Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/09/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yes, it's a big disappointment Leica hasn't produced a digital SLR. This is the company that invented 35 mm photography, yet one gets the feeling that Leica is on the verge of missing the digital revolution just like it missed the SLR revolution in the early 1960s. Steve - ------------------ Date: Sat, 28 Sep 2002 00:38:15 -0400 From: "David Strang" <dstrang@chartermi.net> Subject: [Leica] Digital R8 now digital R9 Message-ID: <000b01c266a8$dc659960$6401a8c0@athlon> References: With a not so insignificant investment in Leica R glass and Canon L glass, I was really hoping to see a digital R camera based on the R8. When I shoot for my newspaper, I use my EOS1d. This is pretty respectable in terms of image quality, no matter what the pundents say...it's pretty darn good. Besides the metering system being 1/2 to 1 stop under, the AF tends to focus behind your subject, and the CCD needs constant cleaning, its a pretty good system. The flash system is quite unique in that its a spot meter tied to the active focus sensor. Having said the above, I really miss my R8's when shooting digital. I would really prefer to shoot with my R8s, hands down! The EOS1d is easy to manage, but there are so many things that have to be watched and checked. The R8 offers simplicity and a much truer means of capturing my visions onto film. Digital offers the ability to quickly download digital images to the computer and work from there, at home, and is much preferred to shooting film, sending it out to be processed and then scanning the negatives. The difference in work flow is amazing! I JUST FIRE UP PHOTOSHOP AND IMPORT THE IMAGES. NO FILM LABS...NO SCANNING. Why doesn't Leica get their heads out of their preverbial AS?ES and come into the 21st century? Isn't the Kodak 14MP sensor made by the Belgian company FillFactory! That's right in their back yard. If Leica really wants to expand the sales of their R-lenses, why not offer a digital SLR (R8 based of course)? Open up the options for R-system users. I like many, will not be buying an updated R8 to shoot film. I need a digital! Where is the Leica digital? A digital R8 would be awesome and very welcome. AF is not all its cracked up to be, but it is getting better all the time. The design of the R8 which makes it so simple to employ mated to a digital sensor would awesome (I know I already said that) and would bring many R-lens user into the modern age. Hopefully, Leica is working on the digital, but given the R9 being the only thing Leica can bring forward, things are not looking too good. Regards, Dave Strang __________________________________________________________________ The NEW Netscape 7.0 browser is now available. Upgrade now! http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/ - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html