Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/07/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Good answer Allan. I think I understand your comment better now. I agree that there is a bit "myth" around the Lecia, but I also think there is more to it than quiet. IMO a camera is just a tool, and any emotional attachment is associated with the confidence I have using it...that it will get the job done in the expected way. Quiet is less of an issue for me than size. A Nikon or Canon (or for that matter Leica) SLR is big enough that I might as well carry my Hasselblad. But an M is light and has optics that give a really sharp image at 20x30. It also inspires a level of confidence that it will get the job done (think of Tina's comments about dropping it in the river). Someone wrote a few days ago that they were selling their Leica camera because they couldn't stand the thought of it getting scratched or dinged...I think that is exactly WHY you spend the money...because they can get knocked around in the real world and keep on working. As far as the M7 metering goes, I haven't used it, but it doesn't sound as sophisticated as say the meter in an F5. However, I think Leica did a good job of understanding their customer base. People that buy Leica M cameras seem to be more concerned about build quality, size, weight, noise and optical performance than they are about the latest technical innovations. Hope I get a chance to try one soon. - --- Allan Wafkowski <allan@sohogurus.net> wrote: > I am here because I own and use a Leica camera. The > one outstanding > asset of Leica cameras is that they are the quietest > interchangeable > lens camera I know. All the rest is myth. It is myth > to believe that > modern SLRs have mirror "slap" that causes them to > be less able to be > used at slow shutter speeds. MY Canon EOS 3, Minolta > 5, Minolta XG-M, > Contax 137 MD, and the half dozen other SLRs I use > DO NO EXHIBIT MIRROR > "SLAP". In fact, the camera that I am able to > hand-hold at the slowest > speed is the hard-shooting Nikon FA with motor > drive. I can squeeze out > 1/4 second with that camera and have a good ratio of > usable shots. It > has everything to do with the weight and ergonomics > of the camera, and > nothing to do with mirror slap. > > I question the awe some have expressed at the > technological wizardry of > the M7's metering system--a metering system that is > at best mid-range > consumer in the SLR world. > > Allan > > > Darrell Jennings wrote: > > OK I'll ask...then why are you here? > > > > If you don't like Leicas, don't use one...if you > do > > like Leicas, then you already know the answer. > That's > > like cousin Elda Mae telling me she can get great > > pictures with "one a'them thoaway camrs"...and you > > know what, for her she is right. If you can't see > the > > difference any extra you spend is throwing away > money. > > > > > > I use a Leica because it is light, quiet, and has > > great lenses...a reasonable compromise to hauling > a > > bunch of medium format stuff around. I gave up on > 35mm > > for over 25 years and ONLY came back to it because > of > > these three reasons. > > > > --- Allan Wafkowski <allan@sohogurus.net> wrote: > >> The Leica myth. > >> > >> Anyone here could, for $240, buy a Minolta Maxxum > 5 > >> or Canon Rebel 2000 > >> and have a more capable camera than the $2500 M7. > >> Both run circles > >> around the M7's antiquated exposure system. Gone > too > >> is the lame excuse, > >> "I must have a fully mechanical camera for those > >> times when I go brain > >> dead and forget the batteries." > >> > >> The Leica myth is running out of excuses as the M > >> series becomes a > >> fairly modern camera. Soon the excuses will > become > >> so thin, "It's the > >> only camera that has a red dot I can cover up", > will > >> be the answer of > >> choice when asked why one paid $2000 more and got > >> less. > >> > >> Allan > >> > >> > >> Simon Lamb wrote: > >>> What I don't quite understand is, if Ted, Tina > and > >> others find the AE of > >>> such benefit to get many more perfectly exposed > >> images, why didn't > >>> they a > >>> long time ago purchase one of the competitors > >> (that accept M lenses) > >>> that > >>> have the M7 features and much more? > >>> > >>> This is a genuine questions and hopefully Ted, > >> Tina or someone else > >>> might > >>> answer. > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html