Re: [Leica] so called "R8 glut"

[Photovilla@aol.com]

<<<    Next thing you hear: what a cheap camera that Leica R8 is,

    it should be dumped at fire sale prices. The Leica red spot

    trademark even would stop some from acquiring one, it seems.


        Get the idea ?>>>

Yes, I do, and I suspected that something like that might be happening.

It is the sort of reification that politicians fear... 
If enough people say "boy that G. W. Bush Jr. is stupid, isn' t he?" then 
that becomes fact. It doesn't matter if he is or if he isn't, it just matters 
what the media and people on the street think is reality.

I listened to a lot of the anti-hype on the R8 until about a year ago when I 
actually used one. The truth is, it is a REALLY nice camera. I wonder if a 
lot of detractors have actually owned one, or even used one, for any amount 
of time.

In the end, I perosonally decided to go with an R7/R6.2 combo for my own 
photography because the R8 was simply a little big for my hands. It was with 
some regret that I passed up on the R8 though... 

The R8 certainly had a balance and viewfinder that the other cameras lacked. 
(In fact it remains my favorite viewfinder in any camera I can think 
of...including the F5.) The mirror seems to be better dampened and of course 
the new features etc... I don't use a motor drive in ANY of my photography, 
so that never factored in for me.

Also, not that my sample is very large -as I am a fairly new dealer- but I 
have not received any R8's for repair. (I HAVE received a few M6's...but not 
too many of those either though.)

I hope the R8 doesn't become a photographic POTATOE. ;-> It is far too nice 
for that. 

I don't want to sound like a cheerleader for Leica, but I simply am curious 
if the anti-hype has already gone far beyond what the R8 ever deserved.

later,
Rich