Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]There's nothing wrong with the R8 at all: It's a fine eight hundred-dollar camera body, though outclassed by Nikon's F3 in many respects (the R8 has the advantage of much newer electronic design). I'd be happy to own either one along with a macro and a couple of good zooms. Leica does price the R system far too high, given the amount of competition they face, but if they price the bodies and a core set of popular lenses aggressively, and maybe license the R-mount and ROM technology to 3rd parties, things could get very interesting very quickly. With more folks buying into the R system, maybe even the more exotic optics would benefit from economies of scale. I have been thinking about getting a 35mm SLR again for the aforementioned macro and zoom lenses. Right now, I'm considering the Cosina-made Nikon FM10, and in the higher price ranges, Canon's top EOS models and Nikon's F100 look best (I haven't seen the Minolta Maxxum 9). I like the kind of automation that assists but does not overrule, and at around $1200, the aforementioned automatics look really good. At $800, the R6-2 and R8 would be very attractive alternatives, and I wouldn't feel the need to make excuses for either. - -- Jeff Segawa Boulder, Colorado www.boulder.net/~4season