Cooperation Leica / Jenoptik Digital Imaging

[Saloti]

This might be interesting for all of us :

JENOPTIK AG Press Releases

The optical division of Jenoptik comprises the following companies :

Digital Imaging = JENOPTIK Laser, Optik, Systeme GmbH, SINAR AG, Coastal Optical
Systems Inc., Liebmann Optical Comp. Inc. und MEMS Optical Inc..

Interesting.

[sdai]

Interesting, they swore to sue Leica after the takeover of Sinar turned sour. Business ... anything could happen.

[andybarton]

That's very good news all round.

Glad they have buried the hatchet.

[mooky]

Nice catch Saloti......I think this could be very big news for Leica down the road a bit......I just have a funny feeling that even after they broke off their past business deal/relationship, that for this to happen tells me this is Leica really taking itself seriously,,,and it's place in the market.

Hmmmm, my thinking wheels are turning......excellent news for Leica users.

[dhsimmonds]

This is indeed interesting. I for one was most disappointed when the previous collaboration with Jenoptik was broken off as I could see the business sense for each company by filling different gaps in their own fields of operation.

I wonder why though that Leica has not made a similar press announcement? It is usual for both companies joining in a mutually advantageous agreement to make simultaneous public announcements.

[mooky]

Perhaps they are just being quiet little mice with exciting plans that will make us all happy, and their pockets deeper. As we all know, until recently Leica has been a little weak on the PR side of things (yes, they still might be seen that way now) so we'll find out.

But It would seem that some of the finest optical 'techno-mice' on the planet have just signed themselves into a barrel of fun. Is there more proprietary digital imaging technology in your Leica's future? I think so.

[jaapv]

Another effect of the post- Lee era?

[Saloti]

Going through the Jenoptik website and those of the companies
belonging to the Jenoptik group helps understanding the "allied competence"
of this cooperation.

I have no idea what this cooperation means to the alliance Leica/Panansonic,
however, my understanding is that now digital imaging know how is available
for Leica "on site". Finally Sinar Switzerland belongs to the Jenoptik group
as well Sinar

Hopefully it is now only a question of whether this or next year Leica will
make the big step forward both with M and R system...........

[sdai]

Originally Posted by Saloti

I have no idea what this cooperation means to the alliance Leica/Panansonic, however, my understanding is that now digital imaging know how is available for Leica "on site". Finally Sinar Switzerland belongs to the Jenoptik group
as well Sinar.

IMO Leica and Panasonic's relationship will be more limited within the aspects of trademark licensing, pocket camera rebranding etc. With Jenoptik ... this is the real deal.

What's lacking now? Leica needs to partner with a chip designer to get their own ASIC DSP and not to use a general purpose DSP again.

[mjh]

Originally Posted by sdai

IMO Leica and Panasonic's relationship will be more limited within the aspects of trademark licensing, pocket camera rebranding etc. With Jenoptik ... this is the real deal.

What's lacking now? Leica needs to partner with a chip designer to get their own ASIC DSP and not to use a general purpose DSP again.

And that is precisely the area where Panasonic could help them. Internal image processing has always been a weak spot, which isn’t really surprising. High-end manufacturers such as Hasselblad/Imacon or Jenoptik couldn’t care less about internal image processing, as they prefer to do all the image processing in the raw converter. I believe that Leica had intended the DMR and M8 to be used in much the same way, so they didn’t put too much effort in developing high quality image processing algorithms that would run on a relatively low-power processor. But apperently, neither DMR nor M8 customers could be convinced to give up on JPEGs out of the camera entirely. Panasonic has a lot of experience in this area, and they have a suitable processor. All Leica had to do was to order a Venus Engine IV development kit and to get going.

[Photon42]

Isn't Jenoptik providing the M8 software? As I'm not too particularly impressed by this piece of engineering, I hope things get better with the co-operation.

[veraikon]

sn't Jenoptik providing the M8 software? A

yes. And the "owners" of Jenoptik, Jena seems to be interessting , (at least I believe it)
=>
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...-jenoptik.html