[LRFlex] Re: Will it ever arrive?

  • From: David Young <dnr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 14:15:07 -0800

Steve Barbour said:

> Very compelling David...
>
> I'm sold...where can I get one ?
> Ohhhh.....errrrrhhhh ....hmmmmm....
>
>
> 1. it's all theory right now
> 2. very high cost
> 3. so far it's close to vaporwear...
> 4. it might be disappear-wear
> 5. it needs to be widely tested in real life...
> 6. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
>
> It started out sounding exciting, then exorbitant,
> then improbable, now a risk, and ultimately could
> be downright foolish... given the way Leicas
> fortunes are going...

To which Stasys added:

Steve- I have one on order- and all these posts are making me a little
nervous! I'm trying to avoid a Canon/Leica/adapter hybrid compromise!!


Hi Stasys!

I too had hoped to avoid the Canon/Leica/adapter compromise; and I much prefer the ergonomics of the R8 to the 20D (though the lighter weight of the 20D is a plus!).

But when I look at it all, to convert to digital, I'm going to need a few things besides a back. Like memory and a "digi-wallet" I worked it out this way. Prices are CanuckBucks, so US$ will be lower, but in proportion.


The LeiCanon is:

20D 8mp body            2000
17~85 AF Canon Zoom     899
3 x 1GB CF cards        600
40mb portable drive     650
2 Leica to Canon adapt. 200
                        ----
                        4349

Including all taxes < $5000!

With the DMR, I wouldn't need the two adapters... and couldn't use the zoom. Still, the cost would be:

DM-R 10mp back. 6875
3 x 1GB SD cards        900
40mb portable drive     650
                        ----
                        8425

Including taxes    >  $9600!

Like you, the autofocus is not a big deal for me. But the software upgrades, at least in the first year or two, are a big deal. And I worry that unless Leica/Imacon get it right the first time, they'll be needed, and with Leica's current financial position, upgrades may turn to vapourware or disappear wear.

My decision to go with LeiCanon has nothing to do with not wanting to support Leica, but rather with financial 'risk management'. Should Leica execute a successful turnaround and the DM-R lives up to promises, I can always sell the 20D and switch up. But if I buy a DM-R, and it becomes an albatross, I won't be able to sell it nor be able to afford the 20D afterwards, either!

If your pockets are a bit deeper than mine, stay with the DM-R. I'll be VERY interested to hear how it works, for if there software is good, and the elimination of the anti-aliasing filter really works, it will be one helluva picture taking machine!

If, OTOH, you have limited resources, as I do, you may prefer the LeiCanon route.

BTW: for me, the 17~85 zoom will replace my 21mm SA and so only the 80
~200 f4 Vario will be a problem with manual diaphragm use - and I use it mostly at f4 or f5.6. The only other lens I use with any frequency is the 400/6.8 Telyt, and it has no automatic anything anyway!









----------

David Young,     | égalité, liberté,
Victoria, CANADA | fraternité et Beaujolais.

Personal Web-site at:
        http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr
Leica Reflex Forum web-page:
        http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr/lrflex.htm

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