Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/06/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ted, mein Freund As I wrote, albeit between the lines, I'm not damning the R8/9 out of hand, they are just not on the list - yet - I handled an R9 recently for a couple of days and it is a wonderful piece of machinery, my fingers always ended up where they should be, and the viewfinder is probably the best I've seen. That said, I'm perfectly happy with my SLs and R5 and R7 for what I shoot, and equally happy with my M2, M4-2, M6 and even with my Contax SLRs. Not being a professional photographer there are quite a few things on the R8/9 which I really haven't found a need for, like the flash modes. The advanced metering I find quite interesting but I tend to take a Lunasix III along anyway just in case there are some of those contrasty subjects that TTL metering has problems with. I've also hardly ever encountered a subject which warranted a shutter speed above 1/2000th , at least not for the stuff I shoot. I know now that you are in love with this Leica, and that we could never agree on the aesthetics of the design, I know that it beats the faeces out of anything else in its class, maybe I just have a different view of "pretty", for me the epitome of design in various fields is : Sports cars : The AC Cobra, Jowett Javelin, Austin-Healey 3000 Saloon cars : Jaguar XJ12 Trucks : Diamond T trucks, AEC, Faun Steam Trains : Big Boy, A4 Pacifics, Swiss Crocodiles, Civil Aircraft : Lockheed Electra, DC-3, Super Connie, Comet 4B, SR-71 Blackbird, Concorde Military Aircraft : De Havilland Mosquito, Mustang, Vickers Vulcan Military Vehicles : Willys Jeep, Dodge WC-51, anything from Ward La France, Scammell R100 Tanks : Sherman, Centurion, Firearms : Lee-Enfield .303, Bren Gun, Parabellum 08 Cameras : Leica M, Leica IIIG, Canon P and 7, Leica SL/SL2, Rolleis in any shape or form (except the SL35 series) The list is endless and will probably engender a lot of mail. Call me a Luddite if you like, but I like solid ( maybe conservative) mixtures of functional beauty and beautiful functionality. It has to both look right and feel right, the R8/9 feels right but that's not enough for me. but I really look at it this way - my justification Why should I divorce my wife, with whom I've been happily married for the last 12 years, just to get another woman who is, in my eyes, less pretty but able to sing and dance a bit better than the one I married ? back to you Ted Douglas Ted Grant schrieb: >Douglas M. Sharp wrote: > > I too don't particularly like the styling of the R8/R9 and I'm >not sure >whether I would ever use the advantages it has >over the R7, so until the >older cameras break down >irreparably (or somebody "drops one in my lap") >I'll stay away from them.<<<< > >Douglas mon ami, >Looks do not make a camera! And I'm sure you're well aware of that. However, >I must ask, did you ever take an R8 in hand, burn a dozen rolls or so and >see the results or feel the machine in hand with a number of different >lenses or with motor? > >If not, how can you possibly justify making a comment on the camera and it's >handling, incredibly brilliant viewfinder and it's functionality when you >haven't used it during an assignment? > >My first of three R8's arrived in Dec '96, came out of the box into service >as though it had been designed for my hands. My initial reaction was... "How >soon will the other two arrive?" My biggest pain in the ass was not having a >motor for it as it drove me crazy trying to work with it and two motor >driven R7's. > >Due to being a one eyed photographer, left eye. I always use motors and if >anything the delayed R8 motors were the biggest pain in the ass, but when >they did they went immediately into battle! > >Yes a few folks had glitches, as did I, which Leica rectified immediately as >they did with others. Today this camera is without question the best of the >breed IMHO. I haven't up-graded to the R9 as I didn't feel it was >economically worth it at this time. > >As far as I'm concerned having used them from the original Leicaflex to the >R8, the R8/R9 are the best of the lot. > >The SL-mot? A beauty! A real machine in hand you could drive nails with for >their, as I jokingly referred to them, built from regurgitated WW2 Tiger >Tanks for their robust build. But I feel the R8/9 out performs the SL as >great as it was. I still have the original first body I purchased many moons >ago. And you bet it still works quite well. > >Each of us have our opinion, as you yours, however being down on a camera, >the R8 due to it's "looks" is hardly a justifiable reason for dismissing it >for use. > >Over to you mon ami. >ted > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > -- Ihre bevorzugten Shops, hilfreiche Einkaufs-Hilfen und gro?artige Geschenk Ideen. Erleben Sie das Vergn?gen online einzukaufen mit Shop@Netscape! http://shopping.netscape.de/shopping/