Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/03/29

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Subject: [Leica] R- Musings
From: "Thomas J. Donovan" <75674.3465@compuserve.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Mar 1998 17:36:01 -0500

Ted Grant, Jim Brick, Erwin Puts, et al

There's been a lot of significant "chat" over the last month; I just could
not stay offline any longer ;-). 

First & foremost, I've traded in all my M gear, I know it was not easy :-(
; however, 
my primary motive was to get to a basic set of Leica SLR gear.  I've just
ordered 
the new 180 APO f2.8 glass & will then try to sort out how to further prune
my gear.

It looks like, based on what I shoot, I'm converging toward four fixed
focal lenses;
a. ) 24mm. b.) 35mm.  c.)  80/90mm  d.)  180mm.  However, I'm certainly not
going to give up my 70-180 APO ( a great field lens ) & my 280 f4 APO; the
optics are just too damn good. Besides I'd lose too much money :-)!  

Relative to an optimal blend of process ( R8 ) & content ( Leica glass );
nothing beats a Leica SLR system.  Throw in the R8 winder & the resultant
balance with these fixed focal lengths ( 24, 35, 90, 180 ) are a sheer joy
to use.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm not giving up my R7s; they have turned out to be
very reliable cameras. I'll keep two R7s & two R8s; & nothing beats that
R7/handgrip
with my 90mm lens for hand held portrait work.

I'm only left with one "puzzle"; that concerns my 80mm Summilux.  I like
the focal length & the glass has a special "character"; however, I'll have
to sort out which
focal length ( 80mm OR 90MM ) becomes my choice for portraits. It'll be
more difficult if Leica comes out with a R 90 f2 APO; however, I'll
probably end up keeping 
the 80mm Summilux because of it's unique optical "character".  Erwin, are
you able to define the unique character of the Summilux?

Enough ramblings for now :-)!

Tom D.