meatboy Posted January 25, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 25, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It seems talk of a Digital CM has abated. So I thought I'd restart some ideas. What I'd suggest is a Digital CM with fixed 40mm or 35mm with a built in optical viewfinder that sports a LED headsup display for shutter speed and focus confirmation in the viewfinder - similar to the Contax T3. The fixed lens design should help make the camera more compact than an interchangeable lens version. Could we ask for an APS-C size sensor ala the Sigma DP1/2 perhaps? A 4/3 sensor with some Leica magic may work well too. Full manual (read - physical dials) controls for aperture and shutter speed would be a unique design on a digital compact camera. Plus Aperture priority and Program modes. Add to this base 40/35mm camera a pair of matched accessory clip on 24mm wide angle and 90mm tele lenses for the fixed 40mm and I think you'd have a winner system. I suppose that this would only have a limited market but priced under the M8 but over the DLUX4 and there is room for such a mini system IMHO. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 25, 2009 Posted January 25, 2009 Hi meatboy, Take a look here Digital CM - reboot. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
marknorton Posted January 25, 2009 Share #2 Posted January 25, 2009 I don't know how the Sigma is doing but I would have thought the market for a camera with a fixed prime lens is pretty limited. The great majority of the chimping public wouldn't touch it and it lacks the flexibility for "enthusiasts". In all honesty, I think the D-Lux4 is Leica's Digital CM though Leica have said there's space between it and the M8.2 (like, €4000+ of space) for something in the middle - a Digital CL maybe. Just as the CL was made by Minolta, a Digital CL would likely be made by Panasonic, providing Leica haven't managed to p..s them off too much and I think they could do worse than use an updated G1 with a kit zoom and M-mount/R-mount compatability. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted January 25, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 25, 2009 Since Sigma has already announced a CM, I think that gap in the Leica line-up belongs to the Digilux 4, which will be similar in philosophy and design to the Digilux 2 with the same fixed Vario-Summicron lens but 10MP, 4/3 or M-4/3 sensor, G1-derived EVF, and 2 second RAW write times. Well, one can hope. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest purpledot Posted January 25, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 25, 2009 I would be very interested given the following specs: 1) dial with iso and another with exp comp (like Canon G10) 2) very fast lens - preferably 35mm (a tri-elmar would be cool of course!) 3) image stabilisation 4) sensor dust shaking off facility (although non interchangeable lens this could be useful if dust was indeed sucked into the holy chambers) 5) different "my settings" like on Ricoh's GX200 via dial 6) excellent viewfinder relief for us 4 eyes - and a big one too - optical preferable 7) APS sensor, yes please - and not too many pixels - 7 to 8 would be nice 8) additional grip 9) ability to use standard AA batteries as emergency backup 10) "inherit" the different AF settings from Ricoh's camera (snap et. al.) 11) very good high iso performance - film like noise if it must be there 12) analogue displays like the Nikon 35ti or the Epson R-D1s 13) an LCD screen that can be hidden away like on the R-D1s 14) boxy like the D2 and with viewfinder to the very left 15) same kind of flash as on the D2 16) weather sealed 17) ability to show on lcd and in viewfinder (masked) different formats - 16:9, 1:1 and 3:2 (at least) 18) supplied with the y-strap and 2 batteries But I guess that would be quite a few $$$ Well, one can only dream Cheers, karspoul Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted January 26, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 26, 2009 I don't know how the Sigma is doing but I would have thought the market for a camera with a fixed prime lens is pretty limited. The great majority of the chimping public wouldn't touch it and it lacks the flexibility for "enthusiasts". True, but during the 90's there was still a market amongst P&S film cameras for the minilux, CM, Contax T3, Nikon 35ti, etc. That same market still exists. Enthusiasts looking for something a cut above the plastic, mega-zoom, pixel-cramped, auto-everything gizmo boxes that can be purchased at Best Buy would always be interested and willing to pay for something better. I have held off buying a nice digital camera because there's just nothing out there right now that I like. I don't care for SLRs and none of the compacts feel like real cameras to me. Kind of leaves me stuck out in the cold. The CM was a great camera that I unfortunately never got to own (had a minilux and loved it). Stick the M8s current 10MP sensor in it, keep the same lens FOV of 40mm, and I would seriuously consider it. It could also be a great back-up for an M8 (the true "Son of M8). OTOH, the enduring success and growing cult status of the Digilux 2 wouild indicate a market for a true follow-on model with the same lens, but an updated sensor, improved EVF (like Pana G1), and better RAW buffer. I could probably find a way to come up with US$2000 for a "Digilux 2.2" Other than that, the Olympus MFT proto-type looks interesting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatboy Posted January 27, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted January 27, 2009 OTOH, the enduring success and growing cult status of the Digilux 2 wouild indicate a market for a true follow-on model with the same lens, but an updated sensor, improved EVF (like Pana G1), and better RAW buffer. I could probably find a way to come up with US$2000 for a "Digilux 2.2" Other than that, the Olympus MFT proto-type looks interesting. There is a good point there, what is the size difference between G1 and the Digilux 2? Not much in it I bet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted January 27, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) There's a thread in here somewhere with comparison pics. The difference doesn't look like much in the photos, but in real life I compared my Digilux 2 against a friend's G1 and the G1 feels a lot smaller (and lighter). The kit lens is also more compact, about the same size as an Elmarit-R 28mm. Actually, I wouldn't mind a Vario-Elmarit f2.8 28-90mm on a new camera, but then that would no longer be a Digilux, would it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
audidudi Posted January 27, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 27, 2009 There is a good point there, what is the size difference between G1 and the Digilux 2? Not much in it I bet. Size-wise, the two are fairly similar, but the G1 is considerably lighter. I also find it considerably less comfortable to hold / use, as my hands are fairly large and they don't naturally fit its contours very well. Perhaps my opinion will change as I actually start to use it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted January 27, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 27, 2009 What I dislike about both cameras is that they get noticeably warm to the touch after extended use. That may have an effect on the lifetime of the electronics, but that's not what bugs me -- it just makes me feel uncomfortable when holding the camera after it warms up, for some reason. I much prefer the Ricoh GRD in this particular aspect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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