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Announcements, no video..?


peterv

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Made it back from the hospital in time to take a first look at the new products just before a late lunch.

 

As I suspected and predicted, the M line has split between ‘traditional’ (ME) and ‘new technology’ (M) models. This allows the company to meet the expectations of the traditionalist user as well as those who have hankered after higher ISO, live view, weather sealing, et al.

 

What will be interesting to see is how future sales will split between the two models, both in the short term and in the longer term. Will the traditionalists stick to their preference for a relatively simple camera or will they succumb to the lure of those new features? Will those who wanted new features be happy with the thicker and more cluttered body design?

 

I’d love to know what Leica’s own prediction of the future market split is.

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

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The amount of bleating going on in various threads is disappointing if predictable. What on earth did they expect Leica to come up with? Perhaps they were looking for a straight M9 successor with 36 MP. Well I doubt the ability of the optical RF to cope with that pixel density for anyone over the age of 20 and then only when the RF is perfectly matched to that lens. Sure it could be seen to be a little unfortunate that Leica had to increase the body size again and the EVF is not minuscule but then to accommodate the size of screen it could not be tiny. With the EVF fitted, it is certainly still considerably smaller than my M9 + Visoflex. If they feel that it is not traditional enough for them, I am sure it will not be long before the M-E is available in other finishes.

 

I am not sure if I can afford an M at present but as and when I can, I shall almost certainly go for one, as long as the IQ comes up to scratch. If it still has the slightly muzzy results of a typical CMOS sensor, with less than real colour reproduction, it will only then be seen if Leica has made a mistake but maybe this is correctable in firmware. There are very occasional times when I would find the video useful but the ability to use longer lenses, without a Visoflex, is the main attraction for me.

 

Wilson

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Made it back from the hospital in time to take a first look at the new products just before a late lunch.

 

As I suspected and predicted, the M line has split between ‘traditional’ (ME) and ‘new technology’ (M) models. This allows the company to meet the expectations of the traditionalist user as well as those who have hankered after higher ISO, live view, weather sealing, et al.

 

What will be interesting to see is how future sales will split between the two models, both in the short term and in the longer term. Will the traditionalists stick to their preference for a relatively simple camera or will they succumb to the lure of those new features? Will those who wanted new features be happy with the thicker and more cluttered body design?

 

I’d love to know what Leica’s own prediction of the future market split is.

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

 

The point about any new features is that you don't have to use them.

 

Don't want an EVF? Don't buy one.

 

Don't want video? Don't push the button and if you do by mistake, just take photos anyway if you want to.

 

Don't want GPS? Don't buy the special base plate

 

Don't want live view? Don't turn it on

 

Don't want to pay a premium for features you will never use? You don't have to. The price is cheaper than anyone expected.

 

I am beginning to spin like a fan-boy, but I have mixed feelings about some of the other products announced yesterday. But this M really is what a lot of people have been waiting for, and I for or can't see any downsides at the moment

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Had Leica launched only the M, these points would be very valid – the user would have been getting extra features that he may or many not want, but at no extra cost other than losing the frame-selector lever. That’s quite an engineering achievement for the Solms designers.

 

But the arrival of the M-E model gives the buyer who doesn’t want these extras a less expensive camera. It’s a ‘win-win’ situation for Leica. They have got both potential markets covered. And anything that makes the cost of Leica ownership cheaper for those who are thinking about a first digital Leica must be on the side of the angels.

 

What I’m going to find really exciting is seeing how the user community reacts to the choice. In what way will Leica photography and the Leica user community evolve? These could be the most interesting days since the launch of the M3.

 

Were I fifty years younger, I might have opted for maximum features and gone to bed dreaming of the day when I would own an M. But the old codger whose 70th birthday is rapidly approaching is prepared to trade features for elegance and simplicity, so would find the M-E a better choice. (In practice, of course, I’m hoping that my M9-P will “see me off the planet”.)

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

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Finally a decent piece of reportage about the event last week.

To be honest, being home for the day and being able to wait for the bits and pieces floating in from Twitter, LUF members, and the LUF page, I had no idea this is what it looked like. Note to self: You will be going to Photokina in two years! As verified by my wife who recognized the photo of Seal, while over my shoulder this morning. She still remembers meeting him at the M9 event in New York which we were invited to.

 

Inside an Exclusive Leica Launch Party

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OK - this looks good, Leica seems to have confidence & guts - that is what they should have because they deserve it. Sometimes believing against all odds works, snake oil whatever.

 

That they still exist at all is a major miracle.

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