Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/04

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: Digilux 2, now What's Next?
From: "Leonard J Kapner" <ljkapner@cox.net>
Date: Sun, 4 Jan 2004 10:24:04 -0800

Friends,

I think I'm with Ted Grant on this one. The Canon G5 is an excellent digital
point-and-shoot, a useful digital camera FAR better in my estimation than
the current Digilux 1, save the large display which is a real asset. 

But the G5's still not ideal, in my view. Control positioning and
propagation is far too fussy for my tastes. It's got at least one of every
type of touch control mechanism known to man on its body. Can a busy
photographer working in the field really make effective use of 18 different
controls, when an M-Series camera does pretty well with 4?!

I will readily admit I very much like the looks of the Digilux 2 prototypes
I've seen in print and on screen so far, as they remind me of the M-Series
cameras, but cosmetics and design cues are pretty far down on my personal
list of "must have" features. No doubt attractiveness is important in
getting the product off the shelf and into the prospective purchaser's
hands, but it's not near enough to make me a buyer at the US$1,850 retail
price point that's been suggested; I think $1,000 is more like it.

For one, I will be much happier if (when) the digital camera designers take
back high ground from the computer engineers and we begin to see a range of
superior-to-film products with really excellent viewfinder systems,
intuitive and simplified control capabilities with menu systems stack-ranked
by frequency and necessity of use, near zero shutter lag and ergonomics that
approach the brilliant utility of the current M-Series cameras. As serious
photographers, amateurs and pros alike, I suspect this is what we all want. 

A camera system with these attributes will happen eventually, I'm sure, as
the amount of capital and column-inches being poured into this segment mean
that reaching that goal is a virtual certainty. It's just a matter of
time...

Will Leica Camera be the ones to do it? Is the Digilux 2 that answer? Does
it come closer to my personal "bull's eye" than competitive products?

We'll know in a month or so...

Len
Leonard J Kapner
E-Mail: ljkapner@cox.net 
Tel: (310) 377-5060 / Mobile: (310) 291-0140
 
- --

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Will von
Dauster
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 9:22 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Digilux 2 images on Leica-Camera.com

My local dealer yesterday showed me the MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) 
in the Leica book for the D2 at US $1850.

Yes, too high for what it is.

Will von Dauster
Denver

(snip)

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