Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/05/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Greg-- I totally understand the "weight" issue, especially when it comes to the wallet. Besides, it's good for the biceps to do that lifting. No need to go to the gym. With a 280 added in, that makes the curls even more productive for muscle-tone! :) Kit (kitmc@acmefoto.com) -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+kitmc=acmefoto.com@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+kitmc=acmefoto.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of GREG LORENZO Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 10:12 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: RE: [Leica] Ten years behind? I think not. Hi Kit, It is lighter... but not worth making my wallet about $800.00 lighter! My favorite R lenses are: The 100/2.8 (unless I'm shooting Grandma), 180/2.8, 280/2.8 and 35-70/2.8. Regards, Greg ----- Original Message ----- From: Kit McChesney <kitmc@acmefoto.com> Date: Friday, May 7, 2004 10:32 am Subject: RE: [Leica] Ten years behind? I think not. > Greg-- > > Not to make you feel bad, but the R9 is considerably lighter than > the 8. > What is/are your favorite lens/es, by the way? > > Kit (kitmc@acmefoto.com) > > -----Original Message----- > From: lug-bounces+kitmc=acmefoto.com@leica-users.org > [lug-bounces+kitmc=acmefoto.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of GREG > LORENZO > Sent: Friday, May 07, 2004 9:12 AM > To: Leica Users Group > Subject: Re: [Leica] Ten years behind? I think not. > > Hi Douglas, > > I was hoping that Leica would be updating the R6.2 when they > brought out the > R9 two years ago. They minor changes between the R8 and the R9 > (weight,lockup, etc.) were just not worth the price differential > between the two of > them. > > The R8 last a number of advantages over the R7 to me: The shape > fits my > hands like a glove, the incredibly bright viewfinder and the meter > is the > best meter in any camera I've ever used. I really like to use the > R8 the > most when in the studio. You can shoot from full Manual mode to > Full AE. I > generally use manual or Aperture Priority with the R8. > > The only downside to me is the weight. It is one heavy camera for > a long > hike in the woods. > > Regards, > > Greg > > PS: I found the prices you mention astronomical for CLA's. I use > KindermannCanada and Gerry Smith and I have never paid more than > $275 (Canadian) for > an Leica M or R CLA/Repair. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Douglas M. Sharp" <DouglasMSharp@netscape.net> > Date: Friday, May 7, 2004 9:47 am > Subject: Re: [Leica] Ten years behind? I think not. > > > Greg, > > I agree with you on the feel of the R8/9, I found that my > fingers > > just > > fall into place to turn twist or press whatever they should, > > BUT , after using Leicas from IIIG through M2, M6 , all the > SLs > > and > > all the Rs except the R4, for ME it is the ugliest brute of a > > camera > > I've ever laid eyes on. > > The SLs looked and felt as like really serious bits of > > engineering, > > The R3 was ok and the rest of the Rs were light, compact, quite > > ergonomically built and a dream to use whilst retaining the > > combination > > of precise workmanship, stability and all the other factors > > contributing > > to what the Germans call "Wertigkeit" > > > > If you look at the basic shape of the R8 it seems to be a retro- > > design > > harking back to the body shape of the Exaktas, and when you put > > the > > motor-drive > > on it's shaped like an army water canteen. (I think the people > > from > > Leicas binocular design group must have been in on the design > > process > > too.) > > A camera doesn't NEED to be the size of the R8, with the > > advances in > > micromotors and micro-electronics available at the time Leica > > could have > > reduced its size and weight by a third without any loss of > > stability or > > function. Contax started going in the right direction with the > > 137MD - > > compact, motorised and running > > on AA batteries, but unfortunately didn't follow up on this > design > > trend.I was on a tour of the factory in Solms a couple of years > > ago, just > > after the R8 came out. From what the users had to say about its > > bugs > > Leica should > > have waited a bit longer before releasing it : flash > > problems,electronics, scratched films, a weak tripod bush and > > various > > other teething troubles. To me it was a confession on the part > of > > the > > constructors that the R9 was released,considering a typical > Leica > > timeframe, such a relatively short time after the R8. > > > > Don't get me wrong, I love my Leicas and wouldn't do without > > them, I > > only wish they could have packed the new stuff into an R7 body. > > > > My real complaint about Leica is that for pretty basic > repairs,CLA > > or > > whatever you pay nearly the price of a mid-range SLR of any > other > > marque > > you'd > > like to name. (example : general service and adjustments plus a > > little > > bit of electronics on an R4mot electronic would have cost me > over > > 600 euros, > > 100 euros more than the price I had intended to pay for it s/h) > > > > Douglas > > > > BTW to those of us out there who took the plunge and bought the > R8 > > or 9 > > -- what real advantages did you get from it ? how often do you > use its > > extra functions ? do you feel that it's helping you to record > > better > > images ? > > > > GREG LORENZO schrieb: > > > > >I don't know any R8 users who don't like the feel, layout and > > features of the R8. I believe some people on the list who > > purchased an early R8 had some electronic gremlins which Leica > > seems to have dealt effectively with. (I've never had a single > > problem with mine.) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information