photokina - Your Questions To Leica

[charlie03m]

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What is the digital solution for R lenses?

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

[rcoles]

This is off topic, but since the lack of a sapphire screen is a concern for some here is one easy answer, at least it was for me, the Giottos SP8250 AEGIS Professional Glass Optic Screen Protector - 12 Layer made for the Lecia M9 & M8. It works great and looks like original equipment. It is also a lot less expensive then any Leica a la carte option.

Bob

[Traveler]

What is the digital solution for R lenses?

 

At this time, the R-solution is the Leica MDR, Canon 5D2 or 1Ds3 (with adapter), or the Nikon D3X (with adapter).

The Leica R solution wasn't the only highly anticipated camera missing from Photokina this year, Canon's 1Ds4 was also a no-show (no pun intended).

Just because the R-solution and 1Ds4 were missing in action doesn't mean that they won't appear at some point in time.

If Leica never makes an R-solution, there will be other options. I am using my R lens arsenal on a 5D2 with no complaints, other than it would be nice to have EXIF information.

I wonder if R lenses can be adapted to the new Pentax 645D MF camera - I know that sounds bass-akwards, and you would essentially be cropping the sensor...but you would achieve MF quality files - no?

I think that is highly likely that the next generation of Nikon/Canon flagships will produce MF quality files, and our R lenses will work very nicely on them. It would be nice if Leica comes up with their own R-solution, but if they don't - all is not lost by any means.

[earleygallery]

The M9 prototype designs don't have a hot shoe. How would such cameras be able to use a flashgun and how would such cameras be able to use lenses wider than 28mm?

[PeterLeica]

At this time, the R-solution is the Leica MDR, Canon 5D2 or 1Ds3 (with adapter), or the Nikon D3X (with adapter).

The Leica R solution wasn't the only highly anticipated camera missing from Photokina this year, Canon's 1Ds4 was also a no-show (no pun intended).

Just because the R-solution and 1Ds4 were missing in action doesn't mean that they won't appear at some point in time.

If Leica never makes an R-solution, there will be other options. I am using my R lens arsenal on a 5D2 with no complaints, other than it would be nice to have EXIF information.

I wonder if R lenses can be adapted to the new Pentax 645D MF camera - I know that sounds bass-akwards, and you would essentially be cropping the sensor...but you would achieve MF quality files - no?

I think that is highly likely that the next generation of Nikon/Canon flagships will produce MF quality files, and our R lenses will work very nicely on them. It would be nice if Leica comes up with their own R-solution, but if they don't - all is not lost by any means.

 

I hope Leica does produce an R solution, but meantime I am also using R lenses with 5D and 1D.... and loving it..... though not as much as I love my M's.....

[pico]

Okay, so the new M9 (version 2?) will have the red LED frames.

 

And nothing else.

 

Bummer

[menos I M6]

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At this time, the R-solution is the Leica MDR, Canon 5D2 or 1Ds3 (with adapter), or the Nikon D3X (with adapter).

The Leica R solution wasn't the only highly anticipated camera missing from Photokina this year, Canon's 1Ds4 was also a no-show (no pun intended).

Just because the R-solution and 1Ds4 were missing in action doesn't mean that they won't appear at some point in time.

If Leica never makes an R-solution, there will be other options. I am using my R lens arsenal on a 5D2 with no complaints, other than it would be nice to have EXIF information.

I wonder if R lenses can be adapted to the new Pentax 645D MF camera - I know that sounds bass-akwards, and you would essentially be cropping the sensor...but you would achieve MF quality files - no?

I think that is highly likely that the next generation of Nikon/Canon flagships will produce MF quality files, and our R lenses will work very nicely on them. It would be nice if Leica comes up with their own R-solution, but if they don't - all is not lost by any means.

 

You could essentially buy one of these D3x bodies now and have the AA filter removed, to end up with a nice and usable combo. I am contemplating, to have my old D3 AA-less converted, to come closer to the M8.2 file quality. Who cares about moiré?

[mooky]

How many Leica executives have used any of the SL/SL2 or R series cameras?

 

If so, which ones and for how long?

 

How many of the designers have used every generation SL/SL2 & R series cameras?

 

If so, which ones and for how long?

[Traveler]

You could essentially buy one of these D3x bodies now and have the AA filter removed, to end up with a nice and usable combo. I am contemplating, to have my old D3 AA-less converted, to come closer to the M8.2 file quality. Who cares about moiré?

Yes, you can 'hot rod' a camera by removing the AA filter...but I'm not convinced it's worth it. These cameras are optimized to be used with the AA filter, and not optimized to be used without one (from what I've read - but I don't claim to be an expert). I would rather buy a camera that is made from scratch with a weak or non-existent AA filter. I believe that future generations of flagship DSLR's are going to be even more focused on optimal IQ and that there is going to be a significant advance soon...maybe in the 1Ds4.

As of today, I think the best IQ/best color/best noise(even at low ISO) 35mm DSLR available is the D3X, but at $8,000, I can't justify the subtle differences that it may have over my 5D2 which cost $2,000(US). Plus I prefer the smaller form factor of the 5D2.

It will be interesting to see what cameras are introduced next...and yes, count me as one of the disappointed ones that can't believe how Leica is treating 'R' lens owners.

[charlie03m]

Hi traveler,

 

<snip>

If Leica never makes an R-solution, there will be other options. I am using my R lens arsenal on a 5D2 with no complaints,

<snip>

 

I am well aware of all those options and I am using a DSLR with adapters.

None of these options allow focusing wide open, so I have at least that

complaint.

If I were enquiring about non-leica solutions I wouldn't be doing it here. :-)

[Paolo.Battista]

OK, it's only a few hours at the Q&A session. There are many posts but I didn't see any summary-

What are the forum leaders bringing at that session?

Maybe I didn't read carefully, and I missed the summary and the priorities of the topics.

 

It will not be an " Ohhh what wonderful thingh the M9T is" session, I hope...

Not to mention rebadged or recoloured products.

 

I beg you pardon in advance for this post if it is stupid, but reading the posts on the threads it looks clear that many members would like to push some questions at this session.

 

My best regards.

 

Paolo

[charlesphoto99]

Apologies if this has been asked before:

 

When will the new 35 Lux asph be available, and why was it pulled off the market?

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles Peterson

[Traveler]

Hi traveler,

 

<snip>

If Leica never makes an R-solution, there will be other options. I am using my R lens arsenal on a 5D2 with no complaints,

<snip>

 

None of these options allow focusing wide open, so I have at least that

complaint.

 

 

Can you clarify that please? I've never had a problem focusing R lenses wide open on alt bodies...other than my eyes are getting old, and I would like a viewfinder that's twice as big and bright. :-(

[Traveler]

OK, it's only a few hours at the Q&A session. There are many posts but I didn't see any summary-

What are the forum leaders bringing at that session?

Maybe I didn't read carefully, and I missed the summary and the priorities of the topics.

 

It will not be an " Ohhh what wonderful thingh the M9T is" session, I hope...

Not to mention rebadged or recoloured products.

 

I beg you pardon in advance for this post if it is stupid, but reading the posts on the threads it looks clear that many members would like to push some questions at this session.

 

My best regards.

 

Paolo

Question #1 for me would be: Where is the 'R-solution', and please just give us a straight answer for once, if it's possible - then you can all get back to gloating over your momentous achievement of bringing an existing camera to market whose main new feature is a $14K body shell upgrade - designed by Volkswagen?

[adan]

Traveler, I think charlie03m refers to the fact that R lenses lose auto-stopdown on non-R bodies, meaning one either has to shoot all the time wide-open - or focus at the shooting aperture (stopped down) - or pause after focusing to manually stop down the lens.

 

On a true R body with all the connections, one focuses wide-open all the time, regardless of the aperture that will be used for the actual exposure. Which is faster.

[charlie03m]

Can you clarify that please? I've never had a problem focusing R lenses wide open on alt bodies...other than my eyes are getting old, and I would like a viewfinder that's twice as big and bright. :-(

 

Hi again traveller,

Wide open is no problem, stopped down several stops from 3.2 is a

problem, especially if the finder isn't as good as that in an SL. (i.e.

twice as big and bright as most others.)

[Traveler]

OK Charlie and Andy...I got you now :-)

I was thinking too literally as I sometimes do.

Yes, the stopping down can be a hassle, no doubt.

 

I just read that Leica has already received 1500 pre-orders for the 500 Titanium cameras - don't know if that's true or not...but if so, it's impressive and shows that they do know that market, and how to mine that particular vein. Maybe a nice profit from the T camera will help them to fund an R-solution. :-)

[wlaidlaw]

Apologies if this has been asked before:

 

When will the new 35 Lux asph be available, and why was it pulled off the market?

 

Sincerely,

 

Charles Peterson

 

Charles,

 

I wonder if Puts' damming with faint praise had something to do with it (to paraphrase; "yes it is better than its predecessor but not a lot and then only in limited circumstances"). More likely, I suspect they are still struggling to manufacture it consistently. On a visit to Solms some years ago, we were discussing the earlier 35 ASPH Lux and I was told it was the most assembly critical of all the M lenses. Given that the new lens other than the moving element is not a hugely different design, it could also be proving difficult to manufacture to a consistent high standard. I am sure that Leica don't want a repeat of the previous 35 Lux situation in 2006, where there were fewer good ones coming out of the gates than there were poor ones. All just speculation of course.

 

Wilson

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[farnz]

Has it been mentioned where Leica's responses to our questions will be posted? In this thread or a new thread in the Customer forum perhaps?

 

Pete.

[peterv]

+1

Any answers yet?

New thread somewhere?

Twitter feed?

 

Thanks!