Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A manual rangefinder doesn't have to be really expensive. The Canonet Q17 III, which I think cost me $80 bucks in 1980, had an optical rangefinder (with parralax compensating framelines!!) accurate enough for a 40 f1.7 lens. Jonathan Lee - -----Original Message----- From: Ken Wilcox [mailto:wilcox@tir.com] Sent: Saturday, October 02, 1999 7:25 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us; leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] Re: So much for superiority of Leica lenses? The Contax has, as you know, an electronic rather than mechanical rangefinder. This part, I am told, is exacting and expensive to make when compared to the electronic type. It will be interesting to see the new optical rangefinder cameras out of Japan and compare them to an M rangefinder. As for Medium Format, My Mamiya 7II and lenes we NOT less expensive than Leica items. Ken Wilcox At 03:07 PM 10/2/99 EDT, Ruralmopics@aol.com wrote: > >In a message dated 10/2/99 3:52:10 PM, ewelch@ponyexpress.net writes: > ><< The head of NPS once told me that Nikon looked into making a rangefinder >camera to compete with the Leica, and the found out it would end up costing >more than the M6 and its lenses. (Limited market I guess). >> > >I think the pricing of the Contax G1/G2 cameras and lenses casts some doubt >on this statement (the NPS guy's not yours). Aren't the Contax bodies about >$1,000 and the lenses all about $600 or less? Surely Minolta/Fuji/Mamiya or >somebody could make a manual focus, interchangeable lens camera for less than >the price of a Leica. In fact, I haven't checked but it seems to me that even >the medium format rangefinders and lenses are less than Leica, aren't they? > >I'm not really complaining too much about Leica prices. Buying used, it's >quite conceivable to put together a two-body, four-lens outfit for less than >$5,000. Still I can't help thinking Minolta (I keep coming back to them) >could do it for a lot less. It's possible, that MIGHT open up the "serious >amateur" rangefinder market. Maybe I give the photo companies too much credit >-- since when have they brought out products with photographers in mind? > >Maybe the best solution if for Contax to bring out a real manual focus body. > >Bob (reverting back to his photo marketing days) McEowen > > - ------------------ Ken Wilcox Carolyn's Personal Touch Portraits LAW LHSA MEA <wilcox@tir.com>