Leica, micro43rds and May 10th

[biglouis]

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I know the majority of the forum members are hoping for a M10 on May 10th.

 

I am hoping for something different. I would like to see the announcement of the missing Panasonic/Leica m43rds lens, specifically a 17mm f2.0.

 

Leica publicly swore off m43rds after it released the Pana/Leica 45 f2.8, one of the best macro lenses I have ever owned.

 

You can see one of the pictures I've taken with the 45/2.8 and my Panasonic GH-2 here.

 

They then back-tracked and introduced the the Pana/Leica 25 f1.4 summilux - one of the sharpest lenses I have ever owned. All for around £500.

 

It is obvious to me that they are in m43rds camp even if only by association with Panasonic though they like to believe they are not. What better way to celebrate the 10th of May than the equivalent of the 35 summicron for m43rds?

 

LouisB

[stevelap]

Wasn't it the 4/3rds sensor that they 'swore off' Louis? Not the lens design arrangement with Panasonic.

[mjh]

Wasn't it the 4/3rds sensor that they 'swore off' Louis? Not the lens design arrangement with Panasonic.

Indeed. Over the years Leica has been quite consistent in dismissing the Micro FourThirds system, even when they are cooperating with Panasonic. Apart from a little help when it comes to lens design they don’t wish to be involved in Micro FourThirds in any way.

[FrozenInTime]

I get the feeling that Leica were very badly burnt with their DMC-L1 clone.

It was rightly completely rejected as a R replacement.

The must have lost a lot of money at a time when there was not much around.

 

Today micro43 has established it's self as something different.

For a compact system it does a great job now that there are fast electronics, new sensors and great prime lenses.

 

I like the current strategy of Panasonic and Olympus making affordable bodies and lenses.

I look forward to replacing my E-P1 with a E-M5 for use use with the 25mm DG summilux as well as the 12,20 and 45mm primes.

It is however a compliment to my M9 and M6 setup.

 

Thorsten Overgaard hints at a camera HCB would use - a small X1/X100 like body with OVF and manual scale plus AF lenses would fit that bill.

I hope Leica concentrate their mid-range efforts on such niche products rather than directly chase the mass market with micro43.

[earleygallery]

Surely it'd be a Panasonic product and announcement though? Most unlikely.

[pico]

Surely it'd be a Panasonic product and announcement though? Most unlikely.

 

Indeed, most unlikely.

 

As mentioned often, Leica said "no 4/3" and was more responsive to APS-C. It would break my heart of they went for anything smaller than full-frame 35mm film equivalent.

[mjh]

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I get the feeling that Leica were very badly burnt with their DMC-L1 clone.

It was rightly completely rejected as a R replacement.

It was never intended to be an R replacement.

 

The must have lost a lot of money at a time when there was not much around.

I’m not so sure about that. It was just a Panasonic body with a Leica design. Selling Panaleicas has always been easy money and if they don’t sell, the big investment has been Panasonic’s anyway.

 

Today micro43 has established it's self as something different.

And from the very start Leica has been adamant that they couldn’t care less about Micro FourThirds, their cooperation with Panasonic notwithstanding.

[peterv]

Why not E-mount? Sony has opened the E-mount standard a little over a year ago and it accommodates, at least, APC.

 

Sony Global - News Releases - Sony Discloses Basic Specifications of the "E-mount" for Interchangeable Single Lens Cameras without Fee

 

I wonder if this would get Leica into trouble with Panasonic or not. (I guess lawyers could debate this in court for years)

 

Anyway, I personally would welcome such a move by Leica. The E-mount has a lot of potential and sure could use a few good lenses (and Leica camera bodies)