mike_j
nobbut a beginner
Reged: 23/08/2005
Posts: 1351
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I don't know - I just got fed up with seeing the same old 'last post' on this forum. Do we all have to go to Leica Users forum for some Leica discussion?
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Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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Quote:
I don't know - I just got fed up with seeing the same old 'last post' on this forum. Do we all have to go to Leica Users forum for some Leica discussion?
Yup ....
Or we could go Canonikonoltax baiting in some other AP forum ...
Or I could say, I just bought a new old lens and am very impressed with its performance:
5cm f3.5 Elmar (1949), Leica III (1938).
A bigger version illustrating more clearly how it performed in the moderate backlighting, etc, is in my Flickr Gallery plus a B+W version along with some other junk (scroll down for photos).
.......
.T.
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Zou
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 2117
Loc: Edinburgh
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Very impressive. I've still got a III on my wish list, but it has slipped down recently.
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Zou's Flickr Page
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Tacitus
History
Reged: 17/01/2006
Posts: 871
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Well, Zou,
I am rather impressed with the real-world performance of a 1949 lens. (OK, I'm a latecomer to the LTM world). In direct comparison it's a little less sharp and contrasty than my Skopar 50/2.5, but it holds shadow detail better and has smoother out-of focus rendition: overall it is a more satisfying lens to use. I don't have an objective comparison with other LTM lenses yet.
On a Leica III variant, together with an accessory finder (and an aperture setting hood), it makes a pretty decent shooting combination for candid and street/town photography. It's easy to use and folk seem largely unconcerned by the presence of an old camera compared to the 'in your face-ness' of a big digital or film slr - and they are quiet and fun to use.
I believe that LTM Leicas haven't been much cheaper, in real terms, for quite some time, but it depends where you buy: the same applies to lenses. I grabbed a 1939 IIIa for just £99 a few months ago the 'new' 1949 Elmar cost just £84: both are in clean, fully working, exc++ condition. I would expect to pay double for such a kit at one of the 'big' shops - diligent research & searching pays off.
It took me 35 years to get around to buying a Barnack: with hindsight that was probably several decades too long. .T.
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SovietCameraNut
Persona non grata
Reged: 19/11/2007
Posts: 12
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Is it not more of a concern that the Leica name is being ruined by its links with Panasonic budget camera range. Even their cheapest digital compacts now have the Leica Logo on the lens barrel. To me this just undermines the value and quality of the Leica name. These cheapo digital compact cameras are poor performers compared to similar priced compacts from Fujifilm and dare I say it Kodak - what do you lot think?
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mike_j
nobbut a beginner
Reged: 23/08/2005
Posts: 1351
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It's worth remembering that this is not a new Leica activity. The CL range was produced by Minolta and very good it was too. The R range similarly was not a pure Leica product.
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9471
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
To me this just undermines the value and quality of the Leica name. These cheapo digital compact cameras are poor performers compared to similar priced compacts from Fujifilm and dare I say it Kodak - what do you lot think?
Can't speak for Kodak or Fuji but I have the FMX30. Now I would agree that the sensor is overcrowded and thus the images are either a bit noisier than I'd like (at low ISO) or the noise reduction is slightly overdone (at higher ISO) but, as far as the performance of the lens and the overall results are concerned, I would say that it's actually a decent little camera. I've certainly gotten better results from it than I've had from the APS compact I used to use. It's also nice to have a compact with a decent wide angle when so many others, Fuji and Kodak included, bottom out at 35mm equivalent or so.
Is it perfect? No but then I don't think many if any of todays over pixellated compacts are... Is it fit for purpose? As a carry anywhere anytime camera for usable grab shots I think it's fine.
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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Zou
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 2117
Loc: Edinburgh
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I've no criticism of the lens on either my dad's FZ-5 or mum's FZ-30. The sensors on both are @#*% - but the lenses are great. 
Their problem is putting their own badge on basically the same cameras and charging a huge percentage more for them. Calumet are offering a free Leica compact with every Digilux, but I still can't see many takers. They need to make a new, unique R series DSLR to remind the world why everyone used to respect the brand.
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Zou's Flickr Page
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Mark_Norton
Reged: 29/06/2002
Posts: 1169
Loc: London, UK
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I think designing lenses for other companies and licencing their IP helped save the company from going under but there is an element of prostituting the brand.
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Mark
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