[Leica] re: Magazines and 'reassurance'

[Larry Kopitnik <kopitnil@marketingcomm.com>]

>>>>>>>>>>
My main criticism is that AP reviews camera
bodies and their 'functions' and ignores the lens line up available for that
body, I know why they do this, camera bodies have many functions [some new
like Canon's increasingly complex eye control system] which are easy to
generate text upon. A lens is a lens and unless one is a specialist like Mr.
Puts, it is difficult to fill column inches on them BUT THE LENS IS THE
REASON FOR BUYING THE CAMERA BODY!
<<<<<<<<<<

I partially disagree with this. The lens may be the reason for buying a
Leica SLR camera body.

But I maintain that the body, how it handles, how it fits the hands, how
comfortable and easy and intuitive it is to use, the meaningful features it
offers (that is, those features which aid and don't hinder the process) and
its performance in use is every bit as important to making a successful
photograph as is the lens.

Case in point: Last weekend I was photographing a jazz festival. Towards
the latter half of Saturday night, my eyes were tiring. It was difficult
for me to focus properly on the screen; I was occassionally seeing blurs.
But fortunately, though to that point I had been utilizing all functions
manually, I was shooting with an autofocus camera and 180 mm autofocus lens
(partially supported with a shoulder pod; a tripod or monopod would have
been impracticle in the conditions where I was shooting). Switching to
autofocus, I was able to focus on a performer's face, recompose, and take
my shot. And my hit rate of sharp, successful photographs was incredible.

On an optical test bench, Leica's 180 mm lens may well be superior to the
lens I was using. But Saturday night, in real use, Leica's 180 would
unquestionably have been the inferior lens. Because with the lens I was
shooting and the body to which it was attached, I produced far more sharp,
crisp and useable photographs than I would have with the Leica lens on a
Leica SLR body.

The body was able to compensate for my deficencies. Which, for me, makes
the body every bit as important to the succesful creation of those images
as the capabilities of the lens.

As such, I very much appreciate a review which centers on the camera body.

(By the way, a Leica SLR with electronic focus confirmation would have been
a bit slower is use, but would have otherwise worked as well.)

Larry