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If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

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  • If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

    ...would he still be using a Range Finder or would he have been lured over to the Auto Focus, Auto Everything type of camera. Answers in the form of an essay using no more than two sides of foolscap (equivalent). As a starting point, let's assume HCB has been photographing with his Leica for some time, and is now 40 years of age. For consideration, would he stick with his manual everything RF, or possibly upgrade to a digital RF (the M246 possibly), or move to Mirrorless or even a DSLR.

    This crossed my mind having learnt that John's daughter has been asked to do street photography in the style of the great HCB.
    Steve

    on flickr

  • #2
    Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

    I'm sure that if HCB was in his prime today he would use an E-M5II.
    John

    "A hundredth of a second here, a hundredth of a second there � even if you put them end to end, they still only add up to one, two, perhaps three seconds, snatched from eternity." ~ Robert Doisneau

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    • #3
      Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

      He'd use whatever tool suited his working methods the best.
      It's the image that's important, not the tools used to make it.

      David M's Photoblog

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      • #4
        Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

        If he was alive today and read this he would be spinning in his grave.
        Stuff from Cuba
        More stuff from Cuba
        It all started here

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        • #5
          Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

          You've all been very economical with the two sides of foolscap limit
          Steve

          on flickr

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          • #6
            Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

            I used a Sharpie...
            Stuff from Cuba
            More stuff from Cuba
            It all started here

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            • #7
              Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

              Fuji X100 or another discrete fixed focal length camera with a large sensor
              thephotographersblock.wordpress.com

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              • #8
                Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                Cartier-Bresson famously had no interest whatsoever in the dark room. His relationship with the camera would therefore be different to that of many modern, digital professionals. For HCB, the camera might also be the developer, though we can't discount the possibility he might employ an assistant to do the Photoshopping. The quality of the OOC JPEG would therefore probably matter more to him. I think Leica cameras produce sub-par JPEGs. I think HCB would be shooting Olympus or Fuji.

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                • #9
                  Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                  Originally posted by Zuiko View Post
                  I'm sure that if HCB was in his prime today he would use an E-M5II.
                  ..... No doubt with the 12 ~ 40 f2.8 zoom fitted.
                  ---------------

                  Naughty Nigel


                  Difficult is worth doing

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                  • #10
                    Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                    Personally I doubt someone in the mould of HC-B, or indeed the man himself would use a zoom on the street. Fixed focal length all the way. No one Ive met who does 'street' uses a zoom, there's too much indecision knowing what fl to use. The serious street photographer uses a fixed fl, either 35 or 50 (in ff terms) sticks to one lens and learns to see as the chosen lens does. You have to be able to see the shot before lifting the camera.

                    My belief is HC-B would want manual controls for aperture and shutter speed, and the ability to zone without the need of lifting the camera.
                    Steve

                    on flickr

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                    • #11
                      Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                      he would be like me; take up the modern stuff like an em1 and then be cursing how complicated the damn thing can be. LOL I had look up how to put the silly flash on the em1 last friday night . [1st time I have used it]

                      He liked the Leica because it was unlike the Oly and most digital cameras with far too many options. Even a mobile/cell phone have too many options now

                      Photos by Ian Browne on Facebook

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                      • #12
                        Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                        I'm like you IanB, I fail to see why something as simple as exposure in terms of three variables can be made to be so damn confusing. Menus should be seen in restaurants only, certainly not on cameras. As regards to focusing, well the designers and marketing people think they're so clever that they've removed the ability to zone focus effectively.

                        Cameras should be simple to operate and use, that leads me to conclude that HCB would bypass all the modern computer-cameras stuff and reach for an MP or an MA, the latter being the most dependable camera ever made; no need to replace batteries, no need to send away for repairs, just a simple mechanical masterpiece.
                        Steve

                        on flickr

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                        • #13
                          Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                          Originally posted by Beagletorque View Post
                          If he was alive today and read this he would be spinning in his grave.
                          I see what you did there!
                          John

                          "A hundredth of a second here, a hundredth of a second there � even if you put them end to end, they still only add up to one, two, perhaps three seconds, snatched from eternity." ~ Robert Doisneau

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                          • #14
                            Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                            Originally posted by Ricoh View Post
                            Personally I doubt someone in the mould of HC-B, or indeed the man himself would use a zoom on the street. Fixed focal length all the way. No one Ive met who does 'street' uses a zoom, there's too much indecision knowing what fl to use. The serious street photographer uses a fixed fl, either 35 or 50 (in ff terms) sticks to one lens and learns to see as the chosen lens does. You have to be able to see the shot before lifting the camera.

                            My belief is HC-B would want manual controls for aperture and shutter speed, and the ability to zone without the need of lifting the camera.
                            That's why Leicas are still made, there is a demand. Mind you, it's difficult to say with any certainty what HCB would have thought of modern mirrorless digital cameras; whilst it is true that he used simple equipment it is also true that only simple equipment was available.
                            John

                            "A hundredth of a second here, a hundredth of a second there � even if you put them end to end, they still only add up to one, two, perhaps three seconds, snatched from eternity." ~ Robert Doisneau

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: If Henri Cartier-Bresson was still alive...

                              Originally posted by Zuiko View Post
                              That's why Leicas are still made, there is a demand. Mind you, it's difficult to say with any certainty what HCB would have thought of modern mirrorless digital cameras; whilst it is true that he used simple equipment it is also true that only simple equipment was available.
                              The modern cameras or certainly the EM-5 Mk1 and ii cameras are as simple or as complicated as you want to make them. You can turn all the info off in the EVF or have it all on or somewhere in between, can use A mode, S mode or Manual, auto focus or manual focus, fixed ISO or auto ISO etc, the basic controls are still there if you ignore the switches, aperture and shutter adjustment by the 2 dials, shutter works as it always has on any camera so if you prefer a nice simple camera after initial setup you have one.

                              Paul

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