tcb.photo

Sad to say, but it's probably true. Most working "pros", defined by those who shoot weddings for a living, and do newspaper and magazine work don't use either the "R" or the "M" system. Just not fast enough, although I'm sure a few do. Digital is taking over more and more. But a "pro" doing more artisitc work, willing to take his time may easily use the Leica Brand. You need only look at Leica sales compared to Nikon and Canons to see that it's true. Plus how many thousands of dollars worth of Equipment does Canon and Nikon give to "pro's" so they can say that "Pro's" use their stuff. It's all marketing, and the Japanese are famous for it.

The local "pro" dealer in my area sells all the digitals, and film of Canon and Nikon, some Minolata also. The last "M" camera he got was a special order, for me. Before that the last new Leica he had in stock was a R4, he sold it last month afer discounting it. the "foam" seals were shot from sitting.

So let the "pros" use what they will, and let "we" artists use Leicas (LOL).

Hi Matt

I also own a D100, a F100 and a F3HP. The F3 is a great legendary camera, but you must be aware of a couple of things. First the metering system is different than the D100. The F3 uses a 80/20 centered weighted. That will take some getting use to, especially if you are use to the matrix metering of the D100. Also be aware that the flash metering system is ... well not up today's standards.

Also, Nikon's current trend is to make lens in the "G" and gradually phase out the AIS lens. That will mean that as you pick up new Nikon glass in the future, it probably won't work on the F3. But there are plenty of older lens available.

That being said, I love my F3HP. I'd Get the MD-4 for it. It will help balance it, and your ready to enjoy the last of the truly great "pro grade" MF cameras made by Nikon. Don't worry about repairs, they are tough and parts are available. But get yourself a good strap, these bad boys are heavy, no wimpy Plastic covered "momma's boy" camera here -It's only a joke.

I've always like the Summicron 50mm f/2 lens in the "M" mount. I was

wondering if the "R" version is as nice? Does it produce the

same "feel" to the photos that the "M" does?

Thanks

Rob

Hi

By chance does anyone know where I can buy the Ilford Infrared

filter, in the US?

Thanks

Rob

Hi Jay, and others

Obviously you hate the Leica R bodies, and love the EOS line. So be it. But didn't Paul ask for opinion on either the R5, R6, R6.2,or R7? Maybe I misunderstood but I don't think he asked if should buy Leica R or another manufactures SLR...... No as I read his post again, it definately didn't ask that. He didn't ask if you like the R system, only which of these bodies are better.

Maybe it's best to just answer his question, as opposed to try and convince him to buy another manufacturer? Obviously, he's already decided to buy a "R". I've seen work done with the "R" series cameras, and they can't be all bad. So why don't you get down off your soap box, and post your views on the Canon forum, they like to hear how they are better than everyone else

Hi Greg

A word of caution about dealing with unknown dealers. See if you can find any mention of them on photo.net. They have a large data base of customer notes on dealers. Second, if they are one of those dealers whose prices are "hard to believe", there is probably a reason for it. I've never had problems with B&H or Adorama (spelling?). So that's who I deal with. I had a bad experi3ence with another place, and it ended up costing me more.

Best of luck

Hi Paul

I'm not an expert on the R bodies, but as for lens choice, it really sounds like you might need more than one. Travel,nature close ups and people will all but cover the spectrum of focal lengths between 28mm to 90.

If you can't decide, a 50mm is always a good place to start. I would have said the 60mm macro, but for "travel", which might include landscapes, it might not be wide enough.

When you decide, let us know and show some of the photos you take if you would

Best of luck

Shun, your right I just noticed that. "Sensor: 3876 x 2584 Pixels (10 MPixel) CCD-Chip, active sensor area 26.4 x 17.6 mm, focal length extension factor 1.37", interesting I assumed it was because it was a 10 megapixal.

But as I said forget Leica. I still think it would be a great option. I also have to agree with Avery in that if Leica can do it, Nikon certainly could and cheaper. With their expertise, there is no reason Nikon couldn't do it full frame.

Rob

Listen guys,

Before this becomes a name calling "blood lust" thread, take a minute and then step back and look at the question from this view point.

Forget Leica!! If Nikon were introducing a digital full frame 10 megapixal back to fit their 3 top film cameras (F5,F100 &N80). Then lets say it were to cost $ 3,000.00 (if leica will sell their for $400 Nikon could sell theirs for $3000-$3500). What that means is you could buy a used F100 (around $700), and the back. So for around $4000 total You could shot whatever you wanted, when ever you wanted. No worry about lens compatibility, becasue the F100 will accommodate the AIs lens. If you never wanted to shoot film, you won't have to, but it would still be cheaper than the Canon Pro grade full frame Digital. AND, you could upgrade to the newer back without scrapping the entire camera. Think about it, even if Nikon developed a "new must have it" body, you could keep the F100 as a 10 megapixal full frame backup. and you could upgrade the back also. WOULD any of us still object to it? Rationally?

So When it came time for upgrades, just buy a new back. Best of all, Nikon could develop new bodies, with less R&D and production costs, that would work with both Film and digital, for anyone who wanted to shoot both. Or just shoot which eve you prefer

Shun's views on the protected sensor are valid, and thus would require a certain amount of care. Many of us have two bodies, and thus if you felt you needed a "digital only SLR", you could easily have one.

Shun, in honesty wouldn't you rather have a Digial F5, or F100, that you could upgrade if you wanted to, that cost $3000 less than Canons Top DSLR? I'd much rather spend an extra $3000 to $4000 on something upgradeable, then spend $7000.00 for "the current level of technology"

BTW,I think there are allot of people who still shoot both.

I hate to say it, but I have to agree with some of what Josh said here. Too me it looks like a good idea, with far reaching possibilities. I would even buy another F100, or maybe a F5, just for the convenience of the interchangeable back, or backs (assuming they would be forth comming). Once in place, it would seems a simpler task for the R&D departments to upgrade, and make "pro grade digital" less expensive in the long run.

HOWEVER, There are two things that Josh is overlokking. First the initial cost of Leica's back. I talked to a guy from Adorama, thinking I would start picking up some Leica R stuff in hopes of this new back. He told me to expect to pay $4000 to $5000 for the back, that's what they were told. Why, because start up costs and R&D costs would be high on the "newer" technology. Plus, it's Leica R mount, and that isn't the most popular system. Plus, it's from Leica. I love Leica, but when was anything from Leica "inexpensive"

Second, as history tells us, there will probably be a lot of "bugs" initially. Look at the 14n, from Kodak as a example. It took a while to work out those bugs, and that delayed introduction of the body. There are many who still dislike it.

You can't draw a parallel to the DCS 420, different technology levels. Like comparing a model A to a new Corvette.

Finally, I must say I do like the idea. I'd love to see Nikon do it. It offers a world of posiblities we can only begin to imagine. But the Japanese camera makers won't do it until they see it is something that "lights the market up". If Leica could bring the back out for #2500 to $3000, and it works...the SLR world might take a change. If Leica were to triple their sales of the R series with the introduction. Then Japan would take notice. Until then it's easier to continue as it is. Much of the R&D is done, and they don't need to "retool" and start up new production lines, so to speak. Not to mention Nikons commitment to the their new lens mount (the DX in particular). You wouldn't need it if you had a full frame interchageable digital back. That would be lots of money wasted in R&D. That's why it will surprise me if they bring out a full frame DSLR, they have already developed too many "DX" pro lens. But time will tell.

As for preferring to own a seperate DSLR, Canon or Nikon, that's always a opinion. I certainly respect it. But I don't agree with it.

A lot of people might find it more afforadable to own one sytem, and allot would prefer it. I would

Although it won't effect the ability of your camera. chrome does wear better. The paint doesn't "Chip" off. It wears off to base metal color in some areas. Like the strap lug areas and the "points" on the finders. Look on eBay for a used F3HP, and you see what I mean.

But black, at least for the first few years, does look so good, especially with the motor drive (There is one for the FM3A isn't there?)

Hi

Can anyone tell me if a Nikon AIS lens, that has been chipped,

work/meter on a D100?

I have a 135mm f/2 that I want to get chipped, it would be mice if

it would also meter on the D100. I was wondering if anyone knew the

answer. I called Nikon, the guy didn't have a clue to what I was

talking about. Oh well

Thanks

I heard there is a "D70" scheduled for the beginning of the year. I would guess it's designed to compete with the little digital rebel. But that's just a guess

Rob

Your best value may be in used Quantarays as the name alone restricts its market. -Alex

Alex, I respectfully disagree with you on this point. I don't think they have the quality. The ones I've seen and used, admittedly not all of them, really are under preformers. They are inexpensive, because they have a reputaion based on poor preformance. But as I said, I've never used them all so maybe I never used the better ones.

Michael, the 50mm f/1.8 or 1.4 lens are the best place to start-IMHO. If you don't mind a MF lens you can get a cheap Nikon 50mm f/1.4 (assuming you have a nikon SLR). If it's an older body, look at the 50mm f/2 - a great lens

Best of luck, keep us informed

Hi Noah

Looks like a good plan to begin with.

First I'd get a good flash (one that can be used as you upgrade camera bodies). Also a good tripod is also a must. Get the best you can, you'll never be sorry you have a good stable tripod, only if you have a crap one. Then get use to what you have and make sure you really want to , and are ready for, the next step.

As for the lens, you seem to be a perfect candidate for a nice Zoom.

I'd save my money and get a nice one in the 24-120 or 24-135 area. I don't think the new VR version of the 24-120 will work on the N65, but you could check with Shun to make sure. If it would I'd save for it.

In primes, I think you'd be better off with the 28mm, than the 35mm. I own a 35mm f/1.4 AIS lens and there isn't a hugh difference between it and the 50. Yes there is some, but the wider 28mm would make a better package. The 85mm is always a good option.

Just my opinion

That's interesting. I didn't know Canon dropped the 50 f/1, I had a chance to use it once and it was a fantastic lens. I knew they had the 200 f/2, and the 200 f/2.8 (the only Canon lens I still own, even though I don't own any Canon bodies - I just got it back from a friend I had loaned it to).

Anyway, at 5 pounds it sounds like a brute. Although I'd love to try one sometime.

A Question just came to mind. Would it meter on a F100? Probably not be able to use A mode though would you?

Just curious

I was wondering if anyone knew what happened to the old 200 f/2 AIS

lens? Why Nikon removed it from the line. I know Canon makes one for

the EOS, and I've often womdered why Nikon stopped making their

version. I see them caome up once and a while on eBay.

I never used one, wasn't it a good lens? Or was it just a unpopular

combination for Nikon users? Or, just casualty of the switch to

Zooms, that many people seem to have made? They obviously wouldn't

stop making lens that people wanted.

Agan, just curiosity

Thanks

Hi Andre

Join the club. They did the same thing to me on a Canon 135 f/2 "L" lens about 3 years ago. I ende up paying an extra $200.oo for the US version, that turned out to be Gray market anyway. Other wise I would get the "Korean" mad e version. I reported them and filed complaints and nothing ever came of it

Rob

Interesting information. So many different variables on the R side isn't ther?

Out of curiosity, Can the RE use the motor drive?

Holy Cow, this is really insane. A simple question that allows a "relatively" simple answer is now degrated into a heated debate.

I've never seen a "no words" thread here, or on the Leica Forum, that didn't have some opinion mixed in. The answer is simple, if you don't want your work critiqued by the "housepainter", I love that by the way, then don't post your work.

When you post on a public forum, you can expect to get critiques from all types. Good and bad, sane and insane. But does this question have to drag down into an never ending argument also? Don't we have have enough of those debates over the "g" lens that we don 't need to "Nit pick" every detail of these lists?

Hi Abbie

Both the "No Words" and the "Critique Please" threads are often interchanged. It's often hared to see a photo and not let the author know how you feel about it. Weither the author, in a No Words thread appreciates your view may be another thing. You see these threads on the Leica list a lot more than you do here. But I've seen critiques and photos all mixed together.

SO I don't think there is any big deal. Personally I like to view them, I get to see other work and learn from them. On those I participate in, I don't mind if someone makes a critique, so long as it is helpful. A critique like - "Yuk", is about as helpful as warts on your but (LOL). It can be helpful to see what others see, or don't see, in your photos. We learn from our mistakes.

So unless someone yells at you, I think you can ask questions, and even give a short opinion. Just be polite and try and be helpful.

But then that's only my opinion