Autofocus AND video on the M? Yuck.

[rramesh]

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What makes the M good, is the fact that most users of the M, use all of its features, or at least a good percentage of it.

 

This is not the case of an average Canon or Nikon DSLR, where many users use at best 20-30% of the features.

 

Why complicate the M with features that many will not use? Do note also that this will come at an even higher price premium.

 

It would be better for Leica to introduce video into the X3 or even introduce an 'R' between the X and the M that has CMOS, video, autofocus and with a near full-frame sensor. Yes, this will be like an x-Pro1 but I am sure people will queue to buy it because it's a Leica (better made red dot).

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[lct]

... if you ignored the live view/video option, and didn't add the EVF, it is just another M camera. But to my mind, it would still have a very confused place in the world. I wouldn't buy it. With such mixed DNA, it would run a real risk of following the M5 into oblivion - neither fish nor fowl...

Why so? Leica did it already with the Visoflex. An accessory EVF would simply be a modern Viso. Nothing new under the sun. Video is another story.

[Rick]

Hi Rick

I think you misunderstand me . . . I'm right up for whatever is necessary to keep the M flourishing and viable - and I suspect that video is part of that . . . as is live view (although possible not AF).

I can see that decent video with an M10 might be a real eye-opener - possibly even a game changer.

 

My point really was that the mechanical / optical rangefinder is really the bottom line, and for those that only want this, it would be nice to have the option to hide the options for all the other stuff. (and that doesn't necessarily mean me!!!)

 

all the best

 

I believe you are right, LV and probably video is part of what is needed to keep the M10 viable and flourishing. And, like you, it might be nice to hide new technology but, I don't necessarily believe that Leica needs to have an option to hide new technology it adds.

 

Further, I would agree that the mechanical / optical rangefinder is really the bottom line. In addition, I think that being the smallest FF camera with the best optics is equally part of the bottom line. These two sentences are what makes the M system what it is, was, and will be. The simplicity of the M springs from those simple pretexts, not from any parochial heritage.

 

Beyond those two sentences, I'm not sure that there is anything that is off limits in the design of the M system. Anything that makes this M system much, much more electronically proficient, faster, and powerful for photographers would be welcome.

 

All the best to you,

 

Rick