[Leica] autofocus

[dvcinc@postoffice.swbell.net]

I have used Leicas exclusively for over 25 years. I have a very
extensive R system and an M6 and M4 with 21mm to 90mm lenses. I have
been very satisfied with leica products and service. I have had few
problems and when I have had problems Leica has always been willing to
remedy them. I sold my Nikon F2 and lenses and purchased Leica reflex
with an SL and then R3 because I liked the bright viewfinder of the SL.I
also preferred the Leica lenses although I could only see a significant
difference in perhaps 20% of the shots.

I recently acquired my first autofocus camera, a Nikon F5 and 35-70f2.8
and 80-200 f2.8 lenses. I did this because at age 66 I simply cannot
focus as fast as I used to be able to do. About 40% of my photography
involves trains. With the R8 and winder I might get a couple sharp shots
of a train moving 35 to 45 mph. With the F5 I can easily get 5 or more
sharp shots. I was amazed at how many more sharp shots I get of moving
objects with autofocus. I really like the F5. It is an amazing camera. I
love the meter and viewfinder and it handles very well. I love the R8
also. It is the best reflex Leica I have ever owned. I got tired of
waiting for a motor drive, and that combined with the feeling that maybe
I should try autofocus, prompted me to buy the F5.

I have compared photos of the same subject taken with the Nikon zooms
with my Leica 35-70 f4 and 80-200f4 lenses. I really cannot tell much
difference frankly. I maybe like the Leica color rendition a little
better but I have no complaints about the sharpness of the Nikon lenses.
I can definitely see why few pros use Leica today.

However, that does not mean that I am willing to write off Leica and its
future. I am an investment banker and know a little about companies and
how they get in trouble and how they recover. Leica is a classic case.
There are some similarities with Mercedes Benz a half dozen years ago.
There too we had a company run by engineers with little regard for the
realities of the marketplace. The company reorganized with new
management. They developed new, competitive products at very competitive
prices with the result that last year their US sales finally topped 1986
sales. Leica has a new CEO. I liked what I read in the interview in
Leica Fotographie. He admitted that Leica could not develop an autofocus
reflex camera on their own. He has only been on the job a couple months.
The stock has doubled in price with means people who put their money
where their mouth is are discounting a significant improvement in the
company's performance. I like that.

I do not know what Leica is going to do from a product point of view.
But I am confident they will be here tomorrow and that my heavy
investment in Leica will not have to  be written off. The only thing
that might change my mind is if I thought Leica management was wasting
their time monitoring this newsgroup and considering some of the
suggestions I have read from the resident backseat strategists. If that
were the case I would short the stock. I went to the same leica days
event as Eric. The rep, who knows absolutely nothing, predicted Leica
would have an autofocus SLR in 2  years. Well, maybe, but 2 years is a
pretty short time to bring out a whole new product line while management
is also trying to reorganize the company.

In summary, I find autofocus is a big help to me in some situations. I
do not intend to dispose of my Leicas. For macro work I cannot imagine
not using my 100 APO for example. And, I would not part with my 180 APO.
I would hate to part with my 280 APO but the thought of Nikon's 300 AFS
has me thinking.

Bob