Re: [Leica] Reliability?

["Art Sala" <artsala@earthlink.net>]

Michael:

Contax makes a rather inexpensive adapter that will allow you to mount
their SLR lenses on the G1 & G2.  For what its worth, Contax also makes an
adapter to mount 'Blad Zeiss lenses on the Contax SLR.  Oh, if Leica could
have such a complete system!  But we love 'em, quirks, delays and all !!

Cheers,
Arturo
- ----------
> From: Michael Gatov <Wildmagic@csi.com>
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: [Leica] Reliability?
> Date: Sunday, August 15, 1999 4:54 PM
> 
> Hi:
> 
> I've been lurking for a couple of weeks, and I'm hoping I can get a bit
of
> advice.  First of all, I previouslly owned an M6 with a 50mm f2.0 and a
90mm
> f2.8.  I sold them to help me get into a Contax SLR system RTSIII, RX and
9
> lenses.   I've been genuinely thrilled with the results of the Zeiss
optics,
> and that led me to buy a G2.  I've also been very happy with that. So
much
> so that I've pretty much stopped using the SLR (since I use my H'blad
system
> when I'm willing to carry a bunch of weight).   The problem that I have
is
> that if I don't want to carry my Contax SLR, I'm not able to take
advantage
> of fast lenses.  While I'm thrilled with the performance of the G2, it
> simply does not have fast enough lenses for all of my needs.  I like to
> travel and generally only want to work with available light. I'm
> contemplating going back into the M6 and getting:  35mm 1.4 aspheric,
50mm
> noctilux, and the 90mm 2.0 aspheric.  I would use these in addition to
the G
> system.  It might be heresy to say it on this forum, but I prefer the
color
> rendition from the G optics to those of the M series lenses that I used.
> But that is irrelevant if I can't get the shot because there isn't enough
> light.
> 
> What is holding me back is the apparent unreliability of the current M6.
> I've had friends who have had the rangefinder needing to be sent back to
> Leica for repair on a regular basis (4 times in 2 years).  One guy simply
> had his camera slip off of his car seat and fall about 8" onto the carpet
> and it bumped it out of whack.  When I talked to our local pro-shop here
in
> Portland about how many M6's they have had to send back for customers,
> they've mentioned that quite a few have come in needing repair, moreso
than
> most other manufacturers bodies.
> 
> Now I know that the lenses are built like tanks, but I'm worried about
the
> body.  So, I'm hoping you can help me out with a few questions:
> 
> 1)  What is going on with the M6?  If I could find an M6J, would it be
built
> any better?
> 2)  Has anyone used the 90mm F2.0 Aspheric?  If so, how is its
performance?
> 3)  How is the 35mm f1.4 aspheric wide open, and also closed down to say
> f11?
> 4)  I've heard that the Noctilux lends a unique appearance to the
pictures.
> Can anyone describe it?
> 
> Thanks for listening,
> Regards,
> Michael
>