Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/05/10

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Re: RE: Konica fiction
From: Paul Chefurka <Paul_Chefurka@pmc-sierra.com>
Date: Thu, 10 May 2001 06:39:43 -0700

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Brick [mailto:jim@brick.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 11:12 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us; 
> leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: [Leica] Re: RE: Konica fiction

> Both a Yugo and a BMW will get 
> you from one
> place to another. I would never have a Yugo.

Jim, this is a pure strawman argument.  The Hexar is no Yugo, though I think the Leica/BMW analogy is pretty good (like you, I own both marques).  If you'd likened the Hexar to a Honda Accord I'd be tempted to agree - I see many characteristics that they share.  But I own a Hexar and I've driven a Yugo - the Hexar is a worthy camera, and to liken it to that piece of East Bloc tin is excessively dismissive IMO.

> 
> I think a product's heritage is very important. This is why I 
> use Leica,
> Hasselblad, and Linhof.

I'm not sure what the heritage of a brand name has to do with the reliability or trustworthiness of a particular product.  Ted has told us all his R4 story, and the problems Leica had with those cameras are very well known.  Their heritage didn't save them or their customers in that instance, did it?  Even the magnificent R8 had its share of teething troubles that were not avoided by Leica's heritage.  Every company or product that has a "heritage" was once brand-new, too.  Somebody had to take a chance and trust those first Nikon F's to bring home the bacon.

Paul