[Leica] Re: [Rollei] Leica acquisition question

[Javier Perez <japho@cunyvm.cuny.edu>]

Yes
They are the most affordable Leicas out there
particularly the IIIcs and other non-special models.
There's one thing I can't understand though. It seems
to me that the original chassis model as seen on the G model (IIIa I think)
was far more solid than what came later. The advance
is smoother and the camera is more compact. Why did
they change over to the second version of the LTM chassis?
(The one with the full top instead of the RF cover top?
Was it for cost reduction, or was there another reason?
Javier


steven arterberry wrote:

> I concur on the matter of screw mount Leicas. Very reasonably priced, and
> take fine photographs. Limitation: rangefinder not parallax compensating,
> and external  viewfinder needed for other than 50mm lens. Otherwise, very
> simple and rugged.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Marc James Small" <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>
> To: <rollei@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 11:29 PM
> Subject: Re: [Rollei] Leica acquisition question
>
> > At 05:08 PM 2/8/2000 -0500, Bob Shell wrote:
> > >The new Voigtlander Bessa-R just was introduced last week.
> >
> > Gag me, Bob.  The new Cosina -R was introduced last week.  Let us not
> sully
> > a proud reputation for excellence as Voigtlander set forth with this
> Cosina
> > stuff.  Cosina made a decent LTM camera and some decent LTM lenses.  Had
> > they pride in their work, they'd not have embarked on this
> > badge-engineering insult to the Voigtlander family and the entire
> > Voigtlander tradition.  Let us call them "Cosina", as they are.  And as
> > they are being sold in the Orient.
> >
> > As to an M, the later the better.  The M6 is a better-built camera, for
> > complex reasons, than the earlier models.  Not that the M3 is a bad
> camera,
> > or the M2.  Here is my advice:
> >
> > M3: Get a late DS.  The early ones and very late single-strokes are going
> > way up in price due to collectors.  Have the DS changed to SS and the
> flash
> > sockets changed to PC.  Neither change costs much.
> >
> > M2: Same as M3.  I don't particularly care for the M2, but it is a hot
> > item, and often costs more than an M3.
> >
> > M4: Wow!  Avoid this turkey, despite the recent fall in prices.
> Everything
> > is adjustable, so something is always out of adjustment.  I have owned
> > several, and all were unsatisfactory.  This model has THE reputation but,
> > in general, is less satisfactory as a user camera than the M3.
> >
> > M5: Interesting, but too big.
> >
> > M4-2/M4-P: Sleepers.  Great cameras, underpriced in the user market.  Grab
> > one if you can find it at a decent price, as you should be able to.
> >
> > M6: My choice.  Everything a user needs, no more, no less.  And the
> > best-built Leica yet, with the M6TTL.
> >
> > M6TTL: Interesting, but too big.
> >
> > CL and CLE? Avoid.  They are effectively unrepairable and too fragile.
> >
> > LTM bodies? Absolutely.  All are fine picture-takers.
> >
> > Buy used whenever possible.
> >
> > Marc
> >
> >
> > msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
> > Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!
> >