Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Sunday, June 28, 1998 11:33 PM, Dan Post [SMTP:dwpost@email.msn.com] wrote: > ...<CUT>... > got rid of both my Nikon Fs in the 70s when they came out with AI, and > tried to make me feel 'obsolete' because I still 'razzed' the notch on my > lenses. >........<CUT>.... > I still use > those same 50 and 35 mm lenses I got 25 years ago, even upgrading them with > a third cam... They still OUTPERFORM many of todays lenses from the other > guys! Casual portraits taken with the 90/2,8 Elmarit-R at the store elicited > favorable comments from the 'kids' working there, despite the fact that the > lens was older than three of them!...<CUT>...... I fail to see the difference between Nikon's careful bayonet evolution and Leica R's careful bayonet evolution. Both show the same concern regarding compatibility and non-obsolescence. Should you get rid of your old R lenses because the new ones have a ROM chip ? Could you not have gotten your 'notched' Nikon lenses AI'd and use them on a F4 with total compatibility ? I think you picked one of the only wrong counter-examples.... To maintain that comparison, you'll find more or less same age N lenses that will compete nicely with a lot of "today's lenses by other guys". I fail to see how this logic might "justify" Leica's extremely slow pace in introducing technological innovations in their product lines. The only justification is that "we" or "you" Leica users do not really care and keep on paying the price for niche marketing. BTW, this week-end at the Photo-Puces event in Brussels, I got the opportunity to fiddle around with most of today's and yesterday's photo hardware. The setup which impressed me the most in there was a EOS1n + 200mmf2.8 EF: great balance, instant (really instant) reactivity, relative silence (I found it less noisy than a R5 I tried at the next table), nice finish. That whole (mint) setup was offered at 50 pct of the price of a new non-APO 180mm f2.8 R lens. Did not shoot film, so I won't elaborate on optical performance, but my preconceptions make me quite sarcastic towards the Leica R marketing logic. The Solms people should really be more grateful to their customers: "we" or "you" show the kind of dedication to a company that I thought were reserved to human relationships...... Friendly regards Alan, Brussels-Belgium