RE: [Leica] R9

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

My point has nothing to do with multiple flash setups, but simple single
flash use - the camera/flash algorithms, which take into account - with D
lenses, and most of the Nikon "pro" lenses are "D"s - distance to subject,
foreground exposure, background exposure, etc., are far more sophisticated
than simple TTL averaging. And one quickly learns what the camera/flash
combination is going to do when put in Program mode, and can therefore make
adjustments if the programmed effect isn't pleasing.

Again, the point here isn't whether or or I like - or even feel the need
for - a particular feature. Rather, it is why Leica, once again, has
neglected to include what has become a standard feature that would have been
quite easy to include without having to reconfigure the camera.

If, as a number of people have noted, the R9 is hardly going to ignite the
pants of folks who already own R8s, then clearly Leica has to compete for
additional sales with Canon and Nikon. And that means not only matching them
in terms of features and price point, but offering added incentives to buy.
Yes, the Leica glass is a hell of an incentive. But the  glass hasn't been
enough to make a success out of the R* - so it's unlikely that it's going to
make a success out of a slightly smaller R8...But what the hell - I don't
have any stock in Hermes or Leica..;-)


B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of Rolfe
Tessem
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 10:13 AM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: RE: [Leica] R9




- --On Sunday, September 22, 2002 9:39 AM -0400 "B. D. Colen"
<bdcolen@earthlink.net> wrote:

> As we both know, Rolfe, the flash metering on the Nikons, and the Canons
> as well, is far more sophisticated than simple TTL. And as to your
> complaint about not wanting the camera to tell you how to balance the
> foreground flash and background available light - all the higher-end
> cameras and flash units allow for a multitude of adjustments and
> balancing acts by the photographer.
>
> If you're happy with simple TTL flash, that's fine. But don't suggest that
> it is what it isn't.:-)

There is no question that the TTL flash metering on Nikon and Canon is
good, but apart from applying the matrix metering algorithms versus Leica's
averaging flash metering, what exactly are the differences in TTL
*metering*?

As I suggested in another post, the "sophistication" that the Canon and
Nikon flash systems get comes, IMHO, mainly from the dedicated flash and
dedicated wireless controllers, not from the camera itself.

To clarify my metering comment, here is my point: If I go to all the
trouble of using a sophisticated wireless multiple-TTL setup, it is because
I want to accurately control foreground/background ratios, etc. I don't
then want some matrix metering algorithm to *reinterpret* my intentions;
instead I probably actually want an averaging flash metering system which
is what Leica uses.

- --
Rolfe Tessem
rolfe@ldp.com
Lucky Duck Productions, Inc.
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