Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/06/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]- -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Frank Farmer Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 12:09 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] Digital Back - I like the first step! Greetings all, I also have to agree with Doug and Ed. For several reasons: First, I don't even own a R camera and only have one M6TTL. But the idea of being able to switch from a digital SLR to a film SLR is attactive to me. Mainly because I could use Leica glass, which I've come to know and love just as everyone else has, without limitation. I switched to the M from a sizeable Nikon system and have enjoyed the switch. However, I do, at times, miss using some of the features of my F100 . For that reason, I've been in the market (just snooping really) for a SLR to use for Macro work. Until now, I'd been considering Contax cameras for this purpose. However, with the intro of a digital back for the R8/9(whether I use it or not) Leica has made their SLR line more attractive to me because the option of going to a DSLR is there. Expensive, but there. - ---- So let me understand this - you switched from a Nikon system to an M system and enjoyed the switch? Okay, I can certainly understand that, particularly as the M is more compact, the lenses are much smaller, and the rangefinder offers a whole different way of seeing. But you find you miss some of the Nikon features, but you'll now switch to a Leica SLR system that doesn't have many of the features, is much more expensive, and will probably not offer the same digital quality 18 months from now that a Nikon - or certainly Canon - system will offer for less money?\ - ---- Speaking of expensive, the argument about the cost of the back, coming from this group, is less than pursuading. Granted, we don't all have +/- $7,000.00 to drop on a camera and back, but come on folks - Leicas are EXPENSIVE! Even electronic ones. They always have been and will continue to be hence forth and forevermore. Too bad really. But a $200 rewind knob for the MP? I think they hit the reasonableness target much closer to the bull's eye on the Digital Modul R than on the Leicavit - M or the rewind crank. Now, I'm not saying that Leica should just charge the stratospheric prices willy nilly. I know they have costs and profits to worry about and they aren't a giant company with seeminly bottomless resources like Canon, for example. So, I understand - to a degree. - --- These days you can get a mint- M6 TTL for, what, $1150? That is a FAR cry from a used R body and strap-on digital back for apx $6000. So yes, it makes sense for people to be questioning the cost. Not everyone on this list buys Leicas as whim purchases. For many people here it takes real sacrifice to pay these kinds of prices. But in the case of the M, there is NO real competition, much less something that's arguably better. With a digital R that will NOT be the case - no matter how great the glass is. I believe even Mr. Putts, who can hardly be called unbiased, waxes eloquent over the best Canon glass. - ------ Basically, my hopes mirror those of Ed. Mainly, that this is not actaully the finished product. Really, it sounded pretty good to me already and I'm sure they will do a good deal of refining and tweaking before it hits Photokina. But, I say "way to go Leica." It seems like they were sinking rapidly in the world of digital and while this will not put them in the lead in that market, it will sustain them, in my opinion, for the near future. It will also offer them a platform from which to expand both their digital and film SLR products without limiting either endeavour. What they do after that is up to them. Hopefully, they will continue to work on new products and new lenses for both R and M. These are just my ramblings. Let the flames begin . . . ;-) Frank - ---- Not flame - :-) - but as someone wisely pointed out yesterday, what you're hearing about now is most likely going to be what you get - if you're lucky. ;-) If Leica starts changing the specs you will probably be in a retirement home before the damn product ever reaches the market. Best, B. D. - -------Original Message------- From: "caliguri@rcn.com" <caliguri@rcn.com> Sent: 06/25/03 05:10 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: [Leica] Digital Back - I like the first step! > > Well - I have to agree with Doug Herr - in essence, I don't think it will be the same back you will be able to buy next september. I think it's more than a starting point, but not a finished product. This is Leica's way of saying ' Hey - we are on this - we won't abandon you R shooters who want a digital back -- this is NOT a finished product, but it will be by Photokina.' It may be very different by the time it hits the street . I think it will be. But I LOVE the idea - I'll dedicate a body to it! No one will be switching backs in the heat of a sports shoot. SD cards will be the same capacity as CF cards (if they stay with SD cards!), and a finder screen masked off with a 'shaded' area would be great! Like the M, you can see what's coming in and out of the frame. I'm glad they are not just talking, but showing, what's developing behind the scenes. Then again, they can't win can they? Tell us what's going on and show products in the pipeline, and people complain - keep it secret, but just say it's on the way, and people complain ; loose - loose situation for Leica there. Meantime, film gets better and better as well! I'm pretty happy about the whole ordeal. Looks like they have a good thing on it's way! Ed - -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html