Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/04

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Digilux 2 review pt posted - many samples
From: sam at osheaven.net (Sam)
Date: Sat Sep 4 06:33:18 2004
References: <00b201c40c63$f40aca60$6901a8c0@CCA4A5EF37E11E>

I agree with everything you say. I only wonder whether Minolta's stab 
with the XK left a bad taste in its mouth because it was not picked up 
by professionals in any numbers.

Sam S


B. D. Colen wrote:

>True, True, True and Not True, Not True, Not True.
>
>What's true - that no one is going to honest-to-God know which lens
>produced the slight - unless it's taken with a known clunker, such as
>Nikon's God-awful 43-86 zoom.
>
>What's also true? That Minolta has produced some damn good cameras and
>lenses over the years. The Maxxum 9, for example, could just be THE best
>SLR body of all times.
>
>BUT - the reason photographers haven't flocked to the Mind of Minolta is
>not because they are weenies, but because Minolta has at various points
>come late to the table, and come pretty much empty handed. Yes, there
>are some great Minolta lenses, but if we're talking about pros choosing
>'system' cameras, the Minolta lens line-up doesn't begin to compare in
>depth to either Leica or Canon. And that really makes a difference.
>Also, I would venture a guess that Minolta never courted pros the way
>Nikon and Canon did.
>
>As to the new Minolta digital - It sounds as if they've come up with a
>really terrific idea in stabilizing the body, rather than the lens.
>Obviously this means that the lenses themselves can be cheaper than the
>IS lenses the competitors produce, and it also means, as has been
>pointed out, that every compatible lens becomes an IS lens - which is
>fantastic.
>
>But my guess is, being about 5 years late to the digital 'station,'
>Minolta long-ago missed the pro 'train.' Let's face it - part of selling
>merchandise successfully is not only having a great product, but having
>it at the right time.
>
>BTW - just a footnote:
>When I was shopping for my first autofocus SLR, the Maxxum 9 was high on
>my list. It was pricier than the other bodies I was looking at, but
>damn! it was impressive - built like a tank, ergonomically perfect for
>me, fabulous viewfinder, and damn near silent. So why did I end up with
>the Nikon F100 - clearly an inferior body - instead? The limited
>autofocus lens selection for the Minolta - pure and simple.
>
>B. D. 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Sam
>Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 3:16 PM
>To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
>Subject: Re: [Leica] Digilux 2 review pt posted - many samples
>
>
>Dan, I cannot agree with you more than if I wrote your words. I've used 
>Minolta cameras off-and-on since the XG-M. I defy anyone to tell which 
>lens took which slide on a light table. I have no plans on going digital
>
>in the near future, but as the talk is mostly digital these days it's 
>hard not to become involved. As I hear talk about this or that camera a 
>voice runs almost continually through my mind saying, "Minolta has that"
>
>or "Minolta did it first" or "Minolta does it cheaper" or "Minolta does 
>it better." I've never heard one good reason not to use a Minolta based 
>on the product itself. Its glass is as good as any. No, they do not use 
>batteries more than other digitals. There might be individual models 
>that ate batteries more than is normal, but that can be said for every 
>camera maker. Minolta is the most deserved but ignored camera maker on 
>the planet because its name is not Nikon, or, more recently, Canon. From
>
>the wonderful XK to the innovative auto focus Maxxum 7000 to the 
>breathtaking Maxxum 9, their cameras have always been top rank. The only
>
>reason Milolta has not broken the "professional" camera barrier is 
>becasue photographers are gutless winnies who follow the pack more then 
>lemmings. They have got to be the most fearful people on earth. If they 
>find the wherewithall to break out of their shaking shells they will 
>find the new Konica Minolta line to be among the best in the world.
>
>I say this with the greatest respect for the talents of the professional
>
>photographers here, if not their courage to be innovative.
>
>Sam S
>
>
>Dan C wrote:
>
>  
>
>>Check out the following review of the A2.
>>
>>http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/konica-minolta-a2.sht
>>ml
>>(subtitled: "hitting one over the fence").
>>
>>-dan c.
>>
>>ps..   I have a whole bunch of decent Minolta glass.  .  For years my
>>number one picture taking lens was my Minolta 100/2.8 macro.  I 
>>honestly doubt that any real situation photo comparisons would reveal
>>    
>>
>any
>  
>
>>differences between it and similar from Nikon or Canon.   But that was
>>then.   I've since picked up a used Minolta 85/1.4 and now both my
>>    
>>
>Minolta
>  
>
>>100 and my beloved 90/2 APO Summicron ASPH are collecting dust in the 
>>bottom of my equipment bags.  So I will have no problem deciding to buy
>>    
>>
>
>  
>
>>the Minolta Maxxum 7D, barring terrible reviews, prices, etc.
>>
>>
>>
>>At 11:09 PM 16-03-04 -0800, Henning Wulff wrote:
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>>>At 1:31 AM -0500 3/17/04, Sam wrote:
>>>   
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>>>I've been preaching this camera to deaf ears, but I suggest you save
>>>>your SLR digital money until it comes out:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.vividlight.com/articles/3413.htm
>>>>
>>>>If you put aside silly notions about Canon and Nikon being
>>>>"professional" cameras and all the rest something less, you will be 
>>>>doing yourself a favor.
>>>>     
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>But who's got any decent Minolta glass? Not enough to make any
>>>difference. I'm sorry, but unless the digital Maxxum has the quality 
>>>of the Canon 1Ds at Rebel prices, it's not goint to go anywhere.
>>>
>>>The A2 might be something to talk about, though.
>>>
>>>-- 
>>>  *            Henning J. Wulff
>>> /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
>>>/###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
>>>|[ ]|     http://www.archiphoto.com
>>>--
>>>To unsubscribe, see 
>>>http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>>>
>>>   
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>--
>>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>>
>>
>> 
>>
>>    
>>
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
>
>  
>
--
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html


In reply to: Message from bdcolen at earthlink.net (B. D. Colen) ([Leica] Digilux 2 review pt posted - many samples)