If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
"Rich" wrote in message ups.com... Kinon O'Cann wrote: This question has been asked many, many times, and long before the first digital camera was produced. Leica builds a premium quality camera for a small but dedicated group of shooters. The materials used and quality of construction is absolutely unmatched. Simply put, Leicas aren't for everyone. In the end, the decision is simple: it's up to you whether or not it's worth the money. Best lenses on the planet, too. At about 650 grams, it costs $352 per oz. 1 oz of silver costs $12.00. So, it costs less to mine and process and refine the equivalent amount of silver out of 29 tons of rock than the Leica is worth. The Leica, by weight is about 1/2 the price of gold. Then again, something NASA might send into orbit that size might cost a few million $'s. A 16 meg medical grade CCD (if they exist) would probably cost about $100,000. It's all relative. Sure, and it's all about perceived value. A lump of silver or gold can't do anything but sit there. The Leica serves a purpose by producing images. Lumps of metal, by themselves, are useless (mostly). And, as you said, how much was the 1MP digital camera that went to Mars? Probably even more than the 10MP M8... |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
"Rich" wrote in message ups.com... Kinon O'Cann wrote: This question has been asked many, many times, and long before the first digital camera was produced. Leica builds a premium quality camera for a small but dedicated group of shooters. The materials used and quality of construction is absolutely unmatched. Simply put, Leicas aren't for everyone. In the end, the decision is simple: it's up to you whether or not it's worth the money. Best lenses on the planet, too. At about 650 grams, it costs $352 per oz. 1 oz of silver costs $12.00. So, it costs less to mine and process and refine the equivalent amount of silver out of 29 tons of rock than the Leica is worth. The Leica, by weight is about 1/2 the price of gold. Then again, something NASA might send into orbit that size might cost a few million $'s. A 16 meg medical grade CCD (if they exist) would probably cost about $100,000. It's all relative. There comes a point where the cost of the equipment is too high to justify actually *using it.* Even Erwin Puts has recently acknowledged that photographers, except for a small band of dedicated ones, long ago abandoned the precision rangefinder in favor of Japanese SLRs. I've read about several informal "blind" tests where the participants were unable to determine which camera took which photograph. Bob Monaghan did one such test. So how much is Leica's legendary (or should I say, "mythical") margin of superiority worth? Is there any photo taken with Leica equipment that couldn't have been taken with a Nikon or even a Minolta? |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
jeremy wrote:
I've read about several informal "blind" tests where the participants were unable to determine which camera took which photograph. ... So how much is Leica's legendary (or should I say, "mythical") margin of superiority worth? [Gag reflex off] It isn't about the destination but the journey. [Gag reflex on] A Leica is just a nice thing to have, it is beautifully built, nice to hold, makes a nice sound ... but it takes the same picture. A Chevy will get you there just as well as a Bentley. But the Bentley is more fun in ways that have nothing to do with getting somewhere. Is there any photo taken with Leica equipment that couldn't have been taken with a Nikon or even a Minolta? _Even_ a Minolta ???? Like Nikon's take better pictures than Minoltas ???? There are very few true dogs in camera land. 99% of the cameras work better than 99% of the photographers using them. Oooops, this is an equipment newsgroup. My bad. -- Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio Darkroom Automation http://www.nolindan.com/da/index.htm n o lindan at ix dot netcom dot com |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
"jeremy" wrote in message news:LRfQg.26$Kh.1@trnddc05... There comes a point where the cost of the equipment is too high to justify actually *using it.* Even Erwin Puts has recently acknowledged that photographers, except for a small band of dedicated ones, long ago abandoned the precision rangefinder in favor of Japanese SLRs. I've read about several informal "blind" tests where the participants were unable to determine which camera took which photograph. Bob Monaghan did one such test. So how much is Leica's legendary (or should I say, "mythical") margin of superiority worth? Is there any photo taken with Leica equipment that couldn't have been taken with a Nikon or even a Minolta? I've seen lots of tests that compare Leica glass to other stuff, and the Leica stuff is usually much better. Trust me, I'm not seeing things. On top of initial image quality you also have to consider how long a lens will provide that level of quality. Company a 30 year old Leica lens to a 30 year old Nikon or Canon lens and then draw a conclusion. Rangefinders aren't for everyone, and that goes double for Leica. But if you can afford it, they are a real joy to use, and can provide decades of service. |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
"Chris Loffredo" wrote in message ... BTW: You should add a footnote when you paraphrase Ken Rockwell... Footnote? Hell, anyone who paraphrases Rockwell should be ashamed of themselves! |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
Nicholas O. Lindan wrote:
A Leica is just a nice thing to have, it is beautifully built, nice to hold, makes a nice sound ... but it takes the same picture. A Chevy will get you there just as well as a Bentley. But the Bentley is more fun in ways that have nothing to do with getting somewhere. The problem I see Leica having with this camera is that they are missing the main selling point of a Leica. In the past many people considered their cameras the best 35mm cameras available. But it is the photos you care about and not the journey then there are much better camera. And how many photographers are going to use a camera that cost top dollar but does not produce top quality images? Is it worth that amount of money to many people for the feel and sound of the shutter (wish they messed up on the M8 anyway)? Scott |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
Leica is good at mechanical work.....but not very good at electronics?....so
hopefully they have got a partner to design and produce the electronic part of the camera. Is it possible to find a working R4 today?? .....I guess that most SL2's still working. Max "Kinon O'Cann" skrev i en meddelelse ... "jeremy" wrote in message news:LRfQg.26$Kh.1@trnddc05... There comes a point where the cost of the equipment is too high to justify actually *using it.* Even Erwin Puts has recently acknowledged that photographers, except for a small band of dedicated ones, long ago abandoned the precision rangefinder in favor of Japanese SLRs. I've read about several informal "blind" tests where the participants were unable to determine which camera took which photograph. Bob Monaghan did one such test. So how much is Leica's legendary (or should I say, "mythical") margin of superiority worth? Is there any photo taken with Leica equipment that couldn't have been taken with a Nikon or even a Minolta? I've seen lots of tests that compare Leica glass to other stuff, and the Leica stuff is usually much better. Trust me, I'm not seeing things. On top of initial image quality you also have to consider how long a lens will provide that level of quality. Company a 30 year old Leica lens to a 30 year old Nikon or Canon lens and then draw a conclusion. Rangefinders aren't for everyone, and that goes double for Leica. But if you can afford it, they are a real joy to use, and can provide decades of service. |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
"Max Perl" wrote
Leica is good at mechanical work..... but not very good at electronics?.... so hopefully they have got a partner to design and produce the electronic part of the camera. Panasonic? -- Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio Darkroom Automation http://www.nolindan.com/da/index.htm n o lindan at ix dot netcom dot com |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
"Kinon O'Cann" wrote in message
... "jeremy" wrote in message news:LRfQg.26$Kh.1@trnddc05... There comes a point where the cost of the equipment is too high to justify actually *using it.* Even Erwin Puts has recently acknowledged that photographers, except for a small band of dedicated ones, long ago abandoned the precision rangefinder in favor of Japanese SLRs. I've read about several informal "blind" tests where the participants were unable to determine which camera took which photograph. Bob Monaghan did one such test. So how much is Leica's legendary (or should I say, "mythical") margin of superiority worth? Is there any photo taken with Leica equipment that couldn't have been taken with a Nikon or even a Minolta? I've seen lots of tests that compare Leica glass to other stuff, and the Leica stuff is usually much better. Trust me, I'm not seeing things. On top of initial image quality you also have to consider how long a lens will provide that level of quality. Company a 30 year old Leica lens to a 30 year old Nikon or Canon lens and then draw a conclusion. Rangefinders aren't for everyone, and that goes double for Leica. But if you can afford it, they are a real joy to use, and can provide decades of service. Depends upon how you factor the "Cost" aspect into the definition of "Value." You can buy a lot of gear from other manufacturers for the price of a single Leica item. If you want to throw your money at Leica, that's fine. You earned it and paid taxes on it. Some of us--especially those of us that don't earn our livings from photography--have more mundane concerns, like car and house payments, retirement savings, college funds, etc., making a Leica purchase somewhat frivolous. |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive?
"Nicholas O. Lindan" wrote in message
link.net... jeremy wrote: I've read about several informal "blind" tests where the participants were unable to determine which camera took which photograph. ... So how much is Leica's legendary (or should I say, "mythical") margin of superiority worth? [Gag reflex off] It isn't about the destination but the journey. [Gag reflex on] Spare me the sarcasm. Show me where the images created by Leica are SO superior to everything else that the average viewer takes one look and gasps, "Look! That was a Leica photograph!" |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Leica M8 - is the lens mount THAT expensive? | Chris Loffredo | Digital Photography | 281 | October 16th 06 09:30 PM |
Canon digital bodies and Nikon lenses | Joseph Chamberlain, DDS | Digital SLR Cameras | 128 | November 20th 05 01:01 AM |
Nikon D70 issues/questions Vs. Canon | Skip M | Digital Photography | 204 | October 28th 05 12:15 PM |
Nikon D70 issues/questions Vs. Canon | Skip M | 35mm Photo Equipment | 202 | October 28th 05 12:15 PM |
FA: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1 Digital camera with Leica 12X optical zoom lens | Marvin Culpepper | Digital Photo Equipment For Sale | 0 | October 15th 04 01:05 AM |