Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/07/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]. I mean if you are going to shoot SLR, why not Contax or Nikon? > And then if you must shoot Leica SLR, it would seem that an SL or SL 2 > would be the only way to go. You know, German through and through, not some > Jap/German hybrid, which is neither fish nor fowl. That's from my limited > observation. I personally would never spend the kind of cash that's needed > for a current R series. Nikon SLR cameras and lenses are great as are the premium Canon bodies and their "L" lenses. HOWEVER, as I have pointed out in this group before, the respected German magazine Color Foto has consistently proven in exhaustive testing that Leica lenses are the reference lenses of the world . It is for this reason that I do not agree with recent postings begging for off brand lenses to be made in the Leica mount. A camera body is a device to hold film flat and expose film with an accurate shutter. A meter is not necessary. Most high end Japanese cameras do this as well as Lieca. It is the Leica LENSES that distinguishes the Leica system be it RF or SLR. By the way, Eric is correct when he states that some of the finest Leica lenses are made for the SLR system. My candidates would include the entire APO line but especially the 100mm, 180mm and the new zoom 70-180mm. Perhaps, Leica should offer their lenses in Nikon and Canon mounts!! The prices are high but the Japanese manufacturers are catching up. Leica sells far fewer pieces so that R&D, being spread over fewer units manufactured, results in higher marginal costs. Buy used equipment. Tamarkin and Co., Don Chatterton and Jim Kuehl are all reputable. I have bought tens of thousands of dollars of equipment from them with complete satisfaction. Paul T. Collura pcollura@epix.net