On 24 Jul 2002 00:41:59 GMT, dilbertdroid2@aol.com (Dilbertdroid2) wrote:

>After you've handled a classic Leica and then a Cosina, I'm not sure why you'd
>want a Cosina. All of them have the same basic core and shutter mechanism,
>and they are rapidly gaining notoriety as poor quality products.

I bought a Bessa R to use a 12mm Voightlander lens on
it - though it is no Leica in terms of finish and feel,
it is well-designed, operates well, has a good RF, and
has an excellent VF as RF cameras go (I generally prefer
the view through the best SLR VFs to RF VFs, but this one
is nice and bright, and acceptably free of color). So
far, it has been reliable (and I suspect, given its
simple design, it will continue to be...).

>There is a plentiful supply of screwmount Leicas, and one that I can recommend
>for a beginner is the IIIf black dial. They are not hard to find with a good
>starter lens like the 50mm f3.5 Elmar for around $400, in fully working
>condition with a clean, accurate rangefinder, clean lens and good shutter.
>The fact that there are so many of these cameras around a half-century after
>they were made should tell you something about their quality and usability.

Or collectability - I would hate to have to use one,
though, for actually taking pictures...

>In contrast, earlier Cosina models like the Bessa-L and some lenses are being
>dumped at a fraction of their cost new and Cosina is literally puking new
>lenses and bodies. The very short development time and short product cycle
>should tell you a lot about what you are really getting for your money.

Hardly. Every lens issued so far has been a remarkable
value - first-rate optics at a fraction of the cost of
alternatives *if they exist at all*. Where is the Leitz/
Zeiss 12mm or 15mm? And these lenses are not just cheap,
they are also remarkably good (as the bodies are also).
Your post sounds like "sour grapes" from a Leica enthusiast,
and indicates you may not actually have tried the cameras
and lenses you disparage...