photokina - Your Questions To Leica

[mooky]

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Remember the video is from a separate 'mega-pixel' interview, NOT from Saturdays meeting.

 

Leica is working on an R solution, but for the gizillionth time there will be NO R10, or DSLR from Leica.

 

Read Andreas' preliminary post #332 (admin) in this thread for the comment about the R solution.

[sdai]

Stefan Daniel knows, and he says it, the mirroless cameras will eat the DSLR cameras, from the bottom to the top of the lines.

 

That's funny, why are they still wasting time with the S2 then? Sounds the demise of S2 is on their agenda already.

 

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Or a mirrorless S2 may be on their agenda in the future, I can not imagine a SLR company not staring down the gun on the future of mirrors...

[marknorton]

Whatever happened to Maike Harberts? At least when the S2 was announced, there was a diversion from Leica's over-optimistic delivery schedules...

[rosuna]

That's funny, why are they still wasting time with the S2 then? Sounds the demise of S2 is on their agenda already.

 

 

It will happen with APS-C reflex cameras... Electronic viewfinders are large and cheaper and those cameras are very sensitive to price. For larger formats those factors are not the same.

 

Even if the relative advantages of EVF are not so important for larger formats, it may happen to 24x36mm cameras too... Medium format cameras would need huge CMOS sensors for a mirrorless solution, but it may happen even for them. The larger the format, the slower the process will be.

 

Anyway, Leica already has a system with good proprieties for that evolution in the market.

[stunsworth]

Eventually, with miniaturization and further development, all R and probably M Leicas will be able to use a DMR/digital back solution, replacing the rear door/panel with a unit containing the requisite chips, sensors, LCDs, etc. Such units will probably become commoditized (there is quite a big market out there), with each manufacturer customizing them for their own camera range.

 

Want to bet?

[Mantice]

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So, according to Stefan Daniel, NO plans to come up with an R-solution.

 

I like this attitude - They should let go R-solution unless they're seriously getting back R.

 

Looking forward for third-party that can use this opportunity to create something interesting

[phalter]

I like this attitude - They should let go R-solution unless they're seriously getting back R.

 

Looking forward for third-party that can use this opportunity to create something interesting

 

Yes, I see it more and more from this angle, too.

[lct]

It seems to be an attrition tactic. They don't want to do an R-solution, clearly, so they will say nothing and after a while enough R users will have given up and moved on and they could say there is no longer a big enough market to warrant doing it any more. By not saying something now they can later say "We planned on doing it but..."

+1 w/o the smiley

[dkCambridgeshire]

I like this attitude - They should let go R-solution unless they're seriously getting back R.

 

Looking forward for third-party that can use this opportunity to create something interesting

 

Given previous cooperation between Leica and Sigma, I'd like to see Sigma offer a 'solution' when their proposed 15 Megapixel FF Foveon sensor reaches the production stage.

 

dunk

[rosuna]

Sorry Dunk but it is an APS-C sensor, not 24x36.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Sorry Dunk but it is an APS-C sensor, not 24x36.

 

Sigma is also working on a FF version

 

http://www.bjp-online.com/british-journal-of-photography/news/1734531/sigma-unleashes-megapixel-digital-slr ... paragraph 4

 

dunk

[rosuna]

Thanks Dunk. That is new to me.

[Ario Arioldi]

What's wrong in using a Nikon or Canon FF and why a Sigma FF shoul be a better solution?

Cheers,

Ario

[Nicoleica]

What's wrong in using a Nikon or Canon FF and why a Sigma FF shoul be a better solution?

Cheers,

Ario

 

I believe that the main benefit of Sigma, is that the mount can be changed to Leica R.

[andybarton]

But, you will still need to use stop-down metering, even if you do change the mount on a Sigma.

[giordano]

What's wrong in using a Nikon or Canon FF and why a Sigma FF shoul be a better solution?

 

Sigma is a small specialist player in the DSLR market that is trying to compete on IQ and distinctive technology not features. The Leica brand could be of more value to Sigma than to Nikon or Canon.

 

And the Foveon technology is - at least in principle - in important ways a better solution than the traditional Bayer array.

[menos I M6]

I have never used a Sigma camera, nor did I use Sigma lenses, other than mounting and playing in a shop.

 

There is this image though, I have of Sigma products being produced with low price copies of Nikon/ Canon featured focal lengths with a reputation of dissolving with time or failing otherwise.

 

This reputation is also based on the fact, that several dealers and lens rental places have specifically ruled Sigma out as a lens supplier.

 

For me, the companies image is basically just the opposite of the Leica image (please pay attention to my wording and the use of the word "image" here).

 

From the companies image, Sigma would be the last company, Leica would benefit from a partnership to my understanding.

 

Just working (for a long, long time) on a specialized sensor with regularly failing in time schedules and features, while delivering mediocre quality budget products doesn't make a company interesting as a business/ technology transfer partner.

 

I'd rather see Nikon (will never happen), Canon (unlikely as well) or any other manufacturer partnering with Leica for a body solution.

 

Now what about fantasizing about the old soon to be reanimated Contax brand ;-)

Contax made a "not just yet, but actually very interesting, but too late and underperforming for the faster competition 24x36mm body" with the N Digital back in the days, when there still was a chance of getting a professional DSLR body with professional manual controls.

What about reanimating this beautiful design with a Kodak FF sensor, new Li-Ion battery system, Leica / Jenoptic menu system and firmware and sell it under the Contax label with Leica R compatibility.

 

Reanimate Leica R lens production (contract Zeiss for it) and have Zeiss produce autofocus and if they want, their manual focus SLR line, converted for the new Leica R/ Contax N mount.

 

For me, this would be a very, very tasty combination, to buy into a modern DSLR body, distinguishable in function and features to todays faster, feature laden Nikon/ Canon offerings with the finest in glass + backwards compatibility for histories fantastic R glass (+ the great Zeiss glass offerings for the Contax N).

 

Somebody rich here with a business plan and looking for a challenge with some love for cameras?

[ns_ng]

AFAIK, you can't convert zoom lenses. I don't know why.

 

 

 

I have converted the 35-70 f4.0 VE with the Leitax's alpha mount. This is a ROM lens. However, the 21-35 and 28-90 can only be converted by Leitax.

 

N. S. Ng

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[wattsy]

To be honest, IMHO, they should have just killed off the R line once and for all when they announced the end of the R10 project.

 

I thought they did. Isn't all the talk of an "R solution" just wishful thinking fanned by some unwise PR from within Leica? In my opinion, Leica will never sell an R digital body unless they sell R lenses to go with it - and I think the latter is even less likely to happen than the body. I know that there are a lot of existing R users in the marketplace but you cannot sell a new Leica R body without lenses to go with it ("I'll have a lens to go with my new R10 please. "Sorry sir, you'll have to look on eBay for those.").