Leica Alternatives

[Steve <cameras@jetlink.net>]

Peter Jon White wrote:
>  (snip)
> If a photographer wants a
> nearly silent, small camera that has a range of top quality lenses
> from 21mm to 135mm, and the ability with some accessories to use
> even longer lenses, and have macro capability, there is no
> alternative to the Leica, at any price.
> 
  Not true.  The alternatives are the Canon 7s with lenses from 19 to
135, the Nikon SP with lenses from 21 to 135, and Contax IIA with lenses
from 21 to 135.  All also have provision for longer lenses and Macro.

While modern Leica M lenses probably test better on a tripod with slow
fine grain films, in the real world where most people shoot hand held
and use medium to fast films,  the real world results between the best
four 35 RF systems will be virtually indistinguishable in terms of
quality.   This is not to say that there will be no differences----just
that the differences will amount to differences in a lens designer's
interpretation of what to go for rather than "good" vs "bad" lenses. 

All four systems will deliver fabulous professional quality negs--even
today.  

Stephen Gandy