Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/02/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]What's so sad is that after putting the meter in the M at the point when everyone had already put meters in their SLRs and some had even gone to AE or even more automation, Leica was cowed by the collector types in its fan base, who complained that no real Leica would have a meter, and who said that the M5 was much to big, and ugly, and didn't look like a Leica - those of you who own and love them know what BS this is, and those of you who don't should check out the measurements. ;-) So Leica buckled, and went to the M4 series, afraid to go the meter route again until the late 80s, when the geniuses at Solms finally figured out how to get a meter into an M without making it look different. Of course when they then introduced TTL flash metering a good 15 years after other manufacturers, folks on this very list whined and bitched that the TTL is how much higher than the standard M6? So now we hear that the MP - which may indeed be beautifully built, but which retains a rewind system no one who has ever had to rewind in a hurry would want - outsells the M7. Well, I'm sure that's true; there's no question the MP will call to the 'classicists' far louder than the M7. And obviously some will read that as proving that Leica should remain loyal to its loyalists, and only produce 'classic' cameras. Those folks may be right. On the other hand, there obviously aren't enough of those classicists out there to keep Leica alive, so how smart has it been to listen to those folks all along, rather than figure out how to produce truly modern rangefinders that remain as close as possible to the classic Leicas in appearance, while continuing to use the M mount lenses? -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+bdcolen=earthlink.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Ted Grant Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 11:16 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] LEICA could be clever B. D. Colen offered: Subject: RE: [Leica] LEICA could be clever > That could well be true - and if Leica were to kill off the M7 and > stick with the MP the company would be repeating the M5 mistake...and > we see where that one got them. ;-)<<< Hi B.D., Absolutely! And as one who worked M5's, (don't forget guys I use M's 3 at a time while working.) I unfortunately was influenced by a "techie type" that the M5 wasn't as good as an M6. I sold 3 M5's for $800.00 each on a quick sale. Today of course I understand why the guy got his money out so fast to pay me. :-( No idea what they'd be worth today, damn poor luck for me. As for dropping the M7? My goodness me, I know at times they make horribly stupid mistakes in Solms, but to kill the M7 without question would be worse than killing the M5! Having used 3 M7's since they arrived on the market, and despite all the positive accolades about earlier M models. Rightly deserved as they were good. Still are! :-) But the M7 is the best of the breed bar none.....!!!!!!!!! That's from practical hard shooting days, weeks, months, years? Gotta be close in years, two anyway.;-) And before this topic might evolve into a terminally long anti-pro battle over the M7, may I please ask.... save your breathe folks..... no one will change my mind simply because I wouldn't change them for anything else...........other than? Yep you guessed it.....a digital M7! ;-) There you go eh? Let the battle begin, over the top at sunrise! ;-) ted _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information