Interview with Kaufmann

[AlanG]

Originally Posted by jank

Alan, that would work.
at least 1 Mpixel EVF ( 5x finer than GX100) no Visoflex would be needed for use with R lenses, actually it should work well with M135mm and/or Macro.
Lenses could be coded ,naturally.
it would not be too expensive to do.
It would become a complete expandable Leica system with "electronic Visoflex".
Jan

I've thought about this since the M8 first came out. A hybrid rangefinder/live view system would allow for quick R/F work or precisely focused and framed images when using a tripod or for subjects that don't move too quickly. (It's hard to say how quickly various lenses could be focused on any type of EVF.) This could widen the potential applications for a digital M even if it doesn't offer all of the capabilities of an AF DSLR.

Additionally, when using M lenses handheld, one could quickly focus with the rangefinder and simply use the clip-on EVF for framing as one would do with the auxilliary finders that are typically used with w/a lenses. Plus a removable EVF could be linked to the camera via a cable and would easily allow for unusual vantage points.

I have a Konica/Minolta A2 and it has a 1 megapixel EVF that is pretty good in terms of resolution, although the AF hunts and it is slow compared with a DSLR.

I really don't see a down side to any of this except I don't know if Kodak can provide a CCD with live view. So it may be impossible unless Leica switches sensors and whatever else that entails.

[lemalk]

God bless them - it seems like they're trying to build on the strengths they've always had, but are going into uncharted territory (with hopefully the aid of a more knowledgeable partner) with an auto-focus "True Leica" DSLR.

And, as others have pointed out, some more changes in the M-line.

Very ambitious, and obviously a change from the idea of an M8 being upgradeable through it's lifetime.

But, given how small the company is, I don't know how long their timeline is....or whether they really have a plan to thrive and not simply survive.

[dalippe]

When asked about improving high ISO performance to better match the best DSLRs, Kaufmann suggests that those gains are achieved largely through software. Is that true of, for example, the D3 when shooting RAW? I had assumed the gains were largely in hardware and that no meaningful nose reduction was pre-applied to RAW files in-camera. Does anybody know for certain? Or perhaps Nikon isn't saying?

David

[sdai]

If you are looking for genuine RAW files, the DMR files are probably the No.1 on the list, with the least amount in camera hardware/software processing and closest to sensor dumps.

Canon, Sony and Nikon's so called RAW files by the time they are written on to the flash cards, have gone through several stages of on chip hardware processing and DSP firmware massaging. That's why some people say "RAW is the new JPEG". LOL

It's really funny about the auto focus part, the first time I heard about it at the beginning of 2007 or the end of 2006, I thought the guy who told me was absolutely a nut, I turned to the forum and humbly asked, everybody thought that I was a nut ... when I said AF is good, people said it can't beat manual focus, when I went against the new AF mount, some people say Leica can't do it wrong.

[giordano]

Originally Posted by AlanG

I've thought about this since the M8 first came out. A hybrid rangefinder/live view system would allow for quick R/F work or precisely focused and framed images when using a tripod or for subjects that don't move too quickly. (It's hard to say how quickly various lenses could be focused on any type of EVF.) This could widen the potential applications for a digital M even if it doesn't offer all of the capabilities of an AF DSLR.

Additionally, when using M lenses handheld, one could quickly focus with the rangefinder and simply use the clip-on EVF for framing as one would do with the auxilliary finders that are typically used with w/a lenses. Plus a removable EVF could be linked to the camera via a cable and would easily allow for unusual vantage points.

I have a Konica/Minolta A2 and it has a 1 megapixel EVF that is pretty good in terms of resolution, although the AF hunts and it is slow compared with a DSLR.

I really don't see a down side to any of this except I don't know if Kodak can provide a CCD with live view. So it may be impossible unless Leica switches sensors and whatever else that entails.

I feel we're still a long way from an EVF that comes close to matching a decent optical finder for resolution/acuity, dynamic range and response time. Also, is it possible for a CCD or CMOS sensor to switch from live view, make the exposure and switch back to live view as fast as an SLR mirror can move?

[steich]

What if you combine Dr. Kaufmann´s hints (DSLR and surprise for the M users)?
Maybe a small DSLR with M lenses?
Like a permanent Visoflex?
Just my two Euro cents....

Regards
Stefan

[stunsworth]

Originally Posted by steich

Maybe a small DSLR with M lenses?

No chance - the lenses don't have auto diaphragms.

[andybarton]

Maybe the surprise will be that they are to stop the M line all together, following the amount of whinging about them

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by steich

What if you combine Dr. Kaufmann´s hints (DSLR and surprise for the M users)?
Maybe a small DSLR with M lenses?
Like a permanent Visoflex?
Just my two Euro cents....

Regards
Stefan

Fine a lot as a concept, but I don't think they can design a DSLR that makes use of M lenses... flange-sensor distance is such that probably they would have to use a mirror (and so, a SENSOR) of really a too small size. BTW I think also that maybe Leica users, in spite of Kaufmann's words, could accept a Manual Focus DSLR, but not a DSLR without automatic diaphragm...

[dpattinson]

Hmmm, what about a compact digital camera with live view on the screen. Takes M lenses, has a viewfinder with electronic frames and parallax comp - but no RF or short base RF. With electronic focus confirm in the viewfinder. I dunno - but some variation on that would be a very sweet second camera.

(and test out a lot of stuff that could go into a M9)

[sangtan]

Kaufmann's words, in the interview, "to assure that analog photography continues to be a key element of photographic education at the highest levels" and "Incidentally we will show something else significant for the M system at Photokina, not just lenses"

I reckon it will be a film back for the M8.

Sang

[masjah]

Originally Posted by sangtan

Kaufmann's words, in the interview, "to assure that analog photography continues to be a key element of photographic education at the highest levels" and "Incidentally we will show something else significant for the M system at Photokina, not just lenses"

I reckon it will be a film back for the M8.

Sang

Nah! Old hat! There is already a film back available for the R9DMR digital camera.

[jaapv]

I hope Dr. Kaufmann will not be offended by the Anglo-Saxon habit of dropping honorifics when discussing somebody...

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by bill

What an intriguing thought... A Viso IV with electronic linkages, perhaps a pellicle mirror to avoid swing/slap and the need for contacts and an R-Mount on the front...

Now THAT would be something...

Regards.

Bill

Interesting is it not? To take R lenses unmodified it would have to be flatter because of the shorter than V-mount register, so it would intrude into the body by about 1 cm, In that case it would need an aspheric concave mirror projecting onto a small CCD and an EVF. It could even write ROM data to EXIF through the USB port of the camera.

*I can't believe I'm writing this and be understood Three years ago this post would have been as understandable to me as if it had been written in Sanskrit... *

[delander]

The most interesting comment to me was "Nikon rumors aside, Leica is the only company that now offers both DSLR and digital rangefinder systems".

Nikon could do this and recent events indicate they are interested in the niche RF market.

That would liven things up!

Jeff.

[stunsworth]

I'd expect a Nikon camera to be for their old 'S' rangefinder mount. Could be wrong of course.

[jackal]

Originally Posted by sangtan

Kaufmann's words, in the interview, "to assure that analog photography continues to be a key element of photographic education at the highest levels" and "Incidentally we will show something else significant for the M system at Photokina, not just lenses"

I reckon it will be a film back for the M8.

Sang

lol


some great humourous posts on this thread

[pelikan1931]

a cheaper body with electric rangefinder perhaps, the present optical rangefinder costs Leica quite a lot, whatever the guess, expect a new/cheaper digital body from solms.

[adan]

As a journalist, I'd give Pop Photo higher than usual marks for this interview. Tougher questions than the softballs LFI usually tosses - and Kaufmann was far more revealing than he or Lee were in the past - at least as I read between the lines.

He pretty much put the kibosh on an M with a full-frame sensor in anything like the forseeable future. Sounds to me like they are going to deliver lenses for the 1.33 crop instead. At least a couple of superwide primes of whatever speed, and maybe they can pull an M-sized 24 or 28 f/1.4 out of their hat after all!

I do think some kind of sub-M8 RF body is quite possible - doubt it will use anything but the classic M mount for lenses, though.

I think the R line will remain dormant for another year. Better to make sure the M line is filled out with some fast wide glass, and then let it rest until 2010 while making their move on the SLR end.

[marknorton]

I'm wondering whether there's some sort of collaboration going on between Nikon and Leica. Just like there was between Minolta and Leica in the 70s - CL and R3, Leica could share technology with Nikon, call it "Nikoleica".

A Nikon built rangefinder, rebadged as a Leica entry level M rangefinder. An R10 based on the forthcoming D3x with compatability with both Nikon F and Leica R glass and priced above the D3x. Some new Nikon primes (badly needed) based on the R's best.

Who knows? Seems likely though that Leica needs a development partner, especially in electronics.

If the R is left dormant for a couple of years, my guess is it will become known as the Leica-what?