Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Sincerely and though I am NOT Eric Welch, I cannot resist the temptation of giving my opinion. The M system is completely different to any SLR system (Canon, Nikon, etc, or Leica R). The main differences, from a user's point of view, are: compacity, light weight, absence of mirror flap, super-smooth operation without any quality loss, on the contrary (allowing handheld quality down to 1/15 sec and sometimes less). It is the dream system of any hiker or fast moving reporter for those reasons. It is the perfect system for the long range hiker doing landscape photos and who must manage his/her package load. The only capabilities you miss with the M are those allowing macro and long tele applications. If your landscape imaging activity is not related to the weight of what you carry (you are mainly motorized or you can share the weight with companions), if you use a heavy tripod for those f64 type super detailed landscapes and if you have the funds for a Leica system, I would not understand why you would opt for a 35mm system. The Leica R system is, depending on the lens coktail, almost as heavy and cumbersome as medium-format. The quality advantage (if measurable) is marginal compared to what you already own. So I can see no reason to choose such a system for your application. I would not hesitate one second and I would jump to medium-format where you get a real, hype-free, imaging advantage. And there the choice is wide, from the new Contax 645 system to the various 6x7 systems. So, for me, for landscapes, the choice is really between the M and medium-format, not between M and R. Friendly regards Alan. Bo Fan wrote: > > To Mr. Eric Welch, > > Do you think the photographic fans would prefer a Leica M, just like > the real computer fans prefer a Mac but not Windows? > I am a novice to photography, in several weeks I have to decide what I > should buy, an M6 or a R6.2. Now I have a Nikon 90x, so I don't think > I need another auto R8. I'd like to forcus more on landscape photos. > Could you or any other persons could give me some suggestions? > > Thanks. > > Eric Welch wrote: > BUT, don't mistake the fact that lots more people tend to prefer the M > to > the R to be any kind of comment on the quality of the optics.