Slightly OT- Contax SLR + Zeiss cause I don't like Leica R

[dlegaspi]

<i>I am not sure what you are referring to. Please provide links to

such posts, that I supposodly made. </i><br><br>

 

<a href="http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?

msg_id=008aFd">http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?

msg_id=008aFd</a><br>

<a href="http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?

msg_id=008KqE">http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?

msg_id=008KqE</a>

[kristian dowling]

Ok, thanks for doing Jacques homework Dexter. Out to get me

too?

 

<p>

 

Well, one post is related, but made back in March, and the other

is not related. I was just interested in another lens for my old

OM-1.

 

<p>

 

But half a dozen in the last few weeks? C'mon, you uys can do

better than that. And how many posts have i made in others'

benefit huh? And what about the critique i offer on people's

photos?

 

<p>

 

Don't give me this shit! please

[Allen Herbert]

Dexter Legaspi

 

Are you the post police ,is he doing any harm ,is he upsetting

anyone!it seems to me that many poeple are interested in this

post...just where are you coming from.

[Allen Herbert]

Or more important what are you trying to achieve,i wonder

[olivier_reichenbach]

Kristian, tzzt,tzzt,tzzt... don't start again with foul language, you naughty boy, because you will

have to apologize again, but everybody will have been shocked neverhteless..

[olivier_reichenbach]

Kristian, tzzt,tzzt,tzzt... don't start again with foul language, you naughty boy, because you will

have to apologize again, but everybody will have been shocked nevertheless..

[jacques_balthazar1]

Not that I want to get dragged too far into this game, as the search

capabilities on Lusenet are rather "rustic", but I repeat that you

have been putting forward questions, as well as statements, on the

topic of "oh boy I cannot focus that 90 saa and need to trade it

against F100, Y or Z, what do you think?", at least half a dozen

times in recent weeks. That is counting posts in various threads, not

actual thread creation, where I find 'only' 3 thread creations (on

top of the 90mm trade/selling threads.

 

<p>

 

In the 4 weeks prior to that, you have produced other clear cut

statements saying how terrific the 90 saa is. In March, you produced

statements such as "At f/2 it matches my old and loved Nikkor AF 85mm

f/1.4 at f/4", "I just wanted to shout this out to the world as I am

absolutely estatic", I must guess you had no problem focusing it at

the time...

 

<p>

 

BTW, I do not have any problem searching my private inbox and sent

items folder, but do not consider it proper to publicise private

mails. However, the following sentence from you is innocuous enough

not to violate privacy while illustrating my point: "I'd like a Dynax

9 or 7 with the 85mm f/1.4, but I need to find an easy trade. "

 

<p>

 

Now, since you challenged me, and by typing a couple of words in

Google, I've just encountered some of your posts in other fora, such

as a lens review where you describe your photo background

as "professional" with "11-20 years experience". Which is a great

achievement as you have presented yourself here last January as being

23! And statements regarding the 85mm f1.4 Nikkor AF such as "This

lens will stay with me forever" (August 1). If I were your fiancée, I

would worry about your promises of eternal commitment ! ;-)

 

<p>

 

Nothing wrong with all this. Part of the fun. My only gripe is that

it is irritating to take someone's questions seriously, to the point

of gathering illustrative images and posting them at his request,

only to realise that such efforts are pretty useless, and seem

forgotten after a few days...

[kristian dowling]

OK, you are right. All I want to do is stuff people around. I have

nothing better to do with my time.

 

<p>

 

Then to you Jacques, on this ocassion- for the advice- thanks but

no thanks.

 

<p>

 

ok?

[kristian dowling]

Jacques, for your information (and interested others), I have

been involved with photography since I was 10 years of age.

Does this make me a wiz at all gear? No, and THAT"S WHY I

ASK FOR OTHER"S ADVICE. Like or not, you dont' need to

comment, neither do you need to attack or question my

experience or credibility.

 

<p>

 

Or maybe you do, just for kicks. Well then, so be it.

 

<p>

 

Any more suggestions or advice from productive forum

members?

[olivier_reichenbach]

Jacques, leave it alone. Give the guy a break. It IS sometimes difficult to ma ke a choice, there

are so many good systems out there, and Kristian wants to put an end to his long quest for the

affordable definitive system. So it is normal to be at a loss sometimes. Remarks about his

private life («if I were you fiancée...») are of very bad taste and don't show much maturity from

your part either. And let me tell you that I bought a lens from this guy a few weeks ago, and the

transaction went smoothly, in a gentlemanly manner and right on time. This guy is no fool. He

may get carried away from time to time, but he's no fool.

 

<p>

 

This being said, Kristian, I know you like the F100 and I've seen a couple on sale on eBay. I

doubt they cost more than a Contax RX, and I understand you still have a couple of lenses in

Nikon mount, right? Go for it. If you have to go back to SLR, I realy think the F100 is THE best

value for the money. I had one, traded it, and regret it to this day. Yes, maybe the Zeiss lenses

are a little bit better, but, budget-wise, Nikon is hard to beat. Don't try to have your cake and eat

it. It never works. Cheers.

[kaiblanke]

Every personal flame war aside, it seems to me that you have not yet

made your decision. There are a lot of choices out there, from Nikon

over Canon and Olympus to Leica and Contax to name a few. The

difference between these systems is marginal, no large gaps here. All

these optics are quite good, some may be a bit better than others.

<br>

But you as a user must feel comfortable with your decision. It is the

same with me, whenever I have something nice, I go on looking instead

of looking closely at what I have and use it to the limits. This is

why I have a bunch of lenses for my Leicas, but did not work on my

skills as far as I should have to. So if you find something you seem

to like, go for it (i.e. rent it first for about 2 weeks), and try it

to the limits. If it feels good and delivers the results you want,

then keep / buy it, otherwise try the next.

<br>

Switching gear is tempting, of course, but does not give you better

results. Lately I got a film back from my chinese 6*6 SLR and I found

the results to be some of the best I produced, though about 10 of

these cameras together are worth the cost of one Leica lens. And when

I look at my old slides shot with a Praktika and a russian 50/1.7 in

M42 mount, the results are about the same as those from my Leica or

Contax with appropriate (and expensive) lenses.

<br>

What does this mean ? Before dropping a camera / lenses take your

time and use them. This is not only true for Leica lenses, but for

about everything new. It really takes time to to get used to, but

then you are rewarded in better results than you may think of before.

Just have a look at Glenns (?) pictures with an Elmar 2.8; I doubt I

would get these with an elmar which I not yet have and buying one

would not bring me closer to this, but maybe I have another lens

which I may also use and which gives me equally nice pictures. But

here no recommendations of other people help me; here I have to go

out and shoot some pictures myself - and maybe you have reached this

point now where one try is worth more than a thousand recommendations.

[dlegaspi]

ok Kristian, here's a straight answer from me: based on your posts,

i'm given the impression that you <b>really</b> want the Nikon. buy

the F100, man. don't settle for anything that you don't

want...because you will find yourself selling it...which will be more

expensive!

[wgpinc]

Kristian,

If it was me I would buy the Nikon 85 1.4 - Adorama lists it for $779

USD. You can always use an N-80 body for under $400. Gets you way

under your price range. I use Canon and Leica R but I think the

Nikon 85 1.4 is so good that it is one reason I would consider

switching to Nikon, their Digital slr is another reason (D1X, D100).

Another way to go is pick up an R4 or R4s $350-400 and a 90 elmarit

or cron $500-600. Keeps you in Leica R. Lot of the R lenses are

real bargains and I am back to using my R4 and liking it better than

my R7. I have an excellent R4S that I am considering letting go. I

mean how many R bodies do I need. Good luck.

[jacques_balthazar1]

Oliver,

My "remarks about his private life " were not remarks at all, but a

tongue in cheek hint, accompanied by a smiley. I hope that is how it

has been understood. Kristian has always been forthcoming in

supplying here private details about his life, including the status

of his girlfriend ("fiancée"), her name, and pictures of her. And she

is lovely !

 

<p>

 

I am way too paranoid to ever share such private details in a public

site myself BTW...

 

<p>

 

On a more general behaviour topic: I seem to get into conflict by the

sole fact that I have a tendency to take people seriously when I read

them, to remember what they write and to feel and express

disappointment when I encounter blatant incoherence or self-denial.

Kristian is not the only one of us showing such a lack of coherence.

 

<p>

 

People (the well known "lurker") do make (or change) buying/selling

decisions according to what they read here and in other web

resources. I have been personally influenced in that respect, and

have spent cash based on evaluations I have read in newsgroups. You,

I, and all posters (should) take responsibility for what we state,

recommend or denounce, and (should) think twice before posting

extactic comments or other positive or negative recommendations. It

is very easy to pose as "specialists" or "pros" even when we really

are incompetent bored wannabees with a computer and too much time on

our hands.

 

<p>

 

Also, when you ask questions to others, you should respect the time

and the work spent to provide documented answers. I personally spent

well over an hour scanning illustrative pics to respond to a previous

request on same topic by Kristian, others have spent time on this as

well, I'm sure. It is legitimate to feel irritated when you realise

that whatever answers are supplied, the guy seems keen to start from

scratch again and require more of the same.

[Allen Herbert]

the guy seems keen to start from scratch again and require more of

the same

 

<p>

 

I can understand Kristian on what would seem a endless quest.I am

trying to decide what backup i should choose for my Leica M6,i do not

really want to make a mistake.I feel like posting thousands of times

till i have heard every point of view,it is just human nature.We are

talking about real money.Members of the forum should be pleased that

other members seek their views,and respect then enought to ask.

[kristian dowling]

OK, I understand where Jacques is comming from and he has a good

point. But it doesn't make it any easier to make these decisions when

I am not supported thats all.

 

<p>

 

No hard feelings jacques ok :-)

[kristian dowling]

Jacques, I do have some advice.

 

<p>

 

Assumption and insinuation leads to trouble. Be wise with your

comments, and speak as you would if the person/people is/are

right in front of you.

 

<p>

 

That way, respect is maintained.

[kristian dowling]

Well I ended up with the FM3a and the AF DC 105mm f/2D lens.

An awesome combination that I hope will deliver.

 

<p>

 

Thanks to everyone.

[diego_k.]

I know this is very late, suming it up, you wanted Leica Glass with non Leica R body.

 

Have you seen this?

 

http://www.cameraquest.com/NikF2R.htm

 

Best ever SLR + best lenses ;)

[retro_man]

Jacques, remember that no good deed ever goes unpunished :)

[shadowfox]

Interesting thread. I was drawn here because of the mention of several Contax SLR's that I am using/pursuing currently. I have used the RTS, and a 137MD, got them both for fractions of their original price (sometimes I love digital). I am looking towards getting an RTS II and the 139 Q.

 

One observation, despite the "prediction" about the servicability of the Contax SLR's in this thread, I found no basis for that 5 years later. Both Contaxes that I got are very solid, easy to use, and the pictures results speaks for their quality.

 

Everything is still where they should be (except for the darn leatherette).

 

As far as service and repair, at least in the US:

http://www.contaxusa.com/service.asp