Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/05

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica R: Is It Worth It?
From: "Marthe & Rene" <marthe.rene@sympatico.ca>
Date: Fri, 5 May 2000 18:09:06 -0400

When I sold my Nikon gear to pay for the Leica my original thinking was to
get an M to cover from 35-90. We would keep my wife's Nikon for the longer
than 90.  My wife liked the look of the photo's made by the Leica glass but
did not care for the M series. So we traded her Nikons and got her an R7.  I
figured, great, my wife's R series will cover the wider than 35 and longer
than 90.  Then I realized the high capital investment required if I wanted
long lenses in the R series.

Happened to be in the camera store a few weeks ago when a fellow walked in
and traded a like new Canon 300f4L IS.  I thought, hey I'll buy the 300,
find a used EOS1n or EOS3 and still come out at half the cost of the 280/f4
APO Telyt-R.  Taking pictures of F1 racing cars with a 90mm just doesn't cut
it.

My wife liked her R7 but after trying an R8 while I was looking over the
300, she found it to be much brighter, easier to focus. You guessed it,
found a nice R8 on Ebay and just sold the R7.   Okay, I'm sold, I love the
R8 especially with the Motor drive.  Now, here I am writing this with a
perfectly nice Canon 300mm next to me with no Canon camera body and I'm
debating whether to take the plunge and get the outrageously expensive 280
Telyt and sell the Canon.

I tell you, be careful, be very careful, selling your Nikon equipment will
lead you to ruins. Leica is not a purchase one should make lightly. My wife
and I just can't seem to stop. There is no turning back.

Was it worth it?   Yes it was for us.  We are both enjoying our photography
immensely.  It just means we can't afford to go on vacation now for the next
millennium.

Rene

Replies: Reply from "Bill Christensen" <billc@xsite.net> (Re: [Leica] Leica R: Is It Worth It?)