Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Martin, What will you be using the equipment for: general photos, specific subjects. Both Leica and Contax have superb lenses, some of Leica are better, and some of Contax are better. Both are expensive. Canon offers good FD lenses at a substantial savings. The more recent vintage Canon bodies for FD lenses are electronic-based, therefore, you always need a battery. Older versions of Leica R bodies are mechanical, allowing you to shoot even when the battery fails. Same for some of the Contax bodies. If you use longer telephoto lenses, the Leica R lenses are top notch but $$$ and heavby but built to take a beating. Canon is excellent for the money and since everyone is buying EOS, there is a big marker of orphaned FD lenses at very low prices these days. As to Contax, they can be as pricey as Leica R for lenses. Their wider angle and short zoom lenses are sharper than their Leica R equivalents, but Leica R wins in the longer telephoto market. With both you have good quality. With the exception of the R8, IMHO the Contax camera bodies are better in terms of features and ergonomics. Peter K (I know...the heretic) - -----Original Message----- So, could those of you who have *experience* of Leica R, Canon FD and/or Contax please comment on the optical and mechanical properties of these systems