[Leica] Re: Digital newbie question.

[lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

On Oct 23, 2006, at 3:46 AM, Greg wrote:

> I think a fair number of Lug newbies are driven quickly away after  
> they make the mistake of asking a newbie Leica (been asked a time  
> of two before) question and either their question is not answered,  
> answered rather rudely, or they're pounced on.
>
> We all need to keep in mind that you only get one chance to make a  
> 1st impression!
>
> I also suspect that the new M8 is going to attract some old Leica M  
> users back that may have held on to a favourite body and a lens or  
> two that they couldn't sell but wern't using. This should add some  
> new/old blood to the List.

OK, I'm a digital newbie. So many questions.

Leica has a history of introducing a top of the line camera first,  
then following it a year or two later with a simplified version of  
the same camera. The M3 begat the M2. I understand that the marketing  
strategy is to skim the cream of buyers first with the more expensive  
camera, then introduce a lower priced model to pick up the marginal  
users. Does any knowledgeable Lugger suspect that Leica will follow  
this approach with the M8. My interest is both photographic and  
economic. I have a drawer full of Leica lenses and cameras, all  
vintage. The last new film Leica camera and lens I bought was a CL in  
1974.

I would like to use the old lenses on a digital camera but the new M8  
is far too pricey for a marginal photographer's budget. Are the  
lenses good enough to make use of all the capabilities of the new  
camera? Should I wait until Leica introduces a lower priced model?  
Will they ever introduce a lower priced digital Leica? Do I wait  
until the M8 shows up on the used camera marketplace? How about the  
Epson RD-1? Or should I just forget about the whole thing, sell the  
film equipment on the LUG or e-Bay and move to the 4/3rds format. My  
Olympus OM lenses work nicely on my E-500.

Larry Z