[Leica] Hexar RF in use

["Emanuel Lowi" <mano@proxyma.net>]

I just got back from my first assignment (for  The Gazette daily here in Montreal)
where I used the Hexar RF, Previously, I'd used the camera just for snapshots.

Here are some weaknesses:

1)  The strap lugs are badly placed so the camera isn't very comfortable hanging
around your neck, compared to a Leica;
2)  The lack of a left-hand frame line for the 28mm lens is a bit annoying;
3)  The auto rewind is about 5 seconds too slow, if you are in the midst of the
action. I actually once opened the back up before the leader was wound in all the
way, I was in such a hurry to re-load. Faster than a Leica, but the waiting hurts
still;
4)   The motor noise is so much more than the shutter noise, it's hard to hear
whether you fired at the right instant. Yet the shutter DOES release quickly, so this
is just a psychological barrier.

Good points:

1) The RF focussing is really good, Leica quality in all light conditions;
2)  The AE metering is VERY accurate, even in tricky situations my exposures were
right on;
3)  The camera is better than a Leica, IMHO, when using an accessory viewfinder lens
(I used the 21/2.8 ASPH today a lot) - you just do a little pre-focus and set a nice
medium f-stop and then ignore the camera's VF from then on - just keep shooting, AE
takes care of the rest.

Pictures in tomorrow morning's paper...

Emanuel Lowi
Montreal