Re: [Leica] Rangefinding, was Leica Users digest V16 #2

[Dennis Painter <dpainter@bigfoot.com>]

Javier Perez wrote:
> 
> "This strikes me as a troll, but he misses the point completely because the
> "Contax is, as I and others have said, not a rangefinder camera. On this basis
> "I dismiss the paragraph as purile nonsense.
> 
> This sounds almost like a legal argument designed to get a particular camera exempt
> from import duties in a country with with an archaic import taxation policy.
> Unfortunately any amateur photo-litigator could tear it apart. Observe
> 
> 1)
> Photo magazines are full of "rangefinder"  cameras that didn't posess a true
> triangulating
> range-finder. There are zone focusing models as well as models with windows designed
> 
> purely for viewing. All of them are accepted as rangefinder cameras in that they
> aren't
> reflex cameras.
> 
> 2)
> The G2 is a rangefinder camera compleatly and absolutely. Sure it's AF
> but range-finding is an activity not a method. It doesn't require any mechanical
> contraption whatever, just a gadget that sez how far. Therefore the G2 is a
> rangefinder
> based camera which uses a hybrid opto-electronic rangefinder which happens to
> require
> no user range evaluation. 

Is not this the case with all the autofocus cameras made? SLR's to P&S


>The M6* remains the king of the optical range-finding
> cameras.
> 
> Personally I'll stick with the M because I like it so much better but I won't try to
> disqualify
> the competition with hair-splitting arguments.
> 
> Javier


I do think that most people think of a rangefinder as an optical device
controled by a human using their eye. But, taken to the limit, a
rangefinder can be anything used to measure distance. 

Dennis