[Leica] The Leica Day in DC

["Dan Honemann" <danh@selectsa.com>]

Mitch, Simon, Steve and I attended a "Leica Day" just outside of Washington,
DC on Saturday.  While it was a nice opportunity to meet each other, and to
have our Leicas checked out by Brenda Olesin of LNJ, the range of new
equipment available to qawk at was a bit disappointing.

Missing from the display were the following: all new Photokina products,
including the new winder, new .58x body, and the 28/2 asph lens; the
noctilux; the 75/1.4; the 50 summilux.  Odd, huh?  While it may have been
too much to expect to see the new products, it was certainly reasonable to
expect to see the 50's and the 75.  And the one 35 'lux they had was damaged
(the focusing ring was stuck at one point).

One thing they did have there was a shiny new R8 and a handful of R glass,
including the fabulous 100/2.8 macro.  I made the mistake of trying the R8.
Oh, my my my... that is one _beautiful_ SLR.  The viewfinder is bright and
fully visible, even for an eyeglass wearer like me, and mercifully
uncluttered.  And the focusing action on the lenses was incredibly smooth
and precise.

Having looked through so many Nikon and Canon AF bodies lately, I'd
forgotten what a thrill it is too focus on ground glass.  Somehow, I just
can't get excited about an F100 or EOS 1v anymore.

Ruined for life,
Dan