[Leica] Re: Film/digital wars

[rlbunting at lucent.com (Bunting, Roger L (Roger))]

>It's Leica's fault and the fault of the U.S. economy. The Digilux was
>priced about $900 higher than it should have been for what it was, and
>you know the digital M will be as well. Because given that it is
>digital, and standards change, buying a digital M will not be making a
>life-time investment, the way buying a film M is.

I wish whoever is responsible would wake up :-). I lusted over the 
Digilux-2. I loved everything about the camera but the EVF. $2000 for that 
quality of EVF was just not going to be for me. I've been waiting to buy a 
28mm f2.0 for a couple of years - it just keeps getting more expensive - 
faster than every aspect of the US economy that effects my income. I'd love 
to replace my 0.72x with a 0.58x VF. Now everything is through the 
customized service at nearly 50% more. $4000 for a body that is not much 
more than a platform for great lenses, come on.

I feel very lucky to have my M6 classic, my 35mm Summicron ASPH and ancient 
50mm Summilux. That's the way it's going to stay. I absolutely cannot afford 
to buy any more Leica gear. In comparison dollars, a 0.58x VF with 28mm f2.8 
lens is nearly the equivalent of a D2x with 17-55mm f2.8. In a rational 
world there is no question - a picture is a picture and we have the P&S 
people to thank for educating the public that it's ok to make noise and 
flash light during the making of pictures. A camera with a motor drive and a 
big lens is just literally in the noise. For me, some of the main advantages 
of the M system are gone.

I hope there a lot of folks that are different from me out there. Maybe 
there would still be hope for a continuation of the brand and product. Based 
on my circumstances, I can't help Leica. However, their product is the one 
that accompanies me most of the time. To me it makes perfect sense and no 
sense. It's just dollars and cents.

Regards,
Roger /leica35@yahoo.com
http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/Leica35