Compact interchangeable lens camera coming 09/12

[andybarton]

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Leica to launch new compact system in 2012 - British Journal of Photography

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[spylaw4]

Also in Amateur Photographer Leica to launch 'compact system camera' at Photokina 2012 news - Amateur Photographer - news, camera reviews, lens reviews, camera equipment guides, photography courses, competitions, photography forums

[andybarton]

Very interesting to see that Dr Kaufmann is about to buy LFI

[bill]

Makes sense.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[wattsy]

Very interesting to see that Dr Kaufmann is about to buy LFI

 

Yes, for me that is probably the most interesting piece of information to come out of last night's press call.

[stunsworth]

Very interesting to see that Dr Kaufmann is about to buy LFI

 

And therefore make any reviews totally non-independent?

[phancj]

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I am awaiting this camera with great interest. But I hope it is really small.

 

CJ

[bill]

...I hope it is really small.

 

...but at the same time not too small...

 

Really small only works with a bit of mass, like the Rollei 35. Too small and too light is downright unpleasant to use, particularly with larger or longer lenses.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[phancj]

If leica makes M-lenses which are tiny for FF, I would wish for APS-C lenses that are proportionally smaller. Something along the size of slightly smaller than m4/3 I would consider superb for lugging around all the time. But you are right, not too light, but must not be too hefty either. A delicate balance and a good lens to body weight ratio.

 

CJ

[pico]

I envision something like a digital Minolta CL with a grip that holds a robust battery. An LCD and eye-level, live view finder as a customer add-on option. The fact that it will use M lenses (If that is the case) obviates all the monkeying around with c-mount lenses and so forth - but it could take R lenses.

 

Focus confirmation concerns me the most, largely because focusing those darned cameras then having to stop down manually is a big drawback.

[bill]

An LCD and eye-level, live view finder as a customer add-on option. .

 

It's worth actually reading what was written:

 

"Asked whether Leica would include an EVF [electronic viewfinder], Schopf said it would largely depend on the sensor used, hinting that the company would prefer a built-in EVF option"

 

I wouldn't be interested in anything clip-on and would prefer an optical finder, but I appreciate that is not what this is about.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

[phancj]

I dunno where I got this notion but after reading the article I was thinking that Leica will be releasing an entirely new line with its own dedicated lenses...it could be a wrong assumption though. But I am pretty sure it will not take R-lenses, otherwise it cannot be called a compact system since the M9 is already small....and I do not think leica will do something like the nex where the lenses are humongous and grossly disproportionate with the body when using some lenses.

[spylaw4]

And therefore make any reviews totally non-independent?

 

And they aren't at present?

[mjh]

I dunno where I got this notion but after reading the article I was thinking that Leica will be releasing an entirely new line with its own dedicated lenses...it could be a wrong assumption though. But I am pretty sure it will not take R-lenses

Pretty much all the EVIL cameras out there take R lenses if you spring for an adapter; I would be surprised if the new system did not. But it isn’t meant to be a revival of the R system, i.e. it won’t support R lenses natively, if only because R lenses don’t support AF.

[earleygallery]

Will Leica want to release a smaller cheaper digital body that takes M lenses? I doubt it. I expect this to be a completely new system, with a dedicated range of AF lenses. I wouldn't be surprised if it was designed so as not to be able to work with M lenses even via an adaptor of some sort - think deeper flange to sensor distance. R lenses would be a possibility though.

[earleygallery]

It's worth actually reading what was written:

 

"Asked whether Leica would include an EVF [electronic viewfinder], Schopf said it would largely depend on the sensor used, hinting that the company would prefer a built-in EVF option"

 

I wouldn't be interested in anything clip-on and would prefer an optical finder, but I appreciate that is not what this is about.

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

Maybe an optical finder with an EVF option? Wonder where they saw that before?

[mjh]

Will Leica want to release a smaller cheaper digital body that takes M lenses? I doubt it. I expect this to be a completely new system, with a dedicated range of AF lenses.

Sure it will have a new mount and dedicated AF lenses but you could always use an adapter.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was designed so as not to be able to work with M lenses even via an adaptor of some sort - think deeper flange to sensor distance.

To make room for a mirror that isn’t there? I don’t think so.

[jjb]

Thank you for this news! I am pleased for this advance notice from Leica, so I can better plan future camera purchases. Of course, I realize that the Photokina 2012 appearance might be followed by additional months of waiting for the launch, but let's hope it follows quickly.

 

It is especially gratifying to read that they are exploring an integrated viewfinder of some kind. Even if only an EVF, that is a step in the right direction, and a necessary pre-condition for me.

 

A hybrid optical/electronic VF might be better, but I realize that Fuji probably built a fortress of patents around their own hybrid-VF technology. Maybe someone is building a competing system for licensing.

 

Pure speculation, but the use of an APS sized (or larger) sensor makes me think that this new camera will force some sort of adjustment to the X series' slotting, although there are multiple options Leica might take and that discussion probably requires a new thread.

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[daveleo]

An APS-C camera with an integral EVF + interchangeable lenses . . . isn't that just what the X1 crowd has been asking for?

 

Why not accept M-mount lenses ? . . . this camera body is not in competition with the M9 & Leica will make money on every M-mount lens it sells to someone who buys the new camera. Why not do that? In fact, allowing the use of M-lenses would entice new users into Leica without the exclusive cost of the M9. It would also be a backup to the M9 for some pro's.

 

Anyway, we have much time to further speculation.

[sblitz]

In a number of other posts I have written that the mirrorless digital camera is the high tech analog to when Leica revolutionized the camera world with its introduction of the 35mm camera and the news pros were all carrying around huge behemoths ala weegee. Leica should be the leader today in mirrorless technology, it follows from the the rangefinder and its history and with that the news is great. While we are attached to the rangefinder it is certainly possible to see that the mirrorless leica overtakes the dslr world just as the 35mm camera did 75 or so years ago and that leica returns to pre-eminent position in the pro and amateur world -- if they do it right. there will be a lot of chatter between now and then in regard to what this camera does and does not do, and speculation can be fun. but to me, this is really the right step for the firm. rather than spending its r&d on bringing the M series into the digital world. I think it is has done that with the m9, improvements yes in the years ahead, but the real exciting leap-frogging technical possibilities should and very likely will be in the mirrorless camera arena.