Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/07/25

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Subject: Re: M use
From: Thomas Kachadurian <kach@freeway.net>
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 21:38:41 -0400

Hans:

You have hit the mark exactly. I shot only Nikon for 20 years, and happily
shot with my FM-2 and FE-2s for years. In the late '80s I dipped my toe
into AF Nikons and before long I had completely changed my kit to AF. I
shuffled lenses and bodies, I switched to Canon EOS (which I still have
now) but I have never truly embraced any of them. A bit over a year ago I
bought my first Leica M for a personal camera, just to carry around. Within
2 months I had added a second lens, and found the Leica going to work more
and the EOS staying at home. Now I have a complete Leica M kit and find it
is my #1 work camera for 35mm film. In the last three months of heavy
shooting I have only used my EOS 5 times, and always to mount a 300mm lens. 

The M is pecise and simple, and for the first time in 8 years I am not
shoting with a camera that makes me say "If I could just have . . . "

Tom 

At 03:30 PM 7/25/97 +0200, you wrote:
>> But if Leica Camera doesn't introduce new,
>> interesting, trend setting products which is better, 
>> or at least as good as the concurrence, they are bound to die.
>
>I wonder if it is that simple? I think that lots of people are getting
>tired of the fast change of models, with features noone asked for. Now I am
>simplifying quite a bit, but it costs a lot of money to change electronic
>cameras the same way as we change our computers.
>The Leica niche, at least for the M, is to produce a camera with the basic
>functions to deliver high quality pictures. As a matter of fact, I like the
>idea of a camera that is so good, that it has survived since the first M3.
>I also like to use the same camera  as in the 1970:s, because I am
>nostalgic. Think about it Oddmund: If you are happy with the Leica, and buy
>an M6, you will be able to use it for many many years. If you buy a trend
>produduct, it will be obsolete in a few years.
>At present, Leica seems to improve some of the M-lenses, and that is fine
>by me.
>(My wife is very concerned about enviromental issues. She has seen me using
>M:s since we got married in 1974, and it is easier to bring home Leica
>equipment than the latest Japanese innovations, that have a much shorter
>life span...).
>
>Regards, Hans
>
>PS Oddmund, welcome back!
>- - - - - - -
>Mail: hans.pahlen@mark.komvux.se
>Home: http://www.komvux.mark.se/hp635.htm
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