Leica vs. Nikon on the issue of ergonomics

[j-dogg]

If ergonomics are what you seek, look no further than the Minolta Maxxum 7xi/9xi.

I swear Minolta R&D invented a time machine, went forward 26 years, broke into my house, chopped off my hand, built a camera around it and surgically re-attached it, went back in time to 1988 and designed the 7xi/9xi. Might explain why my wrists have been sore all these years.

 

[Grif]

Which ever one you first got used to. If it needs to be a choice,,, Nikon F with a soft release button

Otherwise a C33 Mamiya ;-) And I haven't had one since the late 60's and have missed it ever since. And not enough sense to just go get another one. Oh,,, and EASmithV... I'll bet a C33 to the jaw does more damage than a Speed Graphic

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I've tried the Leica R8 (unwieldly and heavy) while the R bodies are basically all the same shape and size. Y

Actually, the Leicaflexes, R3, R4-7 and R8-9 have quite different sizes and forms.

And I'd hardly call a Nikon 801 light & compact, unless compared to motor drive equipped models...

 

[clayne]

F2 or F3.

 

[Danielle]

Just had to post something here.

I'd love an R8 or an R9, too expensive for me though. Not so much the price of the bodies, but the lenses... whoa $$$. At least from what I've seen that is. I could live with only like 2 lenses though for something like that. But a bit more of an investment than Im willing to give now, particularly to 35mm as I love medium format too much. To those who own one with a few lenses though, Im kinda almost jealous.

Never held one either, but they look and seem beautifully made just as a leica should be. And I know Im not wrong.

 

[sanjin]

Well, someone beat me to the affordable 35mm Summicron by a few hours, so all that remains now are the Type 2 ones, which I cannot afford on a post-graduation job-seeker's budget... I'll be patient if a further Type 1 pops up in about a week, 10 days, otherwise I think I'll go the Nikon way. There seems to be a steady supply of used Zeiss lenses in ZF mount around.

Danielle: that was my logic as well, just have two lenses for it... I got used to shooting mostly between 35-50mm and 90-105mm focal lengths, so having these equivalents in two lenses for the upcoming purchase didn't seem too crazy in financial terms. "We'll see how the market behaves", he said in a not overly confident voice.

rolleiman: it's true, I was thinking about the variety as well... If I went the Nikon way, I could easily pick up a backup FG body for little money, so I could shoot slide and my Ilfords side by side.