[Leica] Leica in the LUG

[jon.streeter at cox.net (jon.streeter)]

:D 
Great post, Peter.  Right on ze mark.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone

----- Reply message -----
From: "Peter Klein" <pklein at threshinc.com>
To: "lug" <lug at leica-users.org>
Subject: [Leica] Leica in the LUG
Date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 12:20 am


Geoff:  You're not alone. I am interested.  I really am. But:

1. The M (240) is not yet available.
2. When it becomes available, it will only be available to the folks that 
pre-ordered it.
3. Then it will become unavailable again.
4. The usual Web sites will publish glowing articles an how bleeping 
incredible the camera is and how no serious photographer could possibly live 
without it.
5. The other usual Web sites will publish snarky articles about how the 
camera takes OK pictures, but nothing you couldn't do with a much more 
versatile midrange C or N, about how it's neck jewelry for the "1%," and 
about how they're not sure how Leica can still exist, even though it does.
6. Someone on the Internet will find something seriously wrong with it.
7. There will be several weeks/months of debate on whether the above 
complainer used proper methodology, whether it's really a problem, and 
whether Leica will survive the outrage.
8. Leica will fix whatever problem was found.
9. The camera will become available again.
10. Something Later and Newer will capture the attention of the photographic 
hive mind.

It's somewhere between Steps 8 and 10 that I will consider whether the new M 
might improve my photography sufficiently that it would be worth selling a 
bunch of stuff and depleting my retirement savings to buy it.  If it would, 
I may bite. If not, I might upgrade to an M9 that a new M purchaser is 
unloading.  Meanwhile, I'm reading everything I can about the new M.  I'm 
hoping the new sensor puts it in the same high ISO ballpark as the better 
DSLRs and the Fuji X-Pro 1. I'm optimistic that it will still show the 
character of those incrediblishe lensen vee love zo much  (mit apologies to 
Jon Streeter  :-)

In the meantime, I continue to shoot with my M8 (remember them?). And also 
with an un-Leica with very modern technology (Oly OM-D E-M5) for the things 
that a rangefinder and digital Leicas don't do as well. Unfortunately, that 
includes ISOs of over 800.

Knock wood, I can still focus an RF at one year shy of 60, and it's still my 
preferred way of working. If I had money to burn, I would already own an 
MM--I love B&W, and it does beautiful high ISO. And if hard times hit and I 
had to sell all my toys but a few, I'd keep my M6 and a 50 Summicron, and 
shoot whatever fast B&W film was out there.

So, can I stay?  :-)

--Peter

Geoff Hopkinson wrote:
> Am I alone in being also interested in the forthcoming new Leica cameras
> here? Post activity sometimes seems to be anything but Leica
> My delete key is wearing out prematurely ;-)
> Paradigm shifts, Fujis, Sonys, DXO whatever,.... can't tell the
> difference.....a new crop of why product X or S is better than the M9,
> three years after the M9 actually came out and it is discontinued now
> anyway.
> The M typ 240  will be a huge evolution. Mine's on order. I guess we have
> no S system owners at all? but that new model is also evolving a great > 
> deal.
> At least the Monochrom is of interest and that one really is a "paradigm
> shift"
> Jeesh!
>
> Cheers,
> Geoff
> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman


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