RE: RE: [Leica] Hexar RF...Good News...Bad News

["B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us]On Behalf Of
> Ruralmopics@aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, November 11, 1999 8:36 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: RE: [Leica] Hexar RF...Good News...Bad News
>
>
>
> In a message dated 11/11/99 3:34:47 PM, bdcolen@earthlink.net writes:
>
> << However, if the reason we use Leica M equipment is because
> we want to shoot
>
> with rangefinders and Leica is the best/only real rangefinder
> around, and
>
> has magnificent glass...If someone else, say Nikon, comes out
> with a quiet,
>
> reliable, rangefinder with features beyond those of the M - also with
>
> magnificent glass - does one stick with Leica simply because
> it is Leica and
>
> HCB used it, or does one say, 'it's sad, but the day of the
> Leica has come
>
> and gone'? >>
>
> I for one recently purchased a Leica rangefinder and a few
> lenses for ONE
> reason only -- I wanted to try shooting with a rangefinder. I
> couldn't care
> less about "The Leica Mystique." Yes, the lenses are very
> nice but I hardly
> think there is much justification for a Leica 24mm lens to
> cost three times
> what any other 24mm on the planet costs. Please don't cite
> refuting examples,
> I'm just trying to make a point.

I wouldn't disagree with you for a minute...I simply raised the question to
get what I hoped would be an interesting discussion going - and that's what
your response provides....;-)

Yes, there may be a few
> other 35mm camera
> lenses that approach Leica prices but you have to admit they
> are pretty dang
> steep. I bit the bullet and bought three used Leica lenses
> because they are
> the only game in town. And frankly, because Leica is so
> established and there
> are so many used bodies and lenses out there it may take a
> long time before
> new Japanese rangefinders and lenses would convince a bottom
> feeder like me
> to look at anything but used Leica gear.
>
> Still, for a shooter, there really isn't much reason to
> automatically chose
> Leica over a reasonable competent offering from Nikon or
> Minolta or some
> other Japanese company. Assuming (which may be a lot to
> assume) that Minolta
> or Nikon or someone came up with a well-designed, useful
> interchangeable lens
> rangefinder I would certainly look at it.
>
> If for no other reason, I'd look at competitors because of
> what happened this
> morning. I priced LENS CAPS for Leica. A Leica M rear cap
> (14269) for $30!
> You've got to be kidding me. That is absolutely ridiculous.
> It's not even
> that nice of a cap. A front cap (14133) for $40! Who's
> kidding who? It's just
> molded plastic. If Leica can't farm out the manufacture of
> plastic lens caps
> so that they could be sold for less than $40 the company
> DESERVES to go out
> of business . . .
>
> Bob ($40 for a stinking lens cap!?) McEowen
>