Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Bruce, you make a great point about the amount of used G cameras on the market. I was thinking of buying one for my wife to use as an advanced point and shoot, but am warned off by the 6-10 bodies that are always available used at my favorite photo shop. While the lenses seem to be excellent, the camera is apparantly not perfected yet. Condsidering the relatively small amount of G cameras ever made it is alarming to see so many available used. Too bad, since I would love to have one as an alternative body. I have used Contax SLR's and the optical quality is quite astounding for the prices.... Best Wishes Dan > >This doesn't pass the smell test, Eric. I was living in Japan when both the >G1 and G2 came out. Nippon Camera, Asahi Camera, Capa, Photo Contest, the >big, thick, photography monthlies had page after page after page of G-M >comparison charts, photos, testimonials, the whole works -- surrounded by >Contax ads. Everyone knew what was up. The Japanese, to their credit, are >Leica obsessed (check the ads in those magazines, for example). The >companies did nothing to distance themselves from the comparison -- in fact >they actively, if subtlely, encouraged it in their advertising -- until it >became obvious that the G would not be the Leica-killer (their words, not >mine) that it was intended to be. THEN, the company flaks changed their >story and started to deny it was ever the purpose. Right. > >Sidelight: The number of new trial-balloon cameras introduced in Japan on a >yearly basis is relentlous. Not all make it to the export market. But >within mere weeks you can tell what's a success and what isn't just by >making the rounds to the used equipment shops, which abound, especially in >Tokyo and Osaka. In no time G1s and 2s started to pop up on the shelves >faster than anything I could remember. That was the main thing that raised >my eyebrows about those cameras. You're dead right about the viewfinder, >focus, and lens speed. > >Regards, >Bruce Feldman >Warsaw > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Eric Welch <ewelch@ponyexpress.net> > >>>In addition, by all accounts, the G2 was *intended* to >>>compete with >>>the M. >> >>Not al accounts, and in fact not the ones that count. I had a conversation >>with Blake Ziegler, who was very influential in the design and final >>execution of this camera - and yes I know he's the U.S. rep for Contax, but >>that is the case. >> >>He has specifically stated, and if he says it, it's got to be true, that it >>was not meant to compete directly with the M6, but the carve out a Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com