Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/02/27

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Subject: [Leica] Zeiss Wide Angle 35mm f/2 Biogon T* ZM
From: grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey at mchsi.com)
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:30:49 -0600 (CST)

Jan,

All my R stuff with the exception of the R8 and one lens is used.  Great 
prices this way for superb glass.  The R8 and 80~200 Vario were both 'Demos' 
at very good prices.  I found the used DMR in Germany in '08 for a great 
price also, and adjusted to my R8 (Or was it the other way around?) for free 
by Leica NJ.  So they can be bought into at very nice prices, for less than 
a new Canon or Nikon system.

I agree, there has been way too much 4/3'rds stuff on here lately.  ;-)  But 
this is normal, we seem to go in spurts on the various subjects.  Just wait 
a bit and it will get back to film and older cameras, hats, bags, favorite 
drink etc.

Gene

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jan Decher" <wanderjan at gmail.com>
To: lug at leica-users.org
Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 1:01:03 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: [Leica] Zeiss Wide Angle 35mm f/2 Biogon T* ZM

Tina,
My opinion of Leicas is not low. I am trying to give them the respect that
is due, but not more.

Admittedly when I joined this list I was hoping more for a classic
mechanical Leica users group, sharing their experiences with various lenses,
bodies ad obscure accessories as far back as the Ur-Leica, and shooting
techniques &  darkroom secrets etc. to understand and re-create that classic
Leica look of H.C.B. and others.  Recently, the list has been de-volving
more into a "4/3rds users group".

I fully agree that Leica glass is outstanding, especially for the travel
photography you do.  For a long overdue visit to Europe last year I took
only the M6 and three M and ZM lenses with me, together with a 1959
Rolleiflex. The Leica was great on the street in London and Cambridge.  The
Rolleiflex was the best choice for the family group shot in Germany
(parent's 50th wedding anniversary) and certain landscapes in B&W.

For my other photography - macro, wildlife etc. and documenting my
zoological survey work with small mammals in West Africa - M gear is pretty
useless unless I wanted to fiddle with Visoflex accessories & lenses. I
would have loved to get an R8/9 with the DMR back and those superb Telyts,
but simply could never afford or justify those items!

So I use state of the art Canon digital gear for my work and it has
revolutionized my expedition documentation: detail shots of every species
caught that I can share in minutes with colleagues around the world for ID
questions and rare & endangered species confirmations.

However, digitial imaging is not the slow and deliberate photography and
darkroom / slide & negative scanning experience I enjoy as a hobby. The less
time I can spend on the computer for my hobby photography the better.
I like all high quality mechanical RF gear from Zeiss Contax to the M6/MP,
and was also excited when RF photography got a boost 10-15 years ago with
the creative offerings from CV and ZM which made the field accessible to
younger film shooters and underemployed naturalists like myself... ;-)

Best, Jan


From: Tina Manley <images at comporium.net>
.....
Of course, your mileage may vary depending on how you use your cameras, but
if your opinion of Leica is so low, why are you on this list?
Tina

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