Compact interchangeable lens camera coming 09/12

[jaapv]

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Just wait for the NEX 7 with an NEX-M and M to R adapter.

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

[adan]

Is this conceptually or functionally different from the R adapter provided for the Digilux 3 (in 2006)? Or the R/M>m4/3rds adapters provided by Novoflex and Panasonic for several years now?

 

Putting a tube between a short-focus body and a long-back-focus lens is an idea that has been around for decades (Hassy V to Nikon - 1960s).

 

So I don't see where Sony is "showing the way." I am fairly sure that Leica's ultimate "R solution" will operate this way - but it is not a new concept.

[k-hawinkler]

Just wait for the NEX 7 with an NEX-M and M to R adapter.

 

What's wrong with the multitude of existing adapters that allow an M- or R-lens to be mounted on a Sony NEX camera?

Here is Sony's description of their CMOS Sensor "Exmor" Sony Global - Technology - CMOS Sensor "Exmor".

It would be interesting to see how Sony's Micro-lenses deal with wide angle lenses.

 

Also of interest if and when will Sony put an FF sensor into an NEX camera?

 

K-H.

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Andy, we agree, nothing really new under the sun here.

 

It is different from the R - 4/3 adapters so far, as those are blank tubes (essentially).

 

Sony added a transparent mirror, there is no reason it could not be used for a live preview on say a M body. It could also be used to provide focus confirmation. Sony's implementation provide actual focus instructions to their lenses.

 

the funny thing is that Sony had probably the idea from a very old Minolta AF tele-adapter, I tried it sometime in the nineties, you basically had to set the lens to some specific distance and let the floating element in the AF 1.4 adapter work out the focus.

 

in a crazy world, the R mount could be mechanically augmented, to provide focus for some (but not all) R lenses to a mirror-less camera body.

 

Either way - the post is just a observation - Sony as a company with this gadget, have provided a life for their legacy lenses on the NEX bodies. Thats what I meant with "showing the way" - Sony actually did it - and interestingly before Sony in the same blood-line Minolta did attempt the same thing when they tried to make a AF solution for some of their manual lenses.

 

.

[bocaburger]

Just wait for the NEX 7 with an NEX-M and M to R adapter.

 

Do you know will the NEX 7 be full-frame, will it have an optical viewfinder? If it has an EVF and a crop factor, how exactly is it (or a similar design with a red dot) a better use of R lenses than a full-frame Canon or Nikon with appropriate adaptation? And will it have a micro-lens array to address the vignetting of wide angle M lenses?

[peterv]

That's right, the NEX C3 has micro lenses and cleans up the corners pretty well. Word isn't out yet on wether the NEX 7 has micro lenses too, but it seems logical that Sony would implement this technology in their newest flagship NEX 7.

 

Edit: I see this thread has been merged, above reply was to permalink 220:

 

My feeling as well but i seem to have read somewhere that the new Sony has some sort of microlenses. I may be completely wrong though.

[k-hawinkler]

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Exactly - but the NEX-7 is inexpensive compared to a Nikon D3X and it's smaller.

I am definitely tempted.

 

K-H.

[andybarton]

Do you know will the NEX 7

 

The Nex-7 is not full frame.

[peterv]

Do you know will the NEX 7 be full-frame, will it have an optical viewfinder? If it has an EVF and a crop factor, how exactly is it (or a similar design with a red dot) a better use of R lenses than a full-frame Canon or Nikon with appropriate adaptation? And will it have a micro-lens array to address the vignetting of wide angle M lenses?

 

- not FF

- EVF

- Dunno

- Very likely, yes

[menos I M6]

Is this conceptually or functionally different from the R adapter provided for the Digilux 3 (in 2006)? Or the R/M>m4/3rds adapters provided by Novoflex and Panasonic for several years now?

 

Putting a tube between a short-focus body and a long-back-focus lens is an idea that has been around for decades (Hassy V to Nikon - 1960s).

 

So I don't see where Sony is "showing the way." I am fairly sure that Leica's ultimate "R solution" will operate this way - but it is not a new concept.

 

Andy, where I see, the new Nex7 is looking interesting is in the numbers and the new design approach, differing from the old pocket mobile gadget design more towards a user camera.

 

The Nex7 offers cutting edge technology of Today's gadgets (high resolution OLED EVF, to name the most interesting one).

 

It doesn't solve the main issue of EVF cameras - the EVF, but I surely will try it out.

I really like the new design, one has to see, how it feels in the hand and how quick does it operate in a photographers hand.

 

If Sony would have gone full hog and implemented a full frame sensor, this indeed would have been an "out of the park", as Mr. Reichmann writes it in his first impression regarding the new Sony products.

[Jerry_R]

2nd generation of NEX'es has microlenses - no color shift and soft edges:

Sony NEX-C3 first impressions - FM Forums

 

But general conclusion is not so optimistic, no, it won't replace M9, even on tripod...

Sony NEX-C3 first impressions - FM Forums

[lct]

Thank you Jerry. Behavior of this cam with wides is not clear though.

[giordano]

Is this conceptually or functionally different from the R adapter provided for the Digilux 3 (in 2006)? Or the R/M>m4/3rds adapters provided by Novoflex and Panasonic for several years now?

 

Yes, because it couples to the lens's electronic and mechanical interfaces to provide autofocus and aperture control.

 

It contains a semitransparent mirror that diverts some of the light to a phase-detection focus sensor array. The mirror box is pretty small and I suspect that would cause vignetting if the NEX body had a full-frame sensor.

 

I'm sure Andy knows, but others may not, that there's no chance of building something similar to use R lenses on M bodies. This Sony LA-EA2 adapter is only possible because (1) the NEX lens register is about 10mm shorter than the M's, (2) the NEX has a "cropped" sensor and (3) the NEX has live view so the only optical elements in the adapter are the mirror and focus sensor, there's no need for a full-size sensor+EVF or focusing screen+OVF.

[dhsimmonds]

The Nex-7 is not full frame.

 

The Nex 7 has essentially a similar sensor to the new A77 replacement for Sony's aged APS-C design the A700 DSLR. The A77 also had many new features including a translucent mirror viewfinder and electronic shutter allowing high burst speeds of 12FPS, Couple all this with a 24 mpx very high ISO capable sensor in a weather and dust sealed body, it starts to get interesting!

 

Available retail in the UK during October, I am one of the first in the queue!

[lct]

So not full frame right?

[stuny]

Correct - One of the links has specs for the camera, and states the sensor is APS-C, if I recall correctly.

[dhsimmonds]

So not full frame right?

 

No Stuart is correct, it will be APS-C and the direct replacement for the APS-C sensor A700 which is still a great camera but will never meet the capabilities of the new A77.

 

If it is definitely full frame that you need I suspect that you will need to wait another year or so for the "A99" (?) which will be replacement for the great full frame A900 which is still in production. I use both the A700 and the A900. It is reported that the A99 sensor could be 36 Mpx in Sony user circles.

[AlanG]

Yes, because it couples to the lens's electronic and mechanical interfaces to provide autofocus and aperture control.

 

It contains a semitransparent mirror that diverts some of the light to a phase-detection focus sensor array. The mirror box is pretty small and I suspect that would cause vignetting if the NEX body had a full-frame sensor.

 

I'm sure Andy knows, but others may not, that there's no chance of building something similar to use R lenses on M bodies. This Sony LA-EA2 adapter is only possible because (1) the NEX lens register is about 10mm shorter than the M's, (2) the NEX has a "cropped" sensor and (3) the NEX has live view so the only optical elements in the adapter are the mirror and focus sensor, there's no need for a full-size sensor+EVF or focusing screen+OVF.

 

Yes but there is no reason why it would not be possible to make an R lens to M adapter that would allow for auto aperture function on R lenses. Most likely a future M mount would need some electronic contacts that could work an electo-mechanical auto aperture linkage in the adapter when the shutter release is pressed.

 

While I wouldn't expect it to be worthwhile for Leica to redesign the M mount solely to enable R lenses, if they add electronic communication to the lens mount for other reasons, then making this R adapter would be reasonable.

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[menos I M6]

Yes but there is no reason why it would not be possible to make an R lens to M adapter that would allow for auto aperture function on R lenses. Most likely a future M mount would need some electronic contacts that could work an electo-mechanical auto aperture linkage in the adapter when the shutter release is pressed.

 

While I wouldn't expect it to be worthwhile for Leica to redesign the M mount solely to enable R lenses, if they add electronic communication to the lens mount for other reasons, then making this R adapter would be reasonable.

 

I hope, Leica doesn't alter the M mount any further, adding superficial features, like Japanese makers - especially additional electronic contacts and alike.

 

I already see, how some people make a meeh facial expression, when they see a non 6-bit coded Leica lens, which is ridiculous (I am not speaking of wide angle lenses, where this feature in fact does a certain improvement).

 

After my the first personal hype about the M9 having this capability of selecting lenses, so my digital images do have that extra info tagged, I more and more shrug shoulders and just use my cameras and lenses without being bothered about this extraneous feature.

[AlanG]

I hope, Leica doesn't alter the M mount any further, adding superficial features, like Japanese makers - especially additional electronic contacts and alike.

 

 

 

Geez... The German maker "Rollei" had electronic lens contacts for communication and shutter/aperture control in cameras around 3 decades ago. Leica had ROM chipped lenses quite a while ago too. And previous to that had evolved the R mount in various ways without causing rioting. Get over it. If future M cameras have some electrical contacts to accommodate new features in new lenses, how will that hurt you?