Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]David, In my opinion, I think you will find Leica most analogous to McIntosh. Like McIntosh, Leica is steeped in tradition, prized by aficionados, willing to ignore a high tech present, solid performing, amongst the very expensive, holds its value well, long lasting, providing robust rendition. I was a little surprised to see you hoping to go light on cost, as quality photographic equipment is like high end audio in many dimensions: The stuff to satisfy discriminating tastes is expensive, compared to the run of the mill, and it is subject to rapidly diminishing incremental benefit for dollars spent, just like audio gear. Pedestrian gear is adequate for a wide span of users, and gets a pedestrian job done. It often contains flaws and other characteristics that spur a smaller portion of the user group to seek better performance. And exactly like quality audio gear, nothing less will do for those with a quest for quality. Again, differences in perceptions are highly subjective, much the same as in audio, what is natural, neutral resolution to one is grotesquely manipulated and distorted to the next. Another important analogy is worth your consideration. The medium supplying information is a key variable. Like vinyl, CD, or DAT, films, photographic papers and chemistry vary widely. Finally, with age, some users find it difficult to be as acoustically or optically precise as they once were, regardless of the hardware they're using! Enjoy the light. Greg Bicket