Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/10/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks for the "report". All R users are weighing up their options ;-) > I was drawn to the D700 based on multiple Leitax posts and from other > internet sources. > > I went to Glaser's Camera in Seattle (Leica dealer) and negotiated - as in > I didn't get stabbed too deeply - and traded of my entire R Kit: R8, R9, > 28-90 Asph, 70-180 APO, Motor Drive and Charger for what I thought was > going to be a D700 with two zooms of similar range (if not quality). > > I ended up with a 5D Mk II, 24-105 USM, 70-200 USM MkII and a 430 Mk II > flash, primarily because the comparable Nikon kit was nearly $900.00 more > for Nikon. Because I promised myself whatever I "bought" would have to be > a net zero transaction. Nothing personal; just business. > > Now in my opinion either camera is a major improvement just for the ease > of shooting. > > So, why all of a sudden this change? > > 1. After roughly 300 exposures, I see that I am now getting back what I > saw through the view finder, not what the CD yields after scanning Leica R > negs. Dynamic Range to Burn. > > 2. Almost all my shots are in focus. If they're not, it's still my fault > for not believing what the little red rectangles were trying to tell me. > > 3. The full-frame sensor produces tons of dynamic range and very > rewarding enlargements. Of course, same with D700. > > 4. No more tiresome whining about poor shots to my patient, > long-suffering wife. > > 5. I really grew tired of waiting for an R10 to hook up with my legacy > Leica glass. > > 6. Oh yeah, and I'm not getting any younger (indirect quote from Dr. Ted). > > So my only film camera now is the trusty Contax T2 which is in rehab while > I look for a replacement back door - the Kyocera Ceramic film pressure > plate developed a hairline crack, rendering all exposures just slightly > out of focus. My wife can't wait for it to get well - she loves the > camera and what it yields. But it's a keeper. > > To be sure, the Canon(Nikon) lenses are no match for the heft, haptics and > results of Leica glass, but I've also been a bit amazed at the results > from the new 70-200, especially hand held. Come to think of it, the new > 24-70 makes a great "on-camera" lens when I use it properly. > > This isn't about D700 vs 5D Mk II. It's about the freedom for an older > guy with a less steady hand and focusing eye to harvest images worthy of > keeping in iPhoto for later "migration" to Aperture for serious fine > tuning. > > This change has been so easy I almost felt guilty. But I don't. > > I'm enjoying photography again and will continue to contribute to the LUG > as long I can be helpful and learn from such a fine collection of ladies > and gentleman photographers. > > > Cheers, Bob in Seattle > > > Bob Shaw > rsphotoimages at comcast.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >