Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/09/07

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Subject: Re: [Leica] M and R Future
From: Bernard <5521.g23@g23.relcom.ru>
Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 23:32:54 +0400

Robert G. Stevens wrote:

> This criticism of the size of an R8 is unfounded.  I can see arguing
> about
> its weight, but its size is no bigger than any of the other top level
> cameras from Canon, Nikon, and Minlota.  I have an EOS 1n and it is as
> big
> or bigger than the R8.
>
> The size of the R8 makes it very comfortable to hold and use.  I found
> the
> earlier R's just a bit small to hold on to securely and a bit cramped
> to use.

The R8 is a perfect design. It's the best design a manual focus, manual
everything (we don't really shoot in P mode, do we...) camera could ever
have. It's perfect, but only with the winder attached. Without it, it
looks incomplete and it feels incomplete (and it doesn't wind, of
course). To be fair, I'll add that some other manufacturers manage to
squeeze AF and a faster motor into the same volume body. But as said,
the other R cameras don't hold as well. And as far as motor speed is
concerned, personally I couldn't care less, because my strobes can't
keep up with 8fps.

Nevertheless, I will admit that when I felt I needed yet another R
camera, I put $2,000 into a new R7, instead of getting another R8. Why?
Um.... because the R7 is smaller and easier to tuck away somewhere....
Choosing is sometimes hard.

Bernard