[rollei_list] Re: Leicas and Nikons and Rolleis

  • From: "Marvin" <marvin0@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2009 21:03:23 +0800

Mark, I like other people try not to throw around my Leica's-so the short
answer is that the bump my Leica received was moderate.
Carlos, myself and others agree Nikon's are built like tanks. You might not
like the brand but they were considered the best SLR body by far and much of
this was based on their durability.
Thanks,
Marvin.
 

At 09:31 PM 9/29/2009, Marvin wrote:
 >I was in Africa shooting with a M4P. I placed my bag on the ground and the
 >camera was struck slightly rigorously. The M4P has a ridiculous design
using
 >an aluminium rewind crank. The crank was deformed and would neither move
 >forwards nor backwards. From that moment on the camera remained
inoperative.
 >A Nikon FM2 on the other hand is virtually indestructible. (I think the
same
 >could be said for Rollei TLR's in some ways, though the shutter mechanisms
 >are delicate and the whole system relies upon it.)
 >This may be why journalists moved over to Nikon, sturdier build, and a
more
 >flexible and forgiving system overall. It seems now Leica have moved away
 >from the flimsy designs M6-M4P, back to the tank like construction, of the
 >M2/3.

Wow.  Several points.

First, I am not certain what you mean by "struck 
slightly rigorously".  Was the camera whacked or not?

Second, the only major camera system I have ever 
had fail, and fail time and time again, were 
Nikon F2's.  Junk.  Soured me on Nikon forever, 
especially as Nikon refused to stand behind them 
until legal action was threatened.  Replaced with a REAL tank, A Canon F1.

Third, the M6 is a tough camera.  I always 
bounce-test my Leicas on concrete from at least 3 
feet, and my M6 bounces quite nicely and just 
keeps on working.  But, then, I have done the 
same on my M3 DS and my IIIc and IIIf RDST and my 
IIIg.  They just keep keeping on.

Fourth, Rollei TLR's are extremely tough save for 
the body.  The shutter is tough as can be.  But 
the body is aluminium and can be deformed.  This 
can jam the film advance and the alignment of the lenses.

Marc


msmall@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Cha robh bàs fir gun ghràs fir!

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