[Leica] Sucked in by the R8

[Ken Wilcox <wilcox@tir.com>]

Today I drove to my nearest Leica Dealer (about 60 miles away) to look at
the new stuff on Leica Day. The new zoom finder interesting not as big as I
had envisioned, but still much larger than my old metal ones. It does NOT
have bright lines and the eye relief is less than the single length BL
finders. As I have a full set of metal finders, I did not buy one.

The new Tri-Elmar is impressive. I have put it on my "want it someday"
list. I as amazed by the small size of the new 90 Summicron. Very tiny.

The Leica rep has been trying for about three years to convince me to buy
and R8. I've never liked the way it felt in my hand. Well, this time he had
one to demo with a winder mounted. I picked it up and it felt like a
different camera. I told the rep that it was too bad that it didn't have a
hand strap on the winder. He said "no problem" and removed the winder and
replaced it with the motor. I slipped my hand into the strap and around the
body. Terrific! I handed it to my wife to try. She said it didn't feel the
an R8 to her either.

Then, true to form for her, she proceeded to tell me all the reasons I
should buy one if I liked it, including the great eye relief for a glasses
wearer. I said that we could not afford this camera, and didn't really need
it as we already own many Leicas. As usual in this situatuion She prevailed
and I now am playing with a new chrome R8 /motor.

Have to go play some more.

Ken Wilcox

- ----
Ken Wilcox                                Carolyn's Personal Touch Portraits
					  preferred---> <wilcox@tir.com>
 		      			  <kwilcox@gfn.org>