Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Mark, Thanks for the pointer to the FZ3. Fascinating. A 35-400mm f2.8 lens in a small P&S? I'm no long time camera gear hound, but I didn't think something like that was possible. If Panasonic really wanted to mess with Leica's head (maybe some of our heads?), they might stick one of these fast Leica- designed (???) zoom lenses on a digicam with a nice, noise resistant APS sized sensor. I'm not all that in love with my D70, but I am impressed with its performance at ISO 1000 and thereabouts. Hmm, how about a fixed f2.8 Tri-Elmar or 35/1.4 ASPH on an APS sensor equipped Panasonic digicam for $500. The possibilites are downright weird :-) More interesting is Panasonic's rapid product cycling. This is just "good practice" in many technology industries, and we can see this norm at work with digicams and the low- end DSLRs. But it doesn't fit that well with Leica's modus operandi or gestalt or business scale or price-points or value prop or Lord knows what. Maybe Panasonic is a partner that can help Leica get a piece of the photography-cum-consumer electronics industry. And vice-versa, helpwise, of course. As weird as it sounds, Panasonic might be a better majority shareholder for Leica than Hermes. More "synergies" :-) Mark Rabiner wrote: >Leica seems to have sold it's optical soul to the Panasonic Devil. > >I can see how they may have driven Panasonic crazy with it's amazing retro >demands on the design of the Digilux 2. >"What!? A shudder speed dial!!! It's inconceivable!" > >And they gave them the rights to also come out with their own cheaper sans >red dot version with full point and shoot mindless mentality. >Instead of shutter speeds you get mindless modes. > >And then Panasonic came out with another version of the cameras but still >with a gorgeous piece of Leica glass on the front. > >And then another version and more Leica glass. > >And none of these variations with a classier more hands on Leica version. > >But yesterday or the day before they have even a newer one. >The Cozy Lumix DMC-FZ3 > >For chump change. 300 bucks and an gorgeous Leica lens on the the front. >For the price of a lens cap you can use a I'm sure a wonder of Leica optics >to shoot digital pictures. >Leica DC Vario-Elmarit zoom 35 - 420mm equiv. > the thing zooms and then zooms some more. > And then when its done zooming it zooms some more. >F2.8 non variable > >No shutter speeds though. >Modes. >Smaller files. Smaller body. >Scintillating silver. God those silver cameras are ugly. >A big fat impressive lens shade like the other Lumixxxxes > >Image stabilizer. Which the Digilux 2 ain't got. > >What got me the most were the modes: > >Auto >Program >Aperture Priority >Shutter Priority >Manual >Macro >Portrait >Scenery >Sports >Panning >Fireworks >Party >Snow >Night Portrait >Night Scenery >Simple Mode > >Did they forget anything? >How about > >Giving birth >Opening presents under Christmas - Hanukah tree - bush. >Fun with the wife >Black cat in the coal mine at midnight. >The shiny side of Mercury. (on the way to the sun) >Backyard tree >Peace march >Helmut Newton >Slip and slide action study. > >Program your own. > >Naturally a small knowledge of photography and a variable program mode and >the modes are in your fuzzy brain. The one in your scull. I always try to >have my brain working when I'm shooting photographs; keeps me awake. > >A Leica fan for 3-4 hundred bucks you are loosing money not getting this >camera. > >Which is more of a Leica if the body were made by Leica and the lens were >made by Panasonic. > >If you ask me. > >All kinds of shiny silver camera out their with a big fat >LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT ZOOM emblazed in front of the lens. > >Is Leica getting any of this money? Maybe it is. > > > > > > > > > > > >Mark Rabiner >Photography >Portland Oregon >http://rabinergroup.com/ > > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >