[Leica] Give Erwin some credit (long)

[Dante A Stella <dante@umich.edu>]

Contrary to what some seem to suggest, I think that Erwin is more
open-minded than some people here give him credit for.  When it comes to
his writing and style, which sometimes make people angry, all I have to
ask a lot of people here is, "how is your Dutch?"

One thing that could be addressed: the things that get on the web site
(and therefore persist in the public view) are those which do not really
discuss the positive aspects of anyone's products but Leica.  The LUG
articles tend to disappear off the radar screen and the web articles are
the remainder.  This tends to only tell part of the story.  Maybe that
is why it can be so easy to conclude that the reviews are one-sided.

* * * * *

For example, with the Hexar RF, the "First Impression" on the website
might make you think that Erwin hates it.  It includes statements to the
effect that lower MTF lenses are designed to cover up focusing errors,
etc.

When you dredge up the LUG article about Erwin's testing of it, it
discusses the differences between a Leica M and the RF, and Erwin
actually has a lot of nice things about the RF in it, such as the
transparency, the intuitive nature, etc.  It even goes so far as to say

"First of all some observations. The noise of the motorwinder is very
low and while in two very distinct clicks, is on M level per click."

"Again in practical  shooting the number of success pictures is very
high.
The automatic exposure is a real pleasure to work with.  It is fast,
troublefree and your shooting becomes relaxed and intuitive. No
anxiety about exposure errors or manual adjustments. For street
scenes and all kinds of casual photography the Hexar is a serious
consideration and a competitor to Leica, without any doubt."

and

"The Konica then is a very fine mix of M body and RF system, Contax G
shutter and electronics. It is not the best of both worlds but a
viable alternative, a kind of third road so favored in politics.
A non-Leica user who wishes to downgrade from a complex SLR or to
upgrade from a compact or lowlevel SLR might be more tempted to buy a
Hexar than a Leica M. Which is fine with me. More RF system buyers
will broaden the market niche."

finally, it concludes

"The Hexar is at least functionally capable of challenging one segment
of the Leica domain: the casual and intuitive shooting style."

* * * * *

Personally, I wish he would put more the the articles on his web-site in
their entirety for a given subject matter, because it would head off a
lot of the criticism he attracts here.  You will find searching the
archives that he has actually tested (and said nice things about) a lot
of non-Leica gear.

Sure, he likes Leica - but that's his hobby.  It's just like the Ford
vs. Chevrolet thing, the BMW vs. Mercedes, Omega vs. Rolex, etc.  His
enthusiasm is understandable.

I think Erwin does a good job in general.  How many of you have sat down
with all of those lenses and compared them at all?  It's a lot of work.
Give the guy some credit.