Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/11/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]D3 never looked back. Finally a DSLR that works...(and I do not shoot Canon so maybe there is a Canon as well)...D4 a bit of a disappointment as an upgrade path (WHY?) but the D800...wow... As much as I love me Leicas...why bother to buy one? If I want a compact kit to deliver superb images..the Fuji KIT KIT KIT with EVERY LENS costs less than an M9 BODY... On Nov 29, 2012, at 10:49 PM, Phil Forrest wrote: > If they had wanted to capture a new market segment, they would have > updated the R mount with a dedicated full frame body compatible with R > lenses. They could have "sold out" just a bit and had a company such as > Sony produce autofocus lenses to Leica spec and with this capability, > they could have built the digital version of the Nikon F4. Backward > compatible but forward thinking. If someone stuck the guts of the D3 > into an R9 or even just adapted the linkage from the R series to use > the R lenses with full function (no stop down metering) on a Nikon or > Canon full frame DSLR, there would be a decent sized line of people > waiting to get theirs. > > But Leica wants to stick to their current user constituency, with their > same form UI factor, hoping that it's sustainable. > > I love Leica's old mechanical cameras and I'll never get rid of my M4 > but Leica will have to work very hard to make me come back and even > harder to seduce people my age to invest in their products. > > Phil Forrest > > > > On Thu, 29 Nov 2012 22:30:42 -0800 > "jon.streeter" <jon.streeter at cox.net> wrote: > >> This is the state of my understanding at the moment. Leica needs to >> build a better mousetrap. >> >> Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone >> >> ----- Reply message ----- >> From: "Phil Forrest" <photo.forrest at earthlink.net> >> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> >> Subject: [Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use >> Date: Thu, Nov 29, 2012 9:48 pm >> >> >> Nope, won't happen. >> The Leica M9 failure rate was far too high for news professionals to >> consider using them for work. It's a fun hobby camera but for the hard >> working journalist, the Leica doesn't cut it. Both my M8 and M9 spent >> about 40% of the time I owned them out at Leica for repairs. I >> personally know owners of a total of nine other M9s in the >> Philadelphia area and every single one of them had to go back to >> Leica a few times. One of my friends went through three shutters in >> his M8 then two shutters and a sensor in his M9. And he's a working >> pro in Philly who luckily has Canon gear for backup but while his >> Leica was out at the factory, the backup became the regular camera. >> >> All of the digital Leicas I have seen have had to have sensors >> remapped or replaced due to the hot pixel / vertical line issues. So, >> about 20 digital Leica M bodies in the Philly area that are owned by >> acquaintances of mine and 100% of them had to be repaired. Not >> reliable enough for a premium product. For a camera that costs that >> much, it should not only be reliable, it should be PERFECT. >> >> You said the M9 was going to be the game changer a few years ago, >> Mark. It didn't happen. It drove myself and two of my friends AWAY >> from Leica as a matter of fact due to their incredible expense, slow >> service, and then their declining support for the still excellent M8. >> >> So again, we won't see Leicas taking their place in the journalism >> world. Everyone knew the rangefinder was on its way out by 1960, so >> why would that change today? >> >> Phil Forrest >> >> >> On Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:58:56 -0500 >> Mark Rabiner <mark at rabinergroup.com> wrote: >> >>> I do think though the M9 worked and the M is going to work a whole >>> lot better and there are a huge amount of used Leica glass out >>> there in a gamut of price points. Pros are familiar with what Leica >>> rangefinders have done in the not too distant past and will be >>> interested like they always have in what that might add to their >>> work. I think the M is going to be a huge success for Leica and >>> we'll be seeing articles about pros using them for jobs. We didn't >>> wee that with the M9. We will see it with the M. Imagine shooting >>> an f1 lens @ iso 6400! And video clips. I think the new M will get >>> Pro support in the market; and Leica will be back in the hot spot >>> at least where they were in the 90's. When sure a small amount of >>> shooter used Leica but in each group there usually was at least one. >>> >>> Mark William Rabiner >>> Photography >>> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/ >>> >>> >>>> From: Chris Crawford <chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com> >>>> Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >>>> Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2012 20:52:31 -0500 >>>> To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> >>>> Subject: Re: [Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use >>>> >>>> Nikon and Canon digital SLRs are used by 99% of the world's >>>> professionals. Why? Because they're extremely reliable, have >>>> extensive lens and accessory systems, and those companies are the >>>> cutting edge technological leaders....and despite all that, they >>>> cost less than Leicas. >>>> >>>> Professional photographers of all types are hurting economically >>>> today, and that is especially true of journalists. They're poorly >>>> paid, and newspapers have been shedding staff photographers to >>>> save money. Leica has simply priced itself out of the professional >>>> market. It really is that simple. On top of that, Leica's digital >>>> cameras have had a lot of well-publicised technical and >>>> reliability problems. Pros need cameras that "Just Work", every >>>> time. Canon and Nikon cameras "Just Work". The lenses are >>>> affordable. The image quality is magnificent. Using Nikon or >>>> Canon is a no-brainer. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Chris Crawford >>>> Fine Art Photography >>>> Fort Wayne, Indiana >>>> 260-437-8990 >>>> >>>> http://www.chriscrawfordphoto.com My portfolio >>>> >>>> http://blog.chriscrawfordphoto.com My latest work! >>>> >>>> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Crawford/48229272798 >>>> Become a fan on Facebook >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 11/29/12 8:41 PM, "David Ching" <davidhhching1 at yahoo.com.sg> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Come on, don't tease, tell us all. Which one/s? Why, if you know >>>>> the reasons. >>>>> >>>>> And why not Leicas? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> David Ching >>>>> >> >> > > > > -- > http://philipforrestphoto.wordpress.com/ > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/philforrest > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information