Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/12/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]All LUGgers: Had nice long conversation with Luis Casteneda in Miami yesterday and we touched on the R8. He has agreed to come to San Diego in March for a presentation to our local ASMP chapter (with sponsorship by Fuji and Leica). He was in Germany before and during Photokina and used the R8 extensively. In fact, for those who have received the large R8 brochure, his photo is the center spread of the young boy with the purple cape. Shot with the 70-180 APO f/2.8. His major complaint with the lens is that it is heavy, and as a travel shooter, he walks a lot. He is awaiting his "keeper" R8s and an 24ASPH. He recently traded his older Noctilux for the newest edition and said there has been vast improvement in optical quality, especially its smaller aperature performance for daytime use. If you have the "Magic Moments" publication, Luis has a photo of a intense green cactus costume in that magazine. Hard to miss. Shot with Noct. His comments Re the R8 are that they have fixed the bouncing mirror and the hard to press shutter release of the R7 so lower shutter speeds possible. He is fond of the functionality of the Contax RTSIII, but not it's durability, and said the R8 is everything the RTS is plus tough. We also discussed women, another topic we share a love of, but since this is a Leica forum, I'm sure everyone would rather hear about cameras . . . - --Donal Philby San Diego