[Leica] Re: Visoflex

[Ken Wilcox <wilcox@tir.com>]

Mike,

I can't speak for others but I have and use several Visoflex units. This is
NOT because I don't have R cameras-I have several. I use them because they
are FUN. They also provide a lot of versatility to both my M and LTM
bodies. The Viso-Bellows II-65 Elmar is a great combination.

Ken Wilcox


At 10:57 +0000 12/31/99, a fine scholar, Mike Johnston wrote:

>Just a brief comment--I wonder if some of the people "discussing" the
>Visoflex have in fact never owned, used, or perhaps even seen one. This
>fascinates me, because I perceive there to be a real difference between
>what intuitively appeals to people and what actually works well.
>Capitalist apologists are fond of saying that the market develops
>exactly the products consumers want, and therefore it's a perfect means
>for getting the ideal kinds of products; but I personally think that the
>market is good at giving up products we THINK we want, before we own or
>use them. IOW, products are perfectly designed to sell, but many
>products with great intuitive sales appeal turn out to be not so great,
>and some truly great products die because too many people make up their
>minds about it based on intuitive appeal before ever actually trying
>them.
>
>It seems odd to me, but American consumers at least tend to collude in
>this arrangement in a strange way; we tend to believe that we CAN make
>up our minds without firsthand experience, i.e., by "shopping the spec
>sheet."
>
>The Visoflex seems an example of something with limited "hands-off" or
>"mind's eye" appeal. However, I'm not aware of hearing much but quite
>admiring comments from people who actually own and use them. I
>personally try to be careful about making up my mind about things I
>haven't actually tried. Of course I still do rush to judgement,
>sometimes--it's tough not to--but it's worth trying to be careful about
>.
>
>--Mike
>
>P.S. It's very easy to convert an SLR into a rangefinder--I've done it
>many times. It's a two-step process: 1. sell the SLR. 2. use the money
>to buy a rangefinder. It's worked for me every time.


- ----
Ken Wilcox                                Carolyn's Personal Touch Portraits
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