Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/31

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Subject: [Leica] Re: digital Leica (WAS Beth Keiser Shoots B&W 4x5 ForCampaign Coverage)
From: Nathan Wajsman <n.wajsman@chello.nl>
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2004 11:39:07 +0100
References: <BC3DA50E.5D98%mark@rabinergroup.com>

Mark,

I own six Leica bodies (2 CL, M6, M7, R8, SL) and 5 R lenses and a total
of 7 M/CL lenses, 4 of which are Leica. So my devotion to and investment
in the brand is beyond question. The only 35mm non-Leica I own is a
Voigtlander Bessa R2 which plays third violin in my M outfit. I am
willing  to spend outrageous amounts on new Leica lenses because I enjoy
using them and I can see the difference in my negatives and slides.

But...when it comes to digital, it is a different story. I have no
overriding need for it but have been thinking of getting a digicam to
have my own experience and make my own assessment. If I were to buy a
digicam, it would have to be light, the size of an M, so I am not
interested in a DSLR. When the Digilux 2 was announced, I was not scared
of the price; I was prepared to accept that if I wanted Leica quality in
the digital world I would need to pay a higher price than for a Canon or
Olympus. But when I handled the Digilux 2 I concluded that Leica had
missed the boat. They are asking several hundred Euro more than Canon or
Olympus are charging for the comparable G5 and 5060W models, and what do
you get for this? A Leica lens, OK, and somewhat better handling. But
for me to pay this kind of price difference for a digital Leica I would
need to see more of Leica's strong points in the camera. Specifically, I
would want an optical viewfinder, coupled to the focusing mechanism, and
of a quality at least comparable to that on my CLs. Instead, I get a
garish electronic viewfinder which I found totally impossible to use for
any fast action.

So, in this case I agree with BD: for your extra $1000 you get a
slightly better lens, the red dot and not much more. 

I am sticking to film for now.

Nathan

Mark Rabiner wrote:
> 
> You've decided not to go Leica in your digital choices BD. And so have
> others. And I do some digital nikon. But the digital options Leica has are
> viable and it would seem to make sense that there would be some on the lug
> who have been picking those options as this is the Leica users group and
> people come here to talk about the Leica products theyıve chosen to make
> pictures with.
> 
- -- 
Nathan Wajsman
Almere, The Netherlands

e-mail: n.wajsman@chello.nl
Mobile: +31 630 868 671

Photo site: http://www.wajsmanphoto.com/index.htm
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Replies: Reply from Michiel Fokkema <michiel.fokkema@wanadoo.nl> (Re: [Leica] Re: digital Leica (WAS Beth Keiser Shoots B&W 4x5 ForCampaign Coverage))
In reply to: Message from Mark Rabiner <mark@rabinergroup.com> (Re: [Leica] Few: [Large Format] Beth Keiser Shoots B&W 4x5 For Campaign Coverage)