RE: [Leica] Canon really has AF figured out...

[Jim Laurel <jplaurel@microsoft.com>]

Hi Mark,
Actually, I'm a real Leica fan!  And yes, I use them whenever I'm not
rushing down rivers.  Whenever I can, actually.  ;-)

You should also know that those wonderful, high tech, do everything AF
wondermachines also irritate the hell out of me.  I had a particularly nasty
experience trying to decipher the UI of an EOS A2E near the summit of Mount
Adams at dawn last year (without a manual).  But that's another story...
Thankfully, I also had my M6 stashed away in my pouch.  And it gave me an LA
Times front page shot that day!

But seriously, I feel an SLR system should be pretty flexible.  If Leica
made a competitive AF SLR system, I'd strongly consider buying into it.  But
I can't afford to carry multiple SLR systems, and the Canons do offer alot
of flexibility.  Until then, I'll keep using the Leica M and Canon EOS
systems side by side!

- --Jim

- -----Original Message-----
From: Mark Rabiner [mailto:mrabiner@concentric.net]
Sent: Friday, June 04, 1999 9:09 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Canon really has AF figured out...



WE KNEW THAT!
WHITE WATER RAFTING? They can't just hire just any top pro to do a
specialized job like that Jim! They have to hire you with your up to the
minute high tech AF gear! A pro who went with Leica R wouldn't have many
white water rafting assignments on their resumé would they? You are an
active fast shooting outdoorsman. Other photographers pro or otherwise
are a tad more sedate and don't go broke and their tools reflect that.
People who shoot things rushing at them a million miles an hour have AF
outfits. Other people focus and shoot. They might even use winders. A
winder/moterdrive is much more nessessary than AF and I've found I can
live without that 90% of the time too.
My point being you want AF there is plenty to choose from. You want a
camera system with Leicas parameters/priorities R or M you use Leica's.
Leica does not need to go AF to be competitive. Both their systems
command the highest respect and would loose that respect if they tried
to go against Canon/Nikon in what they do best. I guess you use Leica's
when you are not rushing down rivers?
Mark Rabiner