Who was in charge of Digilux 2 design?

[kamilsukun]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I wonder if anyone knows the name of the person who was in charge of the image tuning for the wonderful Digilux 2?

 

I have no doubt that it was a team work. But still I am sure someone who had a very high taste for photography was in charge of the final image characteristics, compromises, coherence of the lens with the sensor or vice versa?

[jaapv]

We don't even know if it was developed in Japan by Panasonic or by Leica... My suspicion is a very high level of Leica DNA. We can be sure the sensor was by Sony and the lens at least very tightly controlled by Leica.

[kamilsukun]

We don't even know if it was developed in Japan by Panasonic or by Leica... My suspicion is a very high level of Leica DNA. We can be sure the sensor was by Sony and the lens at least very tightly controlled by Leica.

 

Where ever, who ever the person was the result of the work done is a subject of high honor.

 

I offer my gratitude for the pleasure he/she gifted us.

[Ruhayat]

"Professor Achim Heine, product designer of the two award winning Leica cameras Leica Digilux 2 and Leica CM Zoom", according to this article:

Leica Digilux 2 and Leica CM Zoom awarded

 

This Leica press release confirms it further:

http://www.dcviews.com/press/Leica-Digilux-2.htm

[Ruhayat]

A bit more about him and a photo of the good man here:

link

 

He's quite an accomplished designer, it would seem. Also designed the Digilux 1, too, apparently.

 

Edit:

Oh. I just realised the OP asked about the designer of the imaging engine. I read somewhere that would be Panasonic mainly, and then tweaked by Leica engineers to produce the appropriate look.

[jrethorst]

I wonder if anyone knows the name of the person who was in charge of the image tuning for the wonderful Digilux 2?

 

I have no doubt that it was a team work. But still I am sure someone who had a very high taste for photography was in charge of the final image characteristics, compromises, coherence of the lens with the sensor or vice versa?

 

I am sure of that too. I don't have links at this point, but did substantial looking around before buying my first D2, and came to the conclusion that the lens was a Leica design. This may not be the case for all of the Leica/Panasonic collaborative efforts, but certainly seemed to be the case here.

[adan]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Well, a "product designer" usually refers to the person in charge of the cosmetics: the surface materials, the colors, the arrangement, the detailing such as the little ribs on controls and so on (within the needs of the engineers). What the car industry would call a "stylist."

 

As such, I doubt Achim Heine had much to do with the color and resolution performace of the Digilux 2 - or with the prime decision to pursue such "manual" analog controls. Possibly he contributed the brilliant design for the two-stage bounce flash, and certainly he'd get credit for the overall ergonomics.

 

The lens, both in layout and size, and in performance, is so unique to the range of PanaLeicas that I suspect Solms had a larger hand in its design than usual for that line, and I'm equally sure that Leica was the driving force behind the analog controls. I doubt Panasonic would have seen much value in those without some - umm - strong encouragement from Leica.

 

Generally, I think the process was: Leica said "This is what we want for our first serious digital camera." (analog manual controls, 28-90 f/2 lens); Panasonic figured out how to do the digital part while Leica did the lens; Heine made it look pretty and handle well.

[John Thawley]

Well, a "product designer" usually refers to the person in charge of the cosmetics: the surface materials, the colors, the arrangement, the detailing such as the little ribs on controls and so on (within the needs of the engineers). What the car industry would call a "stylist."

 

As such, I doubt Achim Heine had much to do with the color and resolution performace of the Digilux 2 - or with the prime decision to pursue such "manual" analog controls. Possibly he contributed the brilliant design for the two-stage bounce flash, and certainly he'd get credit for the overall ergonomics.

 

The lens, both in layout and size, and in performance, is so unique to the range of PanaLeicas that I suspect Solms had a larger hand in its design than usual for that line, and I'm equally sure that Leica was the driving force behind the analog controls. I doubt Panasonic would have seen much value in those without some - umm - strong encouragement from Leica.

 

Generally, I think the process was: Leica said "This is what we want for our first serious digital camera." (analog manual controls, 28-90 f/2 lens); Panasonic figured out how to do the digital part while Leica did the lens; Heine made it look pretty and handle well.

 

Well said. I couldn't agree more.

 

JT

[Riley]

I like the idea that Leica had something to do with the lens

that odd 69mm filter size is that sort of giveaway

 

If we were talking Panasonic's L1, consequently Digilux 3

Makoto Nakamura did the concept design'

Yoshiyuki Inoue did the mechanical design

Yasutoshi Yamamoto did the Venus 3 imaging engine

Kyoichi Miyazaki did the Leica D Vario Elmarit lens

[kamilsukun]

If we were talking Panasonic's L1, consequently Digilux 3

Makoto Nakamura did the concept design'

Yoshiyuki Inoue did the mechanical design

Yasutoshi Yamamoto did the Venus 3 imaging engine

Kyoichi Miyazaki did the Leica D Vario Elmarit lens

 

Thanks Riley, it looks like we are only a step away from the answer.

Who did the same work for D2.

 

At a forum with this high caliber we must be able to learn the names of the people who created D2. After all these years it must not be kept as a secret.