Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/10/31

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica R 80-200/4 zoom
From: Jim Laurel <jplaurel@microsoft.com>
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1998 17:24:01 -0800

Gee, Eric.  Hope you don't buy that Canon 70-200 for $1469.  That IS a
rip-off!  ;-)  And the $1995 price for the Leica zoom is also pretty high.

I picked up the Canon 70-200 2.8L from Camera World of Oregon around 5
months ago for $1250.  The Leica 80-200 Vario Elmar purchased locally from
Glazers in Seattle came to $1850 before tax.  So, you see my 50% figure is
about right.  It's actually low once you factor in the $100 rebate, which
brings the price down to $1150.

Again, I have to say that they're about equal in my experience.  I cannot
see any performance difference.  Even as die-hard Leica fans, we must admit
that the Canon 70-200L is a fine lens.  The 80-200 Vario Elmar is also quite
good and, while more compact, isn't that much lighter, and only has a max
aperture of f4.

- --Jim

- -----Original Message-----
From: Eric Welch [mailto:ewelch@ponyexpress.net]
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 1998 4:58 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica R 80-200/4 zoom


At 11:21 AM 10/28/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Hi Carsten,
>I've used this lens for a few months now and am pleased with it, although I
>don't feel it's any better optically than the Canon 70-200 2.8L, which I
use
>more often.  I'd call them about equal, except that the Canon lens is twice
>as fast and costs almost 50% less.

You got ripped off. It's supposed to be about 25% more, not 50%. And it
weighs a whole lot less, but then an R8 would make up for it in part. :-) 

I just got a price on a Canon 70-200 2.8 today - $1469. The Leica is $1995,
right? (I'm buying a digital outfit for a photographer - I'm NOT switching!)
- -- 

Eric Welch
St. Joseph, MO
http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch

Time is just one darn thing after another. - Anonymous