[Leica] Epson digital, or what?

[pklein at 2alpha.net (Peter Klein)]

Thanks to everyone who responded so far.

As I said, I don't contemplate giving up film or Leica M,  I can really 
relate to what Doug Herr said.  In the 70s, I shot exactly two 
films:  Tri-X and Kodachrome 25.  But today, I often need the speed and 
convenience of digital.  If somebody who'll pay for a picture wants it 
yesterday, I either have it yesterday or I don't.  If I'm going to 
photograph some sort of event or group of people and everybody wants 
pictures, I can either do digital, or spend an eternity at the scanner.

The Epson R-D1 is my first choice right now.  I prefer RF and I've got the 
glass.  Like B.D., I'm salivating at the thought of my 35 Summilux ASPH 
turning into the "world's best 50."  But if the real-life Epson turns out 
not to be what I want or can afford, then there's Plan B.  Which is a DSLR, 
and a couple of good primes.

Tina and Mark Rabiner both mentioned the ability to use glass they already 
have: Tina's Leica R glass on the 10D and Mark's Nikon glass on the 
D100.  The question is, how conveniently?  Same-brand AF lenses work as 
advertised.  But what about other or older lenses?

I own some Olympus Zuiko lenses.  If I want to use those on a DSLR, my 
choices are the Canons or the Olympus E-1 with adapters. But if I remember 
correctly, there is no auto stop-down when you shoot or meter.  You either 
have to stop the lens down with the depth of field preview when you meter 
or shoot, or screw in something that keeps the lens stopped down to working 
aperture at all times.  Tina and Mark, is that what you have to do to use 
your R and older (non-AF) Nikon glass?  If so, it sounds very inconvenient.

One plus for the Pentax *ist is that the most recent firmware upgrade 
enables you to view and shoot with a manual focus lens wide open.  When you 
meter or shoot it stops down briefly. That's how I understand it, as 
described at the beginning of the following article (under "Firmware Update 
1.10"):  http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/bodies/digital/review.html

That opens up many possibilities for trying things out cheaply and not 
spending a bundle on a lens I'd only use now and then.  One can pick up 
good older Pentax K-mount glass for very little, and use it with reasonable 
convenience in many situations.   I'm sure that the 6 mpix DSLRs will show 
a marked difference between lousy glass and good glass. But because of the 
anti-alias filters, I suspect that they won't see much difference between 
good glass and great glass.

Karen mentioned the size issue re. the Canon 10D.  True, and it's one of 
the reasons I'm thinking about other options.  Perhaps it's less an issue 
with a prime than with a zoom.  Somebody mentioned on one of the Dpreview 
forum that all the DSLRs will do OK, and the best thing to do is handle 
each one and pick the one that feels best in your hands.  Hmmm.  If 
manageable size is the number one consideration, the winners are the 
Olympus E-1 and the Pentax *ist.

As for the fiddly-tweaky aspects of digital, yup, that's part of the price 
of admission. Along with highlight paranoia and color balance compulsion.

Which is why I still prefer Leicas and film. All other things being 
equal.  But sometimes they're not.

--Peter