Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/06/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Seth, This is true of most manufacturers, with some exceptions. It is nothing that is unique to Leica. I have Nikon lenses of the same vintage, which are as good, and available used for a fraction of the price, still usable on selected new bodies, and this applies to Pentax and as well. As with Leica, those Nikon lenses, with some exceptions (105mm f2.5, 55mm micro) are inferior to the equivalents available today. I still use an early 1950s 35mm f3.5 Summaron on my Double Stroke M3s, and have sold off a host of 1950s/60s Leica lenses whose performances, IMHO, are just not good enough by today's standards, replacing them with newer designs - though I can see very little advantage in upgrading my M3 bodies. Leica makes great stuff, but on the whole, their older lenses are not a patch on the latest Japanese designs. I still think that they will eventually survive as a company only as a lens manufacturer, churning out their superb lenses in various lens mounts. I also feel that the Canon LTM lenses and bodies - I have no experience with Nikon rangefinders - are far superior (no fogging, scratching, etc) and much easier to use than the Leica equivalents of that era. These are personal opinions - YMMV. Cheers Jayanand On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 7:05 PM, Seth Rosner <sethrosner@nycap.rr.com> wrote: > Jayanand, put aside the collectors who basically are interested in mint > examples. The retention of value of Leitz/Leica glass (and cameras of > course) reflects the fact that their optical performance and build quality > assure their usefulness for decades. One doesn't have to buy and re-buy > every several years. My everyday user M-lenses currently are (when I don't > need speed which is most often) a 35/2,8 Summaron and 50/2 rigid Summicron > (both1967 production) and a 90/2,8 Elmarit (1970 production). The cameras > are my first M4 (1967) and M6 (1985). The cameras have been CLA'd once > each; > the lenses have not needed anything, though Ernst Hartmann at Leica New > Jersey said the 50 Summicron was a bit dry and could use a bit of lube on > the helicoids. > > Best, > > Seth > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jayanand Govindaraj" < > jayanand@gmail.com> > To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> > Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:16 AM > > Subject: Re: [Leica] M8 and the WAR > > > Geoff, >> Exactly what I mean - retention of value is only of interest to a >> collector >> - users prefer bang for the buck!! Dont tell me that a 50mm Summicron is >> so >> far ahead of a 50mm f1.8 Nikkor (or Canon) that the price differentials >> are >> justified. I can buy the 50mm Nikkor and give it away if I so feel after a >> few years - I lose only 100 bucks. The loss on the Summicron would be much >> greater, however well it retained its value. This "retention of value" is >> a >> chimera - a lot depends on the purchase price, and percentages have no >> meaning, only absolute numbers. >> >> After shooting digital with the crop factor (D70, D40X, D300), I have >> realised that even halfway decent full frame lenses produce great results, >> because you only use the center portion of the image. It should be >> different >> for full frame digital, though of which I have no experience! >> Cheers >> Jayanand >> >> On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 12:04 PM, Geoff Hopkinson < >> hoppyman@bigpond.net.au> >> wrote: >> >> Hi Jayanand, I thought we might hear from you when I mentioned Nikon vs. >>> Leica ;-) The key word in my comments was RETENTION of value, being new >>> price vs. current price. Once you've paid for those M lenses they can >>> work >>> for you and remain valuable for a very long time. Yes, you can buy a lot >>> of >>> used Nikon manual gear cheaply now for a rugged film outfit. >>> Actually it is an interesting thread with a number of different issues >>> being >>> talked about, especially the performance of all digital cameras mentioned >>> compared to the more rugged designs of pro film cameras. >>> This week a story was related to me regarding a war photographer who is >>> living here now. I got to see a proof run of prints of photographs by him >>> during the Vietnam conflict. Evidently he survived an exploding grenade >>> when >>> shrapnel struck his Leica camera while he was holding it to his face. >>> >>> Cheers >>> Geoff >>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/e >>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/ >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> Subject: Re: [Leica] M8 and the WAR >>> >>> Geoff, >>> Also guess which is the better value now - the F3 is built like a rock, >>> and >>> is a very flexible system, thanks to various accessories that are >>> available >>> (viewfinders, focus screens,etc,etc)...some of those AIS lenses are no >>> slouches either. Depends on whether you are a collector or user. >>> Cheers >>> Jayanand >>> >>> On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 4:59 AM, Geoff Hopkinson < >>> hoppyman@bigpond.net.au> >>> wrote: >>> ......On mechanical solid film kit second hand prices, all six of my >>> remaining manual focus well built Nikon primes are currently for sale, >>> for >>> a >>> total of about one half... the value of a single modern used Leica M >>> lens, >>> .... Guess which kit has better value retention ;-) >>> > Cheers Geoff >>> > -----Original Message----- >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >