Clue about forthcoming Leica?

[norm_snyder]

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In a posting on Photo Rumors, Schneider listed plans for their m43 lenses. One item caught my eye, namely that their new lenses would fit Panasonic and Olympus m43 cameras or "with an adapter, some Leica cameras." Their lenses and focal lengths do not seem to be of a type [e.g. 14mm f2] that are intended for the M9 or forthcoming M10. Anyone else have thoughts about this?

 

Q&A with Schneider Kreuznach | Photo Rumors

[algrove]

Thanks. Interesting in that they will be producing these lenses for mirror less cameras.

[Paolo.Battista]

This is the sentece.

 

What cameras does the lens fit? The lens fits all Panasonic and Olympus m43 cameras. It also fits some Leica models when using an adapter provided by the manufacturer. Contrary to some reports in international forums and on photo websites, an adaptation to Sony’s E-Mount is not planned.

It is very strange,since the 144 mm should be a lens specifically designed for m4/3. So that could point to Leica moving in that field, but sounds strange due to the many denials of that by Leica itself. In my opinion, until some electronic parts of the m4/3 sensors do not change radically (read out at 14 or 16 bit per channel, for example) Leica should not reconsider to enter in that market.

 

[mjh]

It is very strange,since the 144 mm should be a lens specifically designed for m4/3. So that could point to Leica moving in that field, but sounds strange due to the many denials of that by Leica itself.

But if they did there would be no need for an adapter. The statement doesn’t make much sense either way.

[norm_snyder]

I agree. m43 has shorter back focus [flange to sensor plane] than M cameras, and so M lenses work with the additional thickness of an adapter. It's not logical that it would work the other way around. It seems like they may either be in error in their [schneider's] information release, or that somebody is coming [Leica?] with a camera with even less back focus than m43. Still, it would be nice to have a "CL-d" that would accept M lenses with or without an adapter, as a complement to the M system, and perhaps, as this and other forums have ruminated on, a "lightweight alternative/companion" to the M.

[jaapv]

If a forthcoming APS Leica EVIL camera is to be compatible with M lenses, it will have to have a shorter register in order to accommodate for the adapter. If Leica were to adopt the 4/3rds mount , albeit with a larger sensor, it might be that some of the existing Panaleica lenses would cover a large enough image circle.