Sizing Up the Future

[pico]

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Hi Lars

Sounds exactly like a NEX 5N to me - or, if you insist on phase detect AF, then a Nikon V1.

Nothing even remotely breakout about this. [...]

 

The Nikon V1 was exactly what I thought when reading Lars' post. Why you can even get the V1 in pink, red, black or silver!

 

Perhaps Leica can come out with a high-end vanity kit such as Kodak once had - a flat case with flat camera, vanity mirror, nose powder and brush. I'm sure moderns can find another application for the mirror and 'nose powder'.

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[SJP]

There was a pink "Hello Kitty" Leica, M6 if memory serves me well. I still want one as a present for SWMBO, sensible offers are welcome.

 

See here.

 

[pico]

There was a pink "Hello Kitty" Leica, M6 if memory serves me well. I still want one as a present for SWMBO, sensible offers are welcome.

 

Yes, I did a PS mock-up of a Hello Kitty M and nearly got stoned for it. Funny that the Asian market did not snap it up. No pun.

[jonoslack]

HI Lars

Jono, who the devil would buy a MFT camera just because it had a red dot on it? The Leica name does not mean a thing to these people.

I can name at least 3 forums where people are almost exclusively using Leica R and M lenses on micro 4/3 cameras - and they work extremely well.

 

These people are spending thousands on Leica lenses and they would leap on a Leica body with it's own AF lenses to go with their existing kit . . . .

 

You need to get around a bit more!

 

 

 

Neither making another MFT camera, nor making a slightly jazzed-up M camera, will make Leica into a major player again. And the people who make the dcisions in Solms know that – nowadays.

 

The old man from the Age of 126 film

 

Well, making something which doesn't really compete with a NEX camera properly and will only use proprietary leica lenses isn't going to do it either!

 

all the best

[lars_bergquist]

HI Lars

 

I can name at least 3 forums where people are almost exclusively using Leica R and M lenses on micro 4/3 cameras - and they work extremely well. [ … ]

all the best

 

Name them. I have other things to do with my remaining waking hours than haunting the Net, so tell me.

 

But don't forget that Leitz once had a production-ready 110 camera. It was scotched in the last moment. Was that a mistake?

 

The old man from the 126 Age

[Ellie]

I think the main selling point for an eventual new (EVIL) camera could be something else than the best IQ for the price range; Good ergonomics with built in grip, weather sealing, a huge viewfinder like the S2 and a look-and-feel a bit like Leica Sport Optics (and perhaps "black rubber armouring"). Simple exterior with few buttons like the S2, basic controls for taking photographs..

[jonoslack]

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Name them. I have other things to do with my remaining waking hours than haunting the Net, so tell me.

 

Micro four thirds

serious compacts

getDPI

I'm sure there are more - not advocating you spend hours examining them - the point is simply that you implied that nobody who had m4/3 was interested in Leica, which is demonstrably not the case.

 

 

But don't forget that Leitz once had a production-ready 110 camera. It was scotched in the last moment. Was that a mistake?

 

 

I'm sure it was the right decision . . . but if you're implying that 110 is equivalent to m4/3, then you lose all credibility - a 6X4 print with 110 was pushing the envelope, whereas 20"x30" with m4/3 certainly isn't (even up to 1600 ISO if imaging resource is to be believed).

 

all the best

[almoore]

The G2 was no good as a rangefinder. It was also no good as an autofocus camera

 

Have you actually used a Contax G2?

 

The lenses, as you acknowledge, are very good, but you're way off the mark in stating that it was no good as an autofocus camera. The focus is very accurate, and the key to making it work effectively is to separate the focus from the shutter release and use the backbutton (much like you would with an EOS). The one disappointing thing about the G2 is the size of the viewfinder - it's too small - but a lot of photographers got round this by teaming the camera with an SBLOO or a SLOOZ (the viewfinder isn't so bad with the 45).

 

Leica hobbyists were very sniffy about the Contax G2 but a surprising number of high profile photographers used them to produce wonderful photographs. Luc Delahaye produced his astounding Winterreise series with a G2 (winning the Barnack award in 2000), Juergen Teller uses them, Antoine D'Agata has used them, and Jacob Aue Sobol (who Leica engaged to launch the Monochrom) works with them.

 

There's a lot of reasons why somebody might prefer to use a Leica M over a Contax G, but they're equally capable cameras.

[jonoslack]

Have you actually used a Contax G2?

 

The lenses, as you acknowledge, are very good, but you're way off the mark in stating that it was no good as an autofocus camera. The focus is very accurate, and the key to making it work effectively is to separate the focus from the shutter release and use the backbutton (much like you would with an EOS). The one disappointing thing about the G2 is the size of the viewfinder - it's too small - but a lot of photographers got round this by teaming the camera with an SBLOO or a SLOOZ (the viewfinder isn't so bad with the 45).

 

Leica hobbyists were very sniffy about the Contax G2 but a surprising number of high profile photographers used them to produce wonderful photographs. Luc Delahaye produced his astounding Winterreise series with a G2 (winning the Barnack award in 2000), Juergen Teller uses them, Antoine D'Agata has used them, and Jacob Aue Sobol (who Leica engaged to launch the Monochrom) works with them.

 

There's a lot of reasons why somebody might prefer to use a Leica M over a Contax G, but they're equally capable cameras.

 

Okay I take your point - these things are a matter of opinion - and also depend on subject matter - I had two G2 bodies and the lenses for several years (long before I had anything to do with Lieca) I actually sold my millennium edition earlier this year, and I acknowledge that the camera made grand photos - even that the AF was accurate, but the problem for me was that the viewfinder was poor, and it was very difficult to tell what was in focus.

all the best