Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/06/05
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Several LUGgers have asked off list why I'm offering this equipment for sale so on the theory that others have the same question but haven't asked yet, the answers: The biggest biggie is that I'm getting older. An accident 20 years ago left one shoulder with arthritis, likewise 30 years writing engineering software resulted in tendonitis (which ought to clear up if I don't use my dominant hand for a year or so). It's painful to pick up a camera, the heavier the camera the more painful. Leica-R equipment has never been featherweight stuff, even among other SLR cameras let along compared with a rangefinder Leica. The second biggest biggie is this stuff is too precious. It freaks me out thinking what I'd have to do and what I'd have to pay to replace anything in case of damage or loss. I'm very protective of DMR battery packs, the plain matte view screen with DMR crop marks, chargers, the 280 APO? they're all made of Unobtainium. I recently passed on a local heron rookery in a questionable neighborhood because of the huge disparity between the cash value of the equipment and the average local income; this was especially worrisome because I'd have have been pretty much oblivious to everything but the birds. The 280 APO isn't looking for a new home, but it may be restricted to no more than 100 meters from the truck. There are comparable readily-available lenses nearly half the weight and 1/10 the cash value that produce most of the image quality I'm looking for. Another factor: Leica isn't producing anything I can use, and the market price of second-hand Leica-R equipment I'd be interested in has gotten silly. I see no indication that Leica will be targeting my market segment or demographic any time in the future. For the last couple of years the 280 has been my only long lens; anything longer to fit the R8/DMR is either very old with image properties I want to avoid, or made of Unobtainium and priced accordingly. Not to mention the weight. I'm considering many options but the highest on the list by a good margin is the Sony A7II. Full frame, more pixels-per-duck than the DMR, sensor-based stabilization, can use many many lenses with adapters including my Precious, the 280 APO. I'll miss the DMR's color quality, the view through the optical viewfinder and the auto-aperture function on the 280 but with the Sony the long-lens options are many, often affordable, and are stabilized without f***ing with the optical properties of the lens. Many of these options are half the weight of the R8/DMR + 280 APO. Example: Canon FD 500mm f/4.5 L (adapted to the R8 for testing): http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/fringillidae/haemorhous/hofinc24.html The Canon 500 + A7II weighs less than the R8/DMR + 280 APO. One big downside as I see it: I have to sell some other stuff to pay for the A7II & adapters. So if you're interested in any of my Leica-R stuff EXCEPT the 280 APO let me know. Or if you want a print, or a workshop. Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com -----Original Message----- >From: Doug Herr <wildlightphoto at earthlink.net> >Sent: Jun 5, 2015 8:23 AM >To: lug at leica-users.org >Subject: [Leica] FS: prices reduced! R8/DMR, 2x APO-Extender-R, 100 APO, >STA-1, 60 Macro > >FS: Leica 11269 APO-Extender-R ROM s/n 38736xx with case, caps, box in >excellent+ condition. The extender shows very little signs of use and >works perfectly. Will not work on Leicaflex, Leicaflex SL or Leicaflex SL2 >bodies. $575 plus shipping OBO > >FS: Leitz 60mm Macro-Elmarit-R, E60 / Series VIII filter size with caps >#28526xx. This is a 3-cam lens with significant finish wear. Aperture is >clean and works smoothly, focus is smooth, glass has some external dust but >is free of scratches, fungus or other such problems. $325 plus shipping OBO > >FS: R8/DMR used primarily as backup equipment. I am very reluctant to sell >this but in order to allow my hand injuries to heal I need to either use >lighter weight equipment, or not pick up the camera. Not picking up a >camera doesn't appeal to me, and I must raise cash to purchase lighter >weight equipment. > >This is USER equipment, not pristine collector's stuff. DMR works well, >includes charger with US 110v plug, 2 battery packs rebuilt by Michael >Bass, box, and universal focussing screen with DMR crop marks. Also >includes a mostly-functional R8. This camera has a nick on one shutter >blade which does not enter the DMR's sensor space, and a bad spot meter. >Since the spot meter is integrated into the other metering modes all >metering modes are affected, but I have found that with exposure >compensation turned down to -2.5 and in full-field metering mode exposures >are accurate with manual metering if the exposure is set to underexpose 1 >stop according to the meter. Auto-exposure modes will not yield correct >exposure. Essentially since this is a costly repair the R8 is included >with the DMR for free. $1900 plus shipping OBO. > >FS: Leica STA-1 tripod collar for 100mm APO-Macro-Elmarit-R and 180mm >APO-Elmarit-R, also fits 80-200 f/4 Vario-Elmar-R with slight modification. > Includes box. $175 plus shipping OBO. > >Paypal OK. > >Please respond off-list to wildlightphoto at earthlink dot net > > >Doug Herr >Birdman of Sacramento >http://www.wildlightphoto.com >http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information