Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/07

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Subject: [Leica] Summitar and Elmar
From: Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com (Frank Dernie)
Date: Sat Jan 7 12:02:05 2006
References: <a2f8f4470601061234i7bf72d86l205cf9421e4e0642@mail.gmail.com> <BFE44102.A660%bdcolen@comcast.net> <a2f8f4470601061254o2b38d91ek768afac6e3a05fa4@mail.gmail.com> <333E9652-2F44-48BB-BCFB-A3B997EB1CF6@btinternet.com> <ceb1a5650601070847p745df46en1c3156b7d3f8c0b3@mail.gmail.com>

Hi Mark,
I agree with everything you say. I don't have problems with the SP  
and my 2 seem to be worth a fortune these days, particularly with  
motors, but they are simply not as nice to hold or use as a Leica.  
Ffrom an engineering point of view the castings are cruder, thicker  
and of poorer materials - but it does therefore feel solid and heavy.
Frank

On 7 Jan, 2006, at 16:47, Mark Langer wrote:

> I have no problem with the lens changing, but then I'm a longtime  
> Contax
> user.  The Nikon SP does have rather nice choice of framelines, but  
> the
> rangefinder patch itself is nowhere near as bright and contrasty as  
> the M
> Leica.  And the camera doesn't have the Leica feel -- it handles  
> slightly
> more awkwardly.  The lenses for the Nikon rangefinders are superb,  
> and the
> 50/1.4 approaches recent Summicrons in terms of quality.  I also  
> use Nikon
> lenses on my old Niccas, and they are a joy.  I prefer the Niccas  
> to the
> screwmount Leicas as they are easier to load with their M style  
> backs and
> one has a film advance lever instead of a knob.  Wish the IIIg had  
> picked up
> those features.
>
> Mark
>
>
> On 1/7/06, Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I have used both and whilst the Nikon has lots of potential
>> technological benefits it does not feel as smooth and nice as a
>> Leica. Solid but not as nice to use in any way - viewfinder,
>> focussing or lens changing IME.
>> Frank
>>
>>>> Ah, an SP - A camera I've never known and always lusted after,
>>>> perhaps
>>>> irrationally. Of course I've long believed that if Nikon had
>>>> stayed in the
>>>> rangefinder game, continually updating the SP, Leica would have
>>>> died decades
>>>> ago, because at one point virtually every working photographer
>>>> would have
>>>> paired Fs and SPs.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


In reply to: Message from dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings) ([Leica] Summitar and Elmar)
Message from bdcolen at comcast.net (B. D. Colen) ([Leica] Summitar and Elmar)
Message from dlridings at gmail.com (Daniel Ridings) ([Leica] Summitar and Elmar)
Message from Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com (Frank Dernie) ([Leica] Summitar and Elmar)
Message from langeratcarleton at gmail.com (Mark Langer) ([Leica] Summitar and Elmar)