Questions on DMR basics

[Robert44]

Hi all - I have a few basic questions about the DMR, and I would be most grateful if someone could answer them.

1. When did the DMR first come out?

2. Any idea of what percent of R users also purchased a DMR? (what I am driving at here is was it regarded as a commercial success?)

3. Have there been any upgrades to it?

4. Is it a product that Leica is likey to maintain & upgrade periodically?

My thanks and appreciation to all who reply.


Robert

[jrgeoffrion]

Originally Posted by Robert44

Hi all - I have a few basic questions about the DMR, and I would be most grateful if someone could answer them.

1. When did the DMR first come out?

2. Any idea of what percent of R users also purchased a DMR? (what I am driving at here is was it regarded as a commercial success?)

3. Have there been any upgrades to it?

4. Is it a product that Leica is likey to maintain & upgrade periodically?

1. Roughly July 2005.

2. No clue.

3. The 'wheel' has been updated as the original could potentially fall off. Also, firmware 1.2 and 1.3 were made. 1.3 was 'buggy'.

4. Most likely "upgrade" as in an R10.

[john_f]

Robert,

The Leica DMR was first announced in late June 2003, and was officially introduced at Photokina 2004. It was delayed and delayed and, as JR noted, finally became available for sale around July 2005. But it was worth it !

For more info, see:
Leica Digital Modul R for the R8 & R9: Digital Photography Review
Leica Digital-Modul-R due on June 15: Digital Photography Review

Cheers,

John F.

P.S. The next DMR firmware upgrade (version 1.3) is apparently due out during or immediately after Photokina '06 - let's keep our fingers crossed !

[Robert44]

Thanks JR & John.

With regard to the question "Will the R10 be 1. a strictly (digital camera) or 2. a (film + digital) camera via the DMR"?, is there a consensus in the Leica community on the answer, and if so, what is it?


Also, within the same community, has the DMR been well received/considered successful?

Thanks

Robert

[jrgeoffrion]

Originally Posted by Robert44

With regard to the question "Will the R10 be 1. a strictly (digital camera) or 2. a (film + digital) camera via the DMR"?, is there a consensus in the Leica community on the answer, and if so, what is it?

I'm 99% sure it will be 1 due to the R8/9 physical limitations.

[pascal_meheut]

Originally Posted by jrgeoffrion

I'm 99% sure it will be 1 due to the R8/9 physical limitations.

So am I and also because Leica said so. Nothing definitive but highly probable. Who uses film in the same body as their DMR's anyway ?

P.S: hello and welcome to J R Geoffrion. We met once on Summilux and I'm a big fan of your web site and your work.

[jrgeoffrion]

Originally Posted by pascal_meheut

P.S: hello and welcome to J R Geoffrion. We met once on Summilux and I'm a big fan of your web site and your work.

Salut Pascal.

BTW, my first post should have said v1.1. and v1.2 and not v1.2 and v1.3.

[Robert44]

Originally Posted by pascal_meheut

....Who uses film in the same body as their DMR's anyway ?........

Hi Pascal - I found the above comment confusing (bit new to this). Perhaps you could elaborate. By way of background, I shoot film and have no immediate plans, for many reasons, to go digital, and am considering acquiring a R9, but mostly for film use. The digital part of the R9, via the DMR, would simply be an option, should I eventually choose to go there.

Do people use the R9 for mainly film? mainly digital? combo?

Thanks

Robert

[pascal_meheut]

No, what I was saying is that once you install a DMR on a R8 or R9, you do not go back very often, not to say ever.
I still shoot film besides digital with the DMR but I prefer using a second body than exposing the CCD, travelling with a film back, a winder and so on...

[paulmoore]

my r9 has never seen film and won't, I have a r8 as backup and that has not seen
a roll of film either from me. I got into leica when the dmr came out.

[telyt]

Originally Posted by Robert44

Do people use the R9 for mainly film? mainly digital? combo?

Digital is the only reason I have the R8. For film I use another body, like the R4 or (more likely) the SL or SL2.

[Murri]

I use the DMR only in digital but think that in the R10 they should keep the concept of system modular, him much better than a camera reserved.

A DMR 2 with 16 Mbs would be a wonder.