R6.2 Posted December 21, 2009 Share #1 Posted December 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear all, I seem to have touched a rich vein of interest with my previous post, so I went back to Leica with some of the key issues raised by the forum members. The questions I asked and their reply (which I have just received), are below. Merry Christmas/Happy non-denominational holidays to all Graeme. MY QUESTIONS: "Dear Mr XXX , Many thanks again for your previous response. Regarding you reply, I have some further questions that I wouold like to ask (I understand if you are unable to give a 100% clear response). I would like to know if the "optimal solution" being developed is likely to meet the any/all of the following criteria: 1. Is /.will be a true in-house Leica product (or made in conjunction with of one of Leica's strategic partners)? 2. Will it be a full frame camera? 3. Will it be a SLR body with auto focus and an accompanying range of new lenses...or is it more likely to be an alternative to an SLR? 4. Will / will not require an adapter for current manual focus R lenses? 5. Will it have full functionality re metering (i.e full-aperture metering and auto-aperture)? In short, will this be a Leica camera system in its own right? I have invested over USD15,000 in Leica R bodies and a large range of lenses and although I do want to remain with the system, I also need to be asured that there will be a truly "optimal solution" in the coming 12-18months in order to maintain my commitment to the Leica brand. I fully understand that some of these items listed above may be commercially sensitive, but would appreciate any further information that you may be able to provide." THEIR REPLY: "Dear Mr. Hodges, thank you very much for your kind reply. The project is still in a stadium, where different technical solutions will be tested, so many things can still change till maturity phase. That is why it is not possible to give definite answers to your detailed questions. So even the questions, if the new system will provide an SLR concept or if it will have a full frame sensor, is still not sure. But the possibility to use the R-lenses again, is on top of our to-do-list. I do hope that we can give you some more detailed information in the beginning of next year. Thank you very much for your understanding. Mit freundlichen Gruessen / kind regards" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 21, 2009 Posted December 21, 2009 Hi R6.2, Take a look here Digital Salvation for R Users II. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rsolomon Posted December 22, 2009 Share #2 Posted December 22, 2009 R6.2 Great questions but unfortunatley not much said in the answer by Leica, it seems they don;t know at this point. Hopefully soon we will get some directional information - somthing that tells R users that the new solution will be one that will satisfy. I'm sure R users fall into a number of categories - i for one am a hobbyist, if fine the digilux 3 a good solution - it could be better and i would be satisfied with a refresh/upgrade to the Digilux 3. a few key items i'd like are : 1. cleaner/better performace at high ISO - clean up to 3200 would be very nice 2. in-body image stabilzation, that would really extend the usage of my R lenses 3. some addtional AF lenses i could add to my R collection I'll keep my Digilux 2 - arguably the best P&S I'll keep my R9 - arguably the best handling SLR and just beautiful to hold and shoot It's the Digilux 3 - simply a place to hold my great R lenses, it's the mid priced replacable digital body that is weak in it's offereing relative to the industry. i had a DMR and sold it - the real solution was a DMR II - but that ship is long sailed away. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angora Posted December 24, 2009 Share #3 Posted December 24, 2009 6.2, thanks for askeing these questions and for reporting here I just hope it won't be an EVIL-based camera... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
miami91 Posted December 24, 2009 Share #4 Posted December 24, 2009 I just hope it won't be an EVIL-based camera... It seems to me that all indications are that it will be. Leica has gone on record as saying that they won't be making another DSLR (other than the S series), and that the R series is history. They could change their minds, of course, but if not, what form could the solution take other than an EVIL? I suppose they could be considering another digital back, but an EVIL solution with a whole new line of autofocus lenses would certainly fill a niche in the product portfolio. And if EVF technology improves a lot in the next couple of years, or has already improved, maybe this would be a fine thing. My only experience with an EVF is the Digilux 2, and it's lousy, particularly compared to the incredible viewfinder of the R9. I've also heard nothing but bad things about the EVFs in the latest Panasonic cameras, like the G1. Then again, presumably one would get superior technology in a camera costing several thousand dollars as compared to a sub-$1000.00 consumer product. It'll be very interesting to see what, if anything, emerges from Leica. Jeff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted December 24, 2009 Share #5 Posted December 24, 2009 At least there is an honest response on the table. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted December 24, 2009 Share #6 Posted December 24, 2009 So, what more do we know now from the previous "we are working on an (digital) R solution" from Leica? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted December 26, 2009 Share #7 Posted December 26, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) James, Nothing. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted December 27, 2009 Share #8 Posted December 27, 2009 I've also heard nothing but bad things about the EVFs in the latest Panasonic cameras, like the G1. Jeff. Well, let me change that. I have a GH-1 (same internal EVF as the G1) and not only is it vastly superior to other EVFs, I find it superior to the eye-level screens in 90% of current DSLRs, most of which are pitifully tiny - pretty much anything short of a Canon 1-series or the FF Nikons. Huge and bright compared to the mirror/ground-glass finders in the OlympusPanaLeica 4/3rds SLRs. The OLED technology simply is not the same thing as the more traditional raster-screens of most EVFs. No black mask separating the red, green, and blue pixels to give that colored-confetti look. In fact there AREN'T any red, green or blue pixels - each pixel displays all three colors sequentially. In a sense it is to regular EVFs as a Foveon sensor is to Bayer-filtered sensors. Not perfect - in low light the refresh rate drops and it gets pretty noisy. OTOH in good light it maintains brightness shooting stopped-down (as with Leica M or R lenses) - much brighter to look through at f/8 than a Canon 5D's darkened screen. Personally, I do not think Leica is going to re-enter the "35mm SLR" market. Not AF, not a mini-S2, nothing that appears to go head-to-head with CaNikon. It just will not make them money at a price enough people will pay. So no new lenses - so the "R solution" will have to support itself on legacy lenses already sold. EVIL is one way to do that cost-effectively. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joecamera Posted December 27, 2009 Share #9 Posted December 27, 2009 What does the term "EVIL" mean? I see it used here in this thread twice. Thxs! Joe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted December 27, 2009 Share #10 Posted December 27, 2009 EVIL - Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens. Andy, agree, got a G1 last year, its a fine little camera and the most advanced electronic viewfinder I have tried so far. The camera deliver great files. As far as I am concerned, a panaleica full-frame EVIL camera would get my attention any time of the day. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrethorst Posted December 27, 2009 Share #11 Posted December 27, 2009 a panaleica full-frame EVIL camera would get my attention any time of the day. Mine too. As far as maximum support for R lenses -- how far away are we from in-body autofocus, i.e. moving the sensor? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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