Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/10/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]B. D. Colen wrote: > > As a man, you > > should honor > > his spirit. I believe that it's the greatest thing that Yasuhara T981 > > represents. Ashame on you. > > > > Tom > Tom - Have you actually seen a T981 yet, or just the pictures on the > website? I'm anxious to actually examine one, and hope that it can offer a > lower-priced alternative for people who want a true-rangefinder with Leica > or Canon optics, but can't afford an M6. > > B. D. Well I haven't seen it in life yet, but I have exchanged mails and argued with Mr Yasuhara for several times. I won't get into the details, but I was somewhat disappointed with his stubborness about the concept he has in what he is doing, but at the same time, I realized that he is risking a lot - and even Mr. Yasuhara himself realizes so - to make his dream project to come true. At least I can say that Mr Yasuhara could stay at Kyocera and design those not-so-exciting RTS'es and G's to earn some good money. When a man gets out of secure and boaring life and become independent to find out what he can do, I believe that it already is admirable. I don't think that selling some 100 cameras a month won't make him rich, but, again, it is a pride issue. I don't know the quality of T981, but as I see from his webpages and how the content of them gradually changed, Mr. Yasuhara was refining the camera a big deal. From the feeling of the release button strokes, to the shutter response time. At the first point T981 was not going to have TTL exposure meter, but he somewhat put it in. He asked Copal to paint the lens side of one of the shutter blades white so that spd can pick the light up. He designed lifesize viewfinder with brightframe/rangefinder built in, on which he applied coatings. Yes the quality of the camera matters, but as I wrote before, as I, Tom Kumagai being a man, I believe that the effort that he has taken is worth much more. I am making the reservation for my T981. I don't believe there would be, but even if there were some defects that makes it inoperable, or even if Yasuhara Works wouldn't survive. I will keep the camera because what he is doing right now is at least something to remember as a part of the history of photography. I feel that Yasuhara T981 could be the only modern domestic camera that comes with true craftmanship.