Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/04

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Subject: [Leica] Digilux 2 review pt posted - many samples
From: henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)
Date: Sat Sep 4 06:33:19 2004
References: <4057F0C4.2040707@osheaven.net> <OFEA8DEA9A.3EB2048F-ON86256E5A.0005E338-86256E5A.00061C45@crnotes2.rockwe llcollins.com> <A5DEF66C-77D9-11D8-9214-000A95CD9BF8@mac.com> <4057F0C4.2040707@osheaven.net> <3.0.6.32.20040317115152.008819e0@POP6.sympatico.ca> <4058B1FA.2090906@osheaven.net> <p05100330bc7e6c8272cb@[10.0.1.3]> <4058EC9F.6050301@osheaven.net>

At 7:26 PM -0500 3/17/04, Sam wrote:
>I wonder if you can recall what was lacking in the XK system? It 
>certainly was not an array of finders, screens, diopters, bulk film 
>back, intravalometer, battery packs, motor drive, macro tubes, 
>bellows,  copy stand, or lenses from fish-eye to 500mm. Here is an 
>early system map to help you remember:
>
><http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltaxk/htmls/xksystem.pdf>
>
>I would rewrite your laste sentence to read "Bad mouthing [those who 
>know what they are talking about] is not cool. "
>
>Sam S

OK. In 1971 Minolta brought out the XK, and it looked like it might 
become a contender. At that time I had a Konica Autoreflex for 35mm 
(plus Leicas); not at all in the Minolta's class, but it worked for 
me at the time because the camera was relatively inexpensive and I 
could draw on all of Nikon's lenses as well. I had a 35 Nikon shift 
lens, and a couple of years later got the 28 shift and a 400. 
Minolta's system, while impressive at the start, didn't get developed 
any further, and it was fairly clear that due to flat sales it 
wouldn't go anywhere. I got a 15mm Nikkor, and by then things were 
going well enough that I switched to Nikon when I could see that 
Konica was leaving the SLR scene.

I had a 15mm lens, and I had 28 and 35mm shift lenses. The closes 
Minolta came was a 17mm lens and a 35 shift. I also had and continue 
to have a Canon 35mmTS, a much more useful and versatile lens than 
the variable field curvature Minolta.

For my purpose (architectural photography), Minolta didn't have the 
lenses I needed. The fact that the basic XK body was an excellent 
camera didn't cut it.

Having a range of screens and intervalometer was irrelevant to my 
needs, but the 28mm shift lens was _the_ money maker for me at that 
time. The Konicas worked excellently with the shift lens (actually, 
it worked better with the Konicas than with the Nikon bodies) and 
were more versatile _for my needs_.

Like I said before, if the Minolta cameras and the lenses they 
offered could do the job for you: fine. But Minolta didn't have the 
support nor the commitment to continue development, and in the end 
lacked the momentum to make it. This is not due to a failing amongst 
the professionals; they want to see that what they invest a lot of 
money and time in has a future as well as a promise. Minolta didn't 
keep that promise.

The same could be said of the Pentax LX. Also a great body with huge 
potential, but Pentax dithered in their developmental direction, and 
it fizzled. Also, their 28 shift was poor :-).

My comments stand.

-- 
    *            Henning J. Wulff
   /|\      Wulff Photography & Design
  /###\   mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com
  |[ ]|     http://www.archiphoto.com
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Replies: Reply from ruben at rhodos.dk (Ruben) ([Leica] Digilux 2 review pt posted - many samples)
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