Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/09/24
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At 21:58 +0100 24/09/98, Lucien wrote:
>AINA NILSEN and/or JOHN GILBERT wrote:
>
>> As it stands, and from reliable rumors via Chasseur D'Images, Konica is
>> preparing to expand the Hexar with an interchangeable system of their own=
=2E
>
>Chasseur d'Images said exactly the opposite on:
>
><http://www.photim.com/infos/UneInfo.asp?N=3D19>
Here's a quick translation of the text.
Andr=E9 Jean Quintal
Quand les proph=E8tes vous trompent
When prophets induce you in error.
Dernier jeu =E0 la mode dans la presse, annoncer des nouveaut=E9s sans m=EAm=
e
avoir le d=E9but de commencement d'info.
Latest trend in the press, to announce new introductions
without even the very least shred of the beginning
of a news item.
Ainsi, de nombreux magazines europ=E9ens en mal de Lecteurs ont-ils fait
sensation en annon=E7ant comme une certitude le lancement de produits dont
tout le monde s'est mis =E0 parler en faisant r=E9f=E9rence =E0 son voisin.=
. .
Mais qui n'=E9taient pas =E0 Cologne!
So it is, numerous European magazines in a rut
for readers made sensational news when they announced
as fact the introduction of products which everybody
started talking about referring to each other's
neighbour . . . But of which none were at Cologne !
Chasseur d'Images ne d=E9daigne pas les scoops et, en 20 ans, pas une seule
nouveaut=E9 majeure ne nous a =E9chapp=E9. Mais de l=E0 =E0 lancer des infos=
bidons.
=2E .
Chasseur d'images also likes scoops and, in 20 years,
there is not a single major new introduction that has
evaded us. But from there to throw in false informations. . .
Ainsi, les proph=E8tes n'ont pas eu de chance: outre un Minolta 11xi invent=
=E9
de toutes pi=E8ces et un rempla=E7ant de l'EOS-5 annonc=E9 en juin 97 mais p=
as
encore sorti, ils viennent une nouvelle fois de se planter en annon=E7ant:
- - un Nikon F100;
- - un Nikon F5 num=E9rique;
- - un Hexar-II =E0 objectifs interchangeables
dont aucun n'=E9tait =E9videmment visible =E0 la Photokina!!!
So, the prophets were unlucky: other than a Minolta 11xi
invented from scratch and an EOS-5 replacement
announced in June 1997 yet still not available,
they have fumbled anew by announcing:
- a Nikon F100
- a Digital Nikon F5
- an Hexar-II with interchangeable lenses
of which obviously none was at the Photokina !!!
Pour en avoir le c=A6ur net, nous avons questionn=E9 directement le Japon.
Voici, apr=E8s d=E9codage, les r=E9ponses qui nous ont =E9t=E9 faites:
- - Nikon F100: il est =E9vident que Nikon travaille sur de nouveaux produits
pour amateurs experts. Mais le F100, qui ne s'appellera d'ailleurs pas
=46100, ne sera sans doute pas d=E9voil=E9 avant le PMA (printemps), pour
commercialisation en =E9t=E9 99.
- - Nikon F5 num=E9rique: ce produit n'est pas =E0 l'ordre du jour, Nikon
estimant que la qualit=E9 de la section num=E9rique ne justifie pas un F5 en
"frontal". Argument imparable.
- - Konica Hexar =E0 objectifs interchangeables: "fantasme de journaliste. On =
y
pense, bin s=FBr, mais rien n'est d=E9cid=E9" (dixit Monsieur Recherche et
D=E9veloppement de Konica).
Voil=E0 qui en dit long sur la fiabilit=E9 de certains magazines!
To make matters clear, we asked Japan directly.
Here are, after decoding, the answers we were
provided with:
- Nikon F100: it's obvious Nikon is working on new
expert amateur products. But the F100, which
by the way will not be called F100, most probably will
not be unwrapped before the Spring PMA,
with sales starting by Summer 1999.
- Digital Nikon F5: such a product is not in the works,
as Nikon considers the digital end of things does not
justify a F5 "foundation" [* "frontal" is not obvious
to translate]. Can't argue with that.
- Konica Hexar with interchangeable lenses:
"reporter's fantasy". We're thinking about it, obviously,
but a final decision has not been reached" (says Mister R & D
at Konica).
So much for the reliability of some magazines !
Lesquels n'h=E9sitent m=EAme plus =E0 bidonner leurs tests, par exemple en
anamorphosant des photos 24x36 ordinaires pour les transformer en
panoramiques Hasselblad.
On connaissait les "images simul=E9es" dans les pubs pour t=E9l=E9viseurs, v=
oici
venu le temps des "tests simul=E9s" dans les bancs d'essai. Pourquoi se
priver, tant qu'il existe des gogos pour acheter =E7a?
Autres infos...
Which still do not hesitate anymore to prop up their tests,
by widening ordinary 35mm photos to transform them
into panoramic Hasselblad shots, for example.
We were aware of "simulated images" in TV advertising,
but the time has come for "simulated tests"
in test reports.
Why deny oneself the pleasure,
as long as there are stupid asses to buy such ?
On other newsfronts . . .
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Chasseur d'Images =A9 1998.
Original French text Copyright Chasseur d'Images 1998
May i add:
A Konica Hexar with 28-75mm zoom of Hexar level
performances and product finish
would be a welcome addition, perhaps
a 35-105 variant too; but a whole new monofocal autofocus
interchangeable lens rangefinder system, even under the
Hexar prestige trademark, is not guaranteed success.
This is symptomatic, however, of the wish for
an autofocus "M8" by many . . .
as the press and "non news items" only
percolate "what's there" to the surface . . .
Perhaps a futurible Leica ZEIST=AE , , , ? ;+>)
Andre Jean Quintal
"He looked like lightning,
his robe was white as snow" . . .
Matth 28 : 3
ICQ 166 066 16
quia250249@yahoo.com