Re: [Leica] Re: Cosina Distribution in the US

["onetreehillclw" <onetreehillclw@compaq.net>]

Completely agree Tom,

I just used my 15mm Heliar at Mardi Gras. I shot 3 rolls of color
and 3 rolls of black and white with the 15mm on my M1. I've only
had the lens one month and I'm amazed by its sharpness! I have been
using the 25mm Skopar for a year now and it is also a great lens. Maybe not
as good as the 21mm Elmarit, but you can't beat the price. I have some
pictures available to send to anyone if they want to see the 15mm
photos.

I do think that the Bessa-R is too expensive. The body is not well made in
my opinion. It feels too fragile. I'll stick with my M's for bodies. Time
will
tell if a Bessa-R lasts as long as a M3 or a M2. The meter does not concern
me.

Let's hope Cosina continues to make great lenses. I am not one who can
go out and buy the newer Leica lenses without maxing my credit card first.
Hey Tom, is the 50/1.5 really sharper? I would love to try one.

Chris Williams
onetreehillclw@compaq.net
LHSA member

- ----- Original Message -----
From: <TTAbrahams@aol.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 6:47 PM
Subject: [Leica] Re: Cosina Distribution in the US


> Jem, Voigtlander is imported to the US through THK (Tokina- Hoya- Kenko).
It
> is not a very good fit as THK is rather ignorant about cameras. The
> Voigtlander lens line is not a difficult one to sell, there are enough
users
> of M-mount and LTM mounts to provide a good market. The bodies (Bessa-R,
> Bessa-L and Bessa-?. I do know but I can't tell yet!) are a different case
> altogether. Mechanically they are quite remarkable, I have had my Bessa-R
and
> Bessa-L most likely longer than anyone outside of Japan and neither one
has
> given me a single instance of problem. I do not "baby" cameras - they have
to
> take the use and abuse that shooting 2-3 rolls a day constitutes. So far I
> have replaced the batteries in the Bessa-L once and the Bessa R is still
on
> its original set. Now, my M6 TTL's is different story! I agree, the Bessa
> bodies feel less solid than the M bodies but if they had brass top-plates
and
> metal back-doord, they would cost close to what a Leica costs. The analogy
> with something like the Nikon FM/FM-2 is somewhat incorrect. It is very
cost
> efficient to make 250 000 top-plates and design the camera to fit the
supply.
> Both the Bessa-R and L were "new" designs and the fact that Cosina could
use
> parts that they produce for other cameras, cut the cost dramatically. The
> shutter and chassi are Nikon FM-10/Olympos-2000 parts and I would assume
that
> the production of Bessa cameras is considerably smaller than either of the
> Nikon or Olympos models.
>   I for one appreciate the cameras and lenses that Cosina/Voigtlander is
> putting out. It has allowed me to use stuff like ultra-wide angles 12/15
mm
> lenses at a price that i could not even get the finder for a Leica
version.
> The 50/1,5 is sharper than the Summilux (and I do not mind the "bokeh"),
the
> 75/2,5 is a perfect pocketable long normal. The Cosina products have not
> stopped me from buying and using Leica products, but it has filled in some
of
> the "blanks" in my lens cabinet.
>  An other aspect of the Voigtlander line is that in two years, they have
> produced a line of lenses and cameras that it took Leica 45 years to do
and
> they are not through yet!
> Tom A