Re: [Leica] f*** the gauntlet!

[Ruralmopics@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/18/00 6:26:29 PM, guybnt@idt.net writes:

<< your very presence here on this list (assuming you are all leica
owners/users) would seem to suggest that you did feel your leica material
was worth the cost, for whatever reason.
 >>

I disagree somewhat. I really like my Leica rangefinder cameras and lenses. 
I'm fairly new to them but I'm pretty sold on them for a lot of reasons. But 
do I think they're worth the cost? I don't know about that. Yes, I believe my 
PHOTOGRAPHY is worth an investment of approximately $4,000 (so far) but I'm 
not convinced that every piece of equipment I bought was worth the price. I'm 
pretty satisfied with the price I paid for two used bodies ($600 for an M4P 
and $550 for an M3) but I have an awfully hard time justifying a $1,500 24mm 
lens on any basis other than I don't have a choice. If I want a 24mm that 
couples to my rangefinder there's only one game in town. Likewise with my 
35mm and 90mm. I consider the prices a bit steep but again, it's the price 
you pay for the rangefinder system. So, yes, I don't mind paying a chunk of 
change for the capabilities a rangefinder system offers but individually I 
think that if it weren't for the realities of economies of scale and the 
influence of supply and demand, the prices are a bit unjustified based just 
on performance.

Bob (splitting hairs is a hobby of mine) McEowen