[Leica] R8 performance and the LUG

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@islandnet.com>]

Greg Bicket wrote:  in part:

<<<<<>The R8 is not a camera which was represented as having autofocus and then
>failed to deliver.  Not once.  The R8 is a manual focus camera which
>delivers extraordinarily well exactly what it represents it will.  Indict
>Leica's market analysts, all those LUGgers whose disappointment is so bitter
>that the R8 is not an AF camera.
>
>The R8 is a great manual camera.  Deal with it.>>>>>>

Hi Greg,
You can't make it much simpler than that.

If the whiners and bitchers went their way and stopped the constant R8 put
down, particularly those that don't own them, or worse, they carry on like
cry babies and haven't got the balls to buy and use one.

I agree with anyone saying it has taken far too long for motors. But even
then it's only a concern for those who require motors. Surely if one
doesn't use a motor, then the motor time frame is of no consequence.

>It is an exceptional SLR, with a distinctive design target, ergonomics,
>precise meter, and set of features.  It's ideal for some, off the mark for
>others, but refreshingly without compromise.  If the R8's are not the set of
>features you seek in an SLR, there are ample alternatives.
>
>Buy one of them.  Please.  And soon.>>>>>

I might add.....And stop bitching about a camera you have no intention of
owning! Nor have any realtime experience in it's use.

However, to temper that, there are a few photogs out there that gave the R8
a more than good try and still dumped them. I don't believe it was because
they were totally pissed off with the camera, but more so with the reaction
of Leica to make things right....very very fast with replacements .....
when a camera did malfunction. Even when that happened on more than one
occasion.

There isn't any doubt there were some bad bodies out there, however, that
doesn't make the whole barrel lousy as the whiners would lead folks to
believe.

>The R8 suits many perfectly in terms of design philosophy, and for me, and
>many who have actually used it, a joy with which to make beautiful
>photographs.  R8 is what it is, and I'm grateful for that.  Whining about it
>will no more imbue it with autofocus than change its ergonomics.  Neither
>are changes I seek.  If there were an R8 AF available, I would own that
>body, ALSO.

As would I! In the blink of an eye it would be in use.

>Let me close with thanks to R8-hating LUGgers for suppression of R8 sales,
>as this will make extra bodies more affordable in the short term future.
>But you're missing out on a good one.>>>>

Interestingly, there are those who bought R8, sold it because they felt it
wasn't quite right, went to one of the auto every things and came back to
R8! :) Because they found the R8 was a pretty good machine after all. :)

Me? I'm a happy camper with a couple of them and both have worked
flawlessly since I took them out of the box, well OK one of them was "on
holiday in Malaysia" for awhile.:) But they are fine pieces of equipment.

My comments are made from many years experience with Leica SLR's since they
came out, and without question, the R8 is the best of the breed. No one can
convince me otherwise. Particularly the whiners who played in the store and
never put a roll through a body! But have the bleating capability of a
braying donkey!

ted

Ted Grant
This is Our Work. The Legacy of Sir William Osler.
http://www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant