Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]John Costo wrote... "I like the Olympus. It seems to be more Leica like than the R system! (weight and aperture ring position for example)..." It's no wonder! I own both an OM-1n and a Leica M3. To me, they complement each other perfectly. When I first picked up an Olympus I marveled at how it felt EXACTLY like a Leica. That's not surprising, considering that the Olympus designer Mr. Maitani was a Leica fan. Consequently, the dimensions of an Olympus OM and a Leica M body are almost identical. It's astonishing how close they are...just a millimeter or two here and there. What's even more amazing is the fact that the Olympus is stuffed with a full SLR viewing system and a meter and the camera is still no bigger than the unmetered rangefinder camera. The superb Leica-like performance of the Zuiko lenses is a fantastic bonus. My Leica's lens is a new, latest-run 50mm f2 Summicron which some experts view as the best performing 50mm lens ever made (better, even, than the legendary mid-1950's Summicrons). There is no doubt that its imaging quality is unmatched. To say you can't tell the difference between it and any other lens is just wishful thinking...however...the 50mm f1.4 Zuiko I have is very close indeed and far superior to the Nikkor and Canon lenses I've used. So, I agree with John. Leica should have hired Mr. Maitani to design their SLR. My dream SLR would be an Olympus body with Leitz glass on it....not that Zuiko has anything to be ashamed of. Craig Roberts Boston