Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jim Brick writes: > I have to ask this. Since we are all Leica aficionados, and love the look > and feel of real Leica equipment and the unquestioned superior results, > like arguing if M's and R's made in Canada and/or Portugal are usable, why > in hell would someone want to by a brand-x version of something that Leica > has already done so masterfully. Read Erwin's report on the Tri-Elmar. > Stunning performance. Cannot possibly be equaled by any brand-x. Likewise > the 25mm whatever vs the 24/ASPH. Or the 75mm whatever vs the 75/1.4 Summilux. > Should you buy that Yugo Formula One car, or save up for the McLaren? > > This is just my personal view of the hullabaloo surrounding Leica groupies > foaming at the mouth over Japanese Leica knock-offs. I always get confused over the purpose of the LUG. My understanding was, and continues to be, that it is a list that was designed to discuss rangefinder cameras of which the Leica was the pre-eminent and only currently viable rangefinder 35mm camera. Else, obviously the list would have been named "Leica Lovers Users Group" (LLUG). Nothing about the Cosina produced camera and lenses is a Leica knock-off in my opinion. (Other than the threading of the screw-mount lenses). Insofar as the whole thread is concerned, people are sort of forgetting that many of the early M-mount lenses were produced by Leica were screw mount lenses with the 1mm adapter glued on. There was a reason that Leica made the M cameras with a lesser registration than the screw mount Leica. Rather than have Cosina produce M-mount lenses, I would much rather see them produce M-mount Bessa Rs. In many ways, I find the Bessa R superior to the M6 (particularly the rangefinder). I have been using the Bessa R for about a year now and my M6 basically is only used with the 75/1.4. Alas, this is only my opinion. But I would love to use favored Leica glass on a body that, while it feels cheap and flimsy, gets the job done just as well as the M6 or M3. Regards, Bill Larsen