[Leica] Leica/Olympus

[Bernard Delgado <delgado@nytimes.com>]

>Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 13:08:08 -0400
>From: "sam" <salex@idt.net>
>Subject: [Leica] Leica/Olympus
>
><<. . .reflex project...the OM bodies are, after all, pretty close to being
>the M's of the reflex world, at least in terms of size, etc...Okay, there
>are some QC issues. . .>>>>
>
>I keep seeing references to OM quality and reliability. Other than the
>battery drain problems with some Om4's (fixed in the T's), I have never
>had a failure, repair, CLA, adjustment, etc. on any of the four OM's I
>use (and have used - heavily -for over 20 years). But then again, I may just
>be lucky.
>
>(A few years ago I decided to take the plunge and add the Leica R system to
>my M system. The first two R7's I purchased - new, grey - were defective.)
>
>sam alexander
>
>------------------------------

Hi
Yes, I have Leicas & some OM equipmnt. I've always thought that Leica
shouldve made a body closer in size to its Mbodies. The OM is actually
pretty close in size to the screwmount bodies. I have no problem holding on
to a Nikon F or Minolta 101 for an afternoon of shooting, BUT If I were out
shooting a pro job & needed to carry 2 or 3 bodies...I'd definitely prefer
to carry OM size cameras. You have to consider the human factor of just
plain getting tired.

The  two Om1 & OM1n that I have were purchased used & all developed funky
meters. I've other friends who have had metering problems. But hey, theyre
20 yr old cameras.  I enjoy using the zuiko 21/f2.

BTW, I think the AP used OM stuff for a while BUT it couldnt handle the
daily grind.

I have a press photog friend  who was given an OM setup to try out back in
the early `70's. He loved the size & thought the lenses were fine...but
went back to Nikon after the bodies gave him some trouble on an assignment.
He's using EOS now since Nikon was so slow to keep up w/ advancements.

To keep this in  Leica content, he just had his M3 repaired. I believe the
viewfinder went  & so he had an M6 viewfinder installed.

From what I can see, one of the main reasons why you see so many pro
shooters using EOS gear is because Canon aggressively maintains a presence
by sending reps to demo gear & give out freebees & do equipmnt checks.

But one Photo Studio Manager did tell me that after his pool equipmnt went
over to Canon, he'd seen more repairs in 5 years w/ EOS than in the
previous 20 w/ Nikon.

I've seen plenty of press photogs using Leicas...but I cant ever remember
seeing one using a leica R.
- -BMD