Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/11

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Full circle with Nikons
From: Mark Rabiner <mark@rabinergroup.com>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 21:40:28 -0700
References: <BB349C0E.98A2%eric@jphotog.com>

Eric Welch wrote:
> 
> on 07/11/03 6:42 AM, Mark Rabiner at mark@rabinergroup.com wrote:
> 
> > Then Canon got anti shake
> > then Nikon stopped shaking too.
> >
> > Canon had come out with excellent shift lenses.
> > Nikon's are pretty good. I know a guy who shoots Nikon but had a Canon
> > body with a shift lens on it.
> 
> But Mark, Canon's macro, IS and shift lenses are often better and more
> comprehensive than Nikon's lenses. Their VR and internal focus motors pale
> in comparison to the number of lenses Canon has put the technology in. Nikon
> has been playing catch-up for way too long. The F5 being the sole exception.
> 
> Eric Welch
> Carlsbad, CA
> http://www.jphotog.com


I've never heard Canons macro system being better than Nikon! I never
head of Canon's macro reputation at all! I do hear everywhere the
awesome reputation of the Nikon 60, 105 and 200 as well as there 85
shift macro and the innovative 70-180mm f/4.5-5/6D AF ED Micro Zoom
Nikkor. And I'm not on the Nikon list I'm talking about my collective
hippocampus? (woof)  Are the Canon VR lenses a little better than Nikon?
Nikon's came out THIS YEAR. I think they'll keep working on it. Sure
Canon undoubtedly has a key patent but Nikon always finds a way.
It was also only in the last 12 months than Nikon started having the
internal focussing silent wave leones not be only on select high price
pro lenses but on consumer based lenses as well. In other words all of
them. These are often the G lenses without the aperture ring. A good
reason to move to Canon! (no aperture rings from day one) Dragging on
the higher technologies reminds us of who? if you don't have upside down
typeface your's will be right side up: (ROLLEI) (LEICA)!
Nikon come into AF a year late and with the motors not in the lenses.
Although Nikon seems to be always playing a game of catch up with Canon
it does do it and with pickles and mustard to spare.
And occasionally Nikon actually thinks of something BEFORE Canon or
anybody does.

My friend last week was shooting real estate for a group that was paying
by the house. All week. He stared out with the 28 shift lens but they
didn't need it. It could all be fixed in Photoshop if needed anyway (I'm
quite good at doing that by the way).
So he shot the rest of the week with the ubiquitous 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor.
Architectural work with a zoom not that's something But then again it's
being done in 35mm format so who knows?

I'm not overly thrilled the 60mm f/2.8D AF Micro-Nikkor I got last week
not being AF-S ED-IF. And how quaint of them to leave the aperture ring
on! I guess i can use this on my FM or FE-2 then. Cameras made twenty to
twenty fives years ago. It sounds like there is a little plastic robot
in there but ten years ago they sounded like metal munching plastic
robots whose batteries were about to go.

"The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy. But these are
new. They look human. Sweat, bad breath, everything. Very hard to spot.
I had to wait till he moved on you before I could zero him."  Terminator 1

During the reign of the Nikon F4 Canon became perceived as
innovationally ahead of Nikon with it's white lenses and it's ads on TV
in which high profile types of photographers (news, sports) seen with
those white lenses. Nikon's image languished along with its slow
motorless lenes. 
But you could rent "blow up" and watch the guy with his black painted
Nikons become the Bach, Shakespeare and/or Michael Jordan of modern
(1969) cool.
It proved remarkably easy to overcome Nikons collected reputation as the
top SLR.  
The Die hard Nikon people didn't die very hard. The just rolled over,
coughed and spit out some Canon parts.
 
They herded together and flung themselves off a nice soft cliff. As my
pappy used to tell me it's not the fall the kills you.
But using a Canon F1 in the 80's was like driving a Saab. You kind of
had to wear a different color scheme then the Add people and Oh maybe
use a cigarette holder or other uncelebrated accoutrements. Various
erratic hats and slogans which were impossible to "get".. 
You have an image of one that does not follow the crowd. But lives under
the sidewalk.

I got that feeling now shooting both Leicas and Nikons. Like I've blazed
my own trial.
Which is where they got the name "trailblazers" from i guess.
Except isn't basketball team all about teamwork? I guess the name is appropriate.
I'd think a Golfer could blaze their own trial. No forget that one. How
silly of me. You have to stay on the COURSE.
Or you find yourself in the ROUGH to the JUNGLE. From the FRINGE to the FROGHAIR.

Not so with shooting digital.

Mark Rabiner
Portland, Oregon USA
http://www.rabinergroup.com
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Replies: Reply from Jim Hemenway <Jim@hemenway.com> (Re: [Leica] Full circle with Nikons)
In reply to: Message from Eric Welch <eric@jphotog.com> (Re: [Leica] Full circle with Nikons)