Shel Belinkoff wrote: > > Leica still builds - and always has built - their basic camera, the current > versions being the M7 and MP variants, as well as a replica Barnack > edition. The Barnack edition is the least expensive of the three. > > Yes, you can buy a dressed up Leica, and there's not a damned thing wrong > with that. Some people like fancier-looking cameras. Why, right on this > list there are some people using "designer" Pentax cameras, and Pentax has > also made some limited edition models, such as the gold LX and one or two > anniversary edition LX bodies. I believe there were also some special > bodies made for the K1000, with different focusing screens and brown > leather coverings, which also sold for a premium. > > And let's not forget some of the better-known collectible Nikons - The Gold > Nikon FA European Gran Prix 1984 Camera of the Year, the Gold Nikon FM > 60th Anniversary of Nippon Kogaku, and the Nikon FM2 Titanium Year of the > Dog with a total Production only 300 - more than many of the Leica > collectibles. > > Further, many of the real collector edition Leicas are mostly contracted > for by various organizations and, in some cases, individuals, who want to > commemorate an event or try to generate some extra income for themselves or > their organization. Leica doesn't just build them without special orders. > For example, there's a doctor in Hong Kong who, over the years, > commissioned Leica to make some special colors (olive drab comes to mind as > one of them) that he resold for a premium to collectors, or just those > users who wanted special colors. > > Many Leica owners over the years have modified or customized their cameras > to reflect their unique needs or preferences. BFD ... This page may > interest you: > > http://www.cameraquest.com/TAnotcoll.htm > > And to perhaps anticipate a further objection, that Leicas are over priced > or very expensive, and suited only for the rich user or collector, bear in > mind that Leica has always been expensive. Why people insist on bashing > Leica as primarily a manufacturer of high-priced collectible cameras seems > a little strange, but the nice thing is that these collectibles put money > in Leica's coffers and allow the company to stay in business. > > The Bessa is a piece of mass-produced crap based on a cheap body that > Cosina has been using for a variety of cameras and brands for years. As I > said before, Leica has always been expensive. Pick up and use a Bessa and > spend some time with it, and do the same for your basic Leica. The quality > difference will be obvious. > What makes some Canon and Nikons worth five and six times more than their > entry level cameras? I find the price difference extremely hard to > believe. > > > Shel (Leica M3 and custom modified M2 user) > > > >
Shel. Have you ever used an R2 or R3 series Bessa? It might be an evolution of the plastic-fantastic Cosina SLR's, but it's a far sturdier example of camera design, with build quality similar to mid-range Nikon's and Pentax's of the late 70's and early 80's. And the viewfinder is extremely good (better than the M3 IMHO). Their only weakness is the lack of a Red Dot and a somewhat short RF baseline. If Leica had been bright they would have gone to Cosina and had them turn the R into a CL2 instead of letting Cosina steal the market for RF cameras. I've shot a Leica. I shoot Nikons. No way in hell are the current bodies worth what Leica wants new. Half that, maybe. Now used M3 and M2's are great cameras for a reasonable cost. -Adam -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
