Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On Tue, 22 August 2000, "Steve LeHuray" wrote: > > Sorry, but, I can not resist after listening to all this foo-foo-ra over the > R8 ever since I have been on this list. I have two Nikon F's bought used 30 > years ago, heavy pro useage on dirty, dusty motorsports tracks around N > America. Never even been serviced, never broke. F2, ditto. F3, FM2n, fifteen > years and ditto, ditto. Still have all five, still trucking right along. For > the marginal gain (if any) in Leica optics why are ya'll doing this to > yourselves????? Can somebody start a separate R list please. > > Steve (Love my Leica M's) > Annapolis Steve, You obviously don't have functional meter heads on your F bodies. You also don't have one of the early F2 bodies (or, it was repaired before you bought it). I don't know what Nikkors you're using or what you're doing with your photos but in my experience and for my uses of the photos the difference in optics is not marginal. Have you used an R8? For a more current perspecitve of the Nikon system, find a Nikon list and read about the electronic glitches on current Nikon bodies, some of which leave the camera completely useless. If you really want to compare brands, compare contemporaneous models. I bought a Leicaflex SL (1968-1972) 21 years ago after multiple Nikon meter failures. I've used the Leicaflex SL in the tropics, the arctic, in rain, snow and very dusty conditions, and have accidentally dropped it on concrete. The entire camera, including the meter, is still working. I'm not saying that failures like some R8 users have seen are acceptable, I'm saying that they are not unique to Leica R equipment. You've found some Nikon bodies that meet your needs, and you don't think the benefits of the R system would be worth the costs. I don't have a problem with that. An M camera is not for me, but I can acknowledge the value of the M system even after reading of rangefinder flare and mis-adjustments, parallax errors, partially blocked viewfinders, bad pressure plates, slow sync speeds and excess battery consumption. Can you do the same for the R system? Doug Herr Sacramento http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt - -------------------------------------------------- Visit the Northwestern Alumni Association portal page at http://www.nualumni.com to get free web-based e-mail and many other exciting features.