[Leica] Leica R: Is It Worth It?

["Mitchell Halpern" <dotcalm@ix.netcom.com>]

Hi LUGers:

Here's the scoop. As discussed before in this forum, I am a new Leica
afficionado that has been amazed at the quality of the transparencies shot
with an M6 TTL, 35 f/2 Asph, and 90 f/2.8 Elmarit in terms of color
saturation, contrast, and detail. Of course, rangefinder photography has its
limitations (macro, telephoto etc.), so I do not want to abandon SLR
photography.

Over the years, I have assembled a pretty decent collection of N***n SLR
equipment. However, the quality of transparencies being produced by the
Leica M setup has me wondering if Leica R equipment would be equally
impressive. Is it worth selling the Nikon equipment and beginning to
assemble a Leica R kit, especially given the outrageous prices of many R
lenses or are the quality of N***n pro lenses pretty darn close to Leica R
lenses?

I would appreciate some practical advice, especially given the fact that I
am off to NYC for a long weekend to attend a high school reunion and plan on
visiting Leica House, Tamarkin, etc.

Thanks,

Mitch Halpern
Menlo Park, CA