[Leica] why users love it

[jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)]

Gene,
The 18-70 kit lens that I got with my D70 is light, and a superb performer.
Cheers
Jayanand

On 3/14/07, grduprey@mchsi.com <grduprey@mchsi.com> wrote:
>
> Mark,
>
> While the D200 is indeed a very good camera, the lenses, even kit lenses
> are notexactly small and light weight, unless you buy the low end lenses,
> which build quality is not even close to the better lenses.  I know as I
> have the 18~200 kit zoom lens, which is indeed a good lens, optics wise, 
> but
> very slow at 3.5 to 5.6 (its at 5.6 by 50mm, not good) and not small and
> light by any streach of the imagination.  My old 180/2.8 Nikkor is smaller,
> and a galaxy ahead of the kit zoom in construction quality.  I guess if you
> can live with the cheaper lenses then more power to you, I should have
> purchased the x80~200/2.8 or the 70~200/2.8 for the extra speed and better
> construction, as the kit lens is just too slow for my purposes and the zoom
> creep is very frustrating.  I have found I end up using my R8 and the R
> optics more than the D200 and its kit lens, or even my 2 older Nikkor MF
> optics.  The R8 and R lenses are far superior in my opinion.
>
> Gene
>
> -------------- Original message from Mark Rabiner <mark@rabinergroup.com>:
> --------------
>
>
> > On 3/12/07 11:02 PM, "Don Dory" typed:
> >
> > > Coming in late to this discussion there are several points to make.
> > > First, both lenses were stopped down to F11 at which point diffraction
> > > should be leveling the playing field so differences are due to the on
> camera
> > > imaging chain.
> > > Second, in camera sharpening or lack can have an effect. Both images
> where
> > > sharpened alike in LR so there is an optimization opportunity.
> > > Third, while trekking in Death Valley last week my bag with a body and
> six
> > > lenses was considerably smaller, lighter, faster optics, and less
> unwieldy
> > > than my companions carrying a simple two lens SLR outfit 17-40/70-200
> or
> > > equivalent. Plus, IR was but a filter away.
> > > Fourth, rangefinders float my boat and make me happy.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > I'm with you but there are DSLRs and there are DSLRs.
> > These two lens you mention could be monsters 17-40/70-200
> > Like many feel they have to have to do serious photography.
> > 2.8's Yuban coffee cans.
> > Or they can be very compact lightweight cheap with maybe not such a
> great
> > build but featherweight and with very good imaging quality.
> > Those are the lenses I prefer when I do DSLR work. Often consumer "kit"
> > lenses.
> > And those lenses are only slightly bigger than Leica m glass and I think
> not
> > as heavy. The BUILD you just don't want to talk about.
> >
> > But its apple and oranges rangefinder vs. SLR work.
> >
> > Still mirror bounce aside the right choice of SLR and you have something
> > which has some real class. A real contender for elegant usage. And the
> > optics wont embarrass you.
> > A D40+ looks real good to me right now.
> >
> > And never in my life have I ever shot with such an image making enabling
> > machine as I have with my Nikon D200. The 12-24 lens amazing.
> > Kyle will concur.
> > Pete will pontificate.
> > Marvin will Marvel.
> >
> >
> > I have often a two lens kit.
> > An 18-55 whatever it is kit lens. And a
> > 55-200. Tiny light cheap.
> > And gets into those hard to reach places.
> > In effect you've got everything covered from
> > 28mm to 300mm for just a few small ounces. And very few bucks.
> >
> > If I bring my 12-24 along that's still half the size of the 2.8's its a
> 4.
> >
> > But my lenses I've mentioned above are a quarter the size of the 2.8 I
> > think. And weight.
> >
> > There are not ultrawide zoom compacts out that I know of.
> >
> >
> > Mark Rabiner
> > 8A/109s
> > New York, NY
> >
> > markrabiner.com
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
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