Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/02/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Nice message..... very considerate of you. - -----Original Message----- From: B. D. Colen [mailto:BDColen@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, February 04, 1999 8:07 AM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: RE: [Leica] Buying R8,need advice on lenses conclusion Are we ever going to get beyond this kind of stuff on this list: There is absolutely no question that the M is the world's best rangefinder 35. Period. No arguement. But folks of goodwill can certainly disagree about where the R8 fits in a quite crowded field of professional level SLRs. Are the optics THE BEST when measured by the Putts standards? If Erwin says they are, I believe him. But the body? I played with one at a dealer recently and I have to say I was seriously unimpressed. Yes, the ergonomics are..."interesting..." However, the camera had a "cheap" feel to it when compared to the F5, F4 or even the F3. Were the body $800, I'd say, great...but I'd suggest that the prices being asked are rediculous for a non-auto focus camera with good, but hardly state-of-the-art metering, flash, motor-drive, and accessories available. For those who love the R8, enjoy. God knows the people on this list such as Ted, Eric, who are true believers, turn out work to rival any produced anywhere, with any camera. But can't we just leave it at saying that if you want Leica optics on an SLR, the R8 is the best camera you can buy, instead of denigrating those who feel otherwise? B. D. Peter K