IMPORTANT on verification in correctness of information to avoid
providing misleading data to info-seekers. I guess knowledgeable societies such
as any of the Leica Historical Societies or Clubs could offer their expertise in
some of these specific areas. Probably, the ONLY advantage I am having here is, I
have have some free time in my retirement and just spending time overseeing an investment
in an Internet Company in MIR, that is all - nothing else. But frankly, to attempt
in creating a site with depth & good quality in its content is definitely a very
time consuming process, adding the fact it probably may take a year or two just if
solely base on my own effort alone. Further, as if I am doing now is trying to feature
one of the most prestigious Icon in the camera industry with a century of proud tradition
behind its creations - I guess this should be a collective effort instead of relying
on an old man like me ... Come to think of it, for an instance, the wasteful time
in the info gathering process could be just furnished by someone very knowledgeable
with the Leica system in just an hour - isn't it stupid ? Thanks for reading my thought
and sharing some of my inner anxieties because at times, as if it is like itchy back
side looking for trouble - this Leica project is no means an easy task.
Here I wish to take a small section to THANK all
the contributors in their generous permission in granting/helping to enable creation
of this site.
NOTE:- This is an
individual hobbyist site and has no business relation with nor permission granted
from Leica AG. Pictures/images showcased herein this site are copyright and belonged
to respective owner and/or contributors as each will be marked with the acquired
reference source. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer(s).
ENJOY.
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