[LRFlex] Re: Further speculation on the R-10D




>>> If Panasonic comes out with a digital body that accepts R lenses,
>>> there would be no chance that I'd buy the Leica digi-back + R8/9. I
>>> think they missed the mark on this one.

I just got out of a store here in Milwaukee and had a chance to play with the Panasonic a little bit. While the store was overcrowded and a bit difficult to really evaluate the camera entirely. It is a nice feeling camera. Very intuitive and it seems easy to use with most controlls in the right place. Funny thing on the Panasonic, the shutter is actuallly an electronic sound not an movement of any kind.

> I don't know about that. Panasonic has never built an SLR. Even in the
> digital SLRs there is a lot of mechanical stuff in there and I
> haven't found a Japanese camera with the Leica feel yet, nor the build
> quality or the biggest item, repair capability for older models. I dare
say that our
> Sl's and R's will probably out live film. And while the Japanese are
> buying the Leicas -- how many are using them and how many are just
> collecting them?
>
While the Lumix is not a "traditional" SLR due to its electronic
viewfinder (EVF), it is a Panasonic. The benefits and/or issues of an EVF
are debatable, but to me, the basic concept is valid; mirror slap is not
an issue, and the operation of the camera is completely silent. I like the
way that the Lumix has dealt with manual focussing, for example. Having
used EVFs on video cameras for decades, I may be more comfortable with
them than others coming from a strictly film background.

I wouldn't generalize about the build quality of Japanese cameras... the
Olympus OM-1 cameras that I bought in the early '70s are still quite solid
and reliable. If you look at their construction, you'll see that they're
very well designed and built.

I agre there are very good builds in the japanese-- but there have been some real dogs also. Vivitar, Yashica, and a few others that would just about jump out of your hand with mirror slap. I remember comparing the R3 to the SL and that was the first thing that I noticed.

Ergonomics are a personal matter, so while some may prefer the "Leica
feel", that doesn't mean that there aren't some equally valid "feels" in
the marketplace. I find the SLs and R8/9 to be too bulky (and I have
rather large hands). I also don't consider the control placement on my R5
to be very clever, which makes the camera slower to use than the OM-4,
which is the most conceptually similar camera that I have. The R5's
battery life is amazing, comparing it to how my OM-4 eats them for lunch
and wants a double serving for dinner.  ;-)  All of this doesn't diminish
my enjoyment of the R5, and as I become more familiar with the excellent
lenses, I have no complaints!  ;-)

Ergonomics is definatly a personal preference. I've always found the OM series to small for my comfort even though they are an excellent camera. Same problem with the "compact digitals" and some of the regular size ones also. 



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-----------------  >--
Regards
Andy


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