Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Well, I thought that photomic-bashing ought to be given a rest! I've owned and used them since i bought one new in l974 or so.... They were fairly good meters, most of them haven't stood the test of time too well, but I still use one occasionally, and I like the "rugged Photojournalist" look to them...... that said, they do mess up the aesthetic beauty of an F/F2, and I HAVE to believe that the camera's lines and controls were designed without a thought to TTL metering....it just wasn't an issue in l957 (about the time I'd guess the F was being designed......... I also didn't go into why I think the F2 isn't the camera the F was -- even though I like the looks (only) of the F2......too much heresy in one day is not a good thing.......but there were NO photographic/ reliability improvements in the F2 -- just more for the sake of more.... more widgets, many more parts, more options for failure, u-name-it..... so it has to be the "second" best SLR......don't bother me with motor drive discussions, we dinosaurs don't use them, think they're evil, etc....real men..... you know the thread.......same for photomics.......give me a Weston or a Spectra pro or a (gasp) sekonic 398, an F and M4, pack o' smokes, and a pickup truck..... ............ Happy Holi-overeating-days, Walt On Tue, 22 Dec 1998 16:32:01 +0100 thibault collin <tc-lnc@u-picardie.fr> wrote: > Hi Walt, > > I noticed that you didn't say anything about the photomics! > I'd like to know your opinion about them. > TIA > Thib. > > At 07:39 22/12/1998 -0600, you wrote: > >Hi, Lucien, and many thanks. > > > >Yes, the SL series was BEAUTIFUL....and I'm sorry to say that > >at least mechanically, the Leica R lenses have quite an edge > >over Nikkors (even my favorites, the late "F" non AIs from '66 thru > >'74 or so). My only bitch about the SLs was that IF you had > >shutter trouble or mirror-box problems, it was a write-off at > >worst, an EXTREMELY expensive repair at best. Call me simple- > >minded, but if things can be done equally well with half the > >parts, half is better! > > > >I'm so glad you noticed the quality of finish of the F-F2. It's > >>nearly< up to 60s Leica standards, MUCH better than today's > >finishes. Internally, the same applies.... As for the black > >ones, I prefer chrome---although I have a somewhat brassy black > >one, and used to really like the "rough & tumble journalist > >look"!! I guess I'm getting old, but I like the chrome Leicas > >better, too....I've gotten over the "black-paint envy". > > > >I also formed biases due to a couple years in a repair shop....The > >Nikons of the era were "built for servicing" -- as are the M-leicas, > >tho neither needs much repair.....they each have a few Achille's > >heels -- slow speeds and curtain brakes/sync on Leicas, and > >Finders/screens/advance-rewind clutch on Nikon Fs.....both easily > >correctible, tho..... And the biggie -- >WHEN< is Leica going to > >change to titanium curtains? A RFDR camera with cloth curtains > >is the dumbest thing I've ever seen.....I do hope, however, that > >Leica resists the temptation to go to a modular (vertical) shutter > >in the M7-M8 -- but it'll eventually come to that-just so they > >can advertise higher sync speeds-flash has become the standard > >detriment to journalistic photography! > > > >I realize that some folks are offended by this "Nikon" talk, but > >if they're REALLY interested in the finest cameras from the past, > >the SP, F-F2 simply MUST be handled and looked over, as you have > >obviously done....remember, the F-F2 and the SP were concurrent > >with the M-2-3-4-SL-SL/2, and the price differential was MUCH smaller > >then than now, particularly on the lenses, so there was a reason > >folks brought up on Leicas "strayed" from the marque..... > > > >I'd have to put the fit-finish-function of the late-SP-F-F2 > >solidly in-between "Leica then-and-Leica Now". However, if you > >want/need electronics in your camera (some DON'T!) -- the R-series > >is DEFINITELY my choice, by default. Todays competitors don't > >even come close to the quality of R. Today's students, even > >mine, can't imagine a non-metered camera, and the younger ones > >have never SEEN a non-AF 35mm camera! > > > >BTW, the price gap is narrowing between a clean SL/SL2/R-whatever > >and a minty Nikon >WITH< standard finder! Try to find one > >under $4-500!-- I have!-- and they're being hoarded like Ms were > >15-20 years ago! History will sort it out. > > > >Best over-eating wishes to all, > >Walt > > > >