X1 sensor in an M8.3?

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X1 is the M8.3.

 

M9 is the new M.

[eekimel]

Just wondering. If the X1 has such a terrific APS-C sensor that has low noise up to ISO 3200 and the fact that (as far as I can tell) it required no IR filter or anything, could an M8.3 that utilizes THAT CMOS sensor be far behind? It would mean an APS-C camera with all the advantages of being an "M" APS-C camera. I doesn't seem like that would be all that hard to do. (Or has this question been already asked?)

 

Hmm I can safely say that the people who took issue with the 1.33 crop of the M8 and M8.2 wouldn't be interested in a 1.5 crop camera. Aside from that, the only discount vs. the older sibling cameras would be the sensor cost -- all other workmanship costs would be the same (or have to be paid down).

[J_Thompson]

 

For $5000 you get a great sensor in a solid body and access to a range of fabulous lenses with no need (I presume) for any IR filters. And a rangefinder. And people would no more complain about the crop factor than they do with an X1. My proposed Leica M8.3

 

If you'll wait a year or so, the M9 should be about that price in the used or demo market, and probably even with a one year warranty, so no need to wish for something that'll probably never happen. I just cannot envision Leica following Canon's or Nikon's business model by marketing a cheaper version(s) of their high end cameras. Besides, who would want an M with a 1.5 crop factor after all the fuss over the 1.33 cf M8 when it was first introduced? If one wants an affordable digital M, there are still plenty of M8s and M8.2s around in decent or near new condition, and all for less than $5,000. Leave the budget cameras to the Japanese - they know their customer base and Leica knows theirs.

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Peter,

 

While I don't think Leica see a market in a new crop-factor M. I don't know their plans.

 

What I do know, is that making the x1 sensor work with ONE lens focal length, is much easier than making it work with a range of range-finder lenses.

 

The X1 lens was build for that sensor, and the sensor was profiled for the lens... if you pulled that sensor out of the X1, you would need to bring back the micro-lenses etc. making it a very complex solution, exactly like the M8 and M9.

 

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