[Leica] Re: so called "R8 glut"

[Jim Brick <jimbrick@photoaccess.com>]

At 08:29 AM 11/11/99 -0800, Ted Grant wrote:
>
>I agree with you, as that has been my feelings since the R8 came out. Many
>of the detractors were making comments from looking at magazines, played
>with it for a few minutes in the store, never used it real time, had small
>human hands and were ergonomically challenged. Therefore the camera was all
>bad!
>
>Hell they were even shooting it down because it didn't "look nice!" Which I
>can't ever figure out what "looking nice" has to do with successful
>pictures.
>
>Ted Grant

I will admit that I was one of the early detractors. But not because of
looks or function, but because it was introduced with no system components
AND they had an abnormally high rate of infant mortality.

A professional could not logically move to the R8 for these two reasons. I
believe Ted's first R8 was DOA.

My point was that it is not a viable system until these faults are fixed,
the production is stable, and accessories available.

That seems to be the case now and based upon what I've seen, first hand and
second hand, it is a dynamite system and worthy of the Leica name.

Unfortunately, once a questionable reputation is earned, it takes a long
time to turn it around. There is a glut of used R8's on the market and a
negative glut of used R7's. This will change.

Were I to purchase a new R camera tomorrow, It would indeed be an R8.

Jim