Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]- -----Original Message----- From: Tom Kumagai <kumagai@po.cnet-ma.ne.jp> >I would like to know more about Leica M's compared with its predecessors. If >you would please tell me >where to find out the differences. I am too isolated from the big cities to >see the real M3,M2,M4 or M6. >I understand the major difference is made by the state-of-art briteframe >finder and "M" bayonette mount. >but I know nothing else... > Hi Tom, The M-series is infinitely handier to use than the pretty-but-awkward screw-mount cameras! The M-series has rapid film winding, and, on the M4 and later models, rapid film RE-winding and loading as well. Cameras such as the IIIc and M3 are works of machinist's art, but from a user's point of view, the M6 (more plastic, less fancy machining) is much nicer. Well worth a weekend trip into the city to see, I think. >---------------- >I would like to ask you why some of you are picking on my country, being an >amateur I don't know much, >but at least I can say that Nikon, Canon,and Pentax are one of the best 35mm >cameras available. I agree that this "Japan ripped off the poor Germans" talk has not brought out the most likeable aspects of some LUG members, and it seems it did not occur without the implied consent of the postwar occupation forces, so who's to blame, really. To the best of my knowledge, the technology of precision-molding aspherical lens elements (as opposed to grinding them, at great expense) came from the Tamron, Sigma, or some such, and I for one, am not going to complain that the technology has made fine Leica lenses almost affordable! Leica seems content to use the best technologies from whatever source, so what's the big deal? Let 'em keep the "Made In Germany" label for purposes of brand identity and let 'em package it in their own unique way, but don't ask Leica users to go without!! As another of my many public services, I wish to help out our Hasselblad-owning friends by offering to dispose of those nasty Accu-Matte viewscreens, a Minolta ripoff. In exchange, I will provide a genuine stock viewscreen at no charge. Jeff