Re: [Leica] Re: Leica and Contax reply long

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

"B. D. Colen" wrote:
> 
> Before ducking out of the line of fire, I'll throw out a related
> question...Considering the present discounted cost of a G2 body and 21 2.8
> with finder, considering that the 21. 28 is said to be very close in
> quality to the 21 ASPH for the M, considering that the cost of G2 body and
> 21 2.8 with finder is lower than a 21 ASPH for the M without a finder, and
> considering that G2 draw backs such as no manual focus are really
> irrelevant with a 21, am I the only one out here in LUGland thinking that
> maybe the thing to do rather than buy a 21 ASPH for even preASPH for my M
> is buy a G2 with a 21 to use as a unit with my M6?
> 
> Tom Gallagher wrote:
> 
> > I was curious to know how many people out there use the contaxg along
> > with Leica M cameras and if folks think the two compliment each other.
> >
> > Thanks
> > TG
It's not that the Contax G2 is so bad it's that the 21 ASPH is so good.
If you get a pre ASPH than the quality difference becomes much less
obvious and I can almost see your point except....
It's another camera system.
Instead of another lens in your camera back (with finder,OK) it's a
whole new camera with all it's quirks that have to adapt your
sensibilities to.
Too many toys. Makes it hard to shoot.
I just came back from a big road trip with my Leica system and other
cameras to "back it up." A mistake that weighed me down and stressed me
out. I brought:
1. A Rollei 35 on my belt with color in it, it's wrist strap caught on
my motel doorknob and I made 4 exposures with it in total. One of the
truck I was renting to prove I wasn't going to scratch it up too much.
2. A Rolleiflex TLR 2.8 Planar with a brick of tri x. Not one shot. A
beautiful camera I had no time for. It was on the seat next to me. I was
shooting with my Leica.
3. Nikon FE2 with a 24 and a cheap 35-70 Nikon zoom as a back up and to
maybe shoot color. A half a dozen tri x shots and then I took it out and
put 800 color neg in and made 2 exposures with it.
In nine days I shot 18 rolls of tri x with my Leica M6. I lost and had
to replace the battery cap in Kansas City. The Focus went so I zone
focused and then taught myself how to fix it with a little screw driver
which I had to pick up. Despite those 2 problems I am loving my Leica
more and finding other cameras a distraction. Would like a panoramic
option (on another camera).
Mark Rabiner