[Leica] Advice wanted for carry camera.

[meino at innerside.demon.nl (Meino de Graaf)]

Leica X1

Lawrence Zeitlin wrote:
> My wife calls me an adventitious photographer. She says I don't compose, I
> just shoot.
> 
> 
> For the last 50 years I've carried a camera with me most of the time and
> react almost instantly to a photo op. The camera has to be pocket sized so
> that it won't interfere with whatever else I am doing. For years it was an
> old Leica IIIc with a 35 mm f2.8 Canon lens or a 50 mm Elmar that could fit
> into the side pocket of a windbreaker. When I traveled it was usually a
> Rollei 35 in a small belt holster. I even carried a Minox when I wore a 
> suit
> and tie. True, I owned bigger and more professional equipment which I used
> when I had to take serious pictures but they were usually too bulky to 
> carry
> everyday. But for a variety of reasons I gave up my wet darkroom and my 
> film
> cameras became too inconvenient to use. Now I carry a wafer thin Canon
> SD1200IS. It has a 10 MP sensor and is smaller and lighter than any of the
> others (except the Minox).
> 
> 
> The big problem is that when I post pictures to the LUG, I can see obvious
> quality differences between my pocket cameras and the M8 and M9 Leicas and
> DSLRs that most Luggers use. What I would like is suggestions for a carry
> digital camera that will close the gap. I don't expect M9 quality but I
> don't want to be embarrassed either. My criteria are the the camera has to
> be smaller and much lighter than a Barnack Leica and have an optical
> viewfinder. The optical finder is necessary because I wear bifocals and 
> have
> to bob my head up and down like a pigeon when using a LCD camera screen. 
> I'm
> not sure if any of the new 4/3 cameras will fill the bill but I'm not
> opposed to the format. I own an Olympus DSLR and I find it more than
> adequate. The problem is that I live more than 50 miles from any large
> camera store and I don't get to see and handle any of the newer compact
> cameras.
> 
> 
> Can any Lugger offer suggestions for a good carry camera?
> 
> 
> Larry Z
> 
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