Mini M? [MERGED] AKA X-Vario

[keithlaban.co.uk]

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Not sure if this is real or not First image of the Leica Mini M!!! | Mirrorless Rumors

 

Nothing of interest here, move along now.

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[iedei]

if that camera is real....Leica REALLY dropped the ball this time. First with the M240, now with this monstrosity......pretty sad state of decline really!

[doolittle]

I think that you are taking this marketing game a bit too seriously...

 

I was just enjoying the game! If this was their idea of building expectations they over exceeded their brief!

[wolfloid]

"LOL, I have been right! The Leica Mini M is an APS-C sensor camera with fixed zoom lens! "

 

Really, what a piece of utter irrelevance. I already drew attention to how conservative and behind the curve Leica is, but this really takes the cake. They could have jumped well ahead of the competition with an M-mount FF with EVF, but no, why do something daring when they can dribble out this uninspiring, slooooow, me-too derivative. Why would anyone choose this over a NEX 6 or a Fuji X -Pro 1 - both of which take interchangeable lenses, the Fuji's, at least, being much faster.

[kdriceman]

I don't see why I would buy one if I can have a Nex and the versatility of Sony zoom and af lenses and M adapter for my M lenses? All for what I am certain will be half the price.

[adan]

Andy - just using your quotes as convenient launching points - no disagreement implied!

 

It's a very good mock up if it isn't real. Which means that this "Mini M" is actually an X3, with nothing in common whatsoever with an M camera, not even the lens.

 

It was also a leak, in French, of the M9 specs, that persuaded me to place my "whatever it is, whatever the cost, whatever the color" M9 pre-order in August 2009. Either the French dealers get better info earlier - or have poorer security.

 

The camera on the right hand side looks like an X2. It's definitely a different camera from the one in the foreground...

 

Exactly - family portrait.

 

Agreed, although a decent f2 zoom is going to put this way out of the price point it needs to sit in.

 

Well, I would mention the "Vario-Summicron" of the Digilux 2, and the "Vario-Summilux" of the D-Lux 6. The first at the same price point, the second vastly lower. They do cover smaller sensors, but that just means they have to have really superb resolution (over a much smaller area).

 

Along with Jaap, I expect the limited aperture is more due to physical size required on an APS sensor - an f/2 zoom would run into the "Tin can on a matchbox" balance problem of the Nex or EOS-M

 

http://cdn.asia.cnet.com/story_media/62218112/600x450/sc001_lensadapter_600x450.jpg

 

OTOH, Fuji manages to make a nice 18-55 f/2.8-4 zoom for their X-series, in about the same volume as this pictured lens.

[jjb]

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I'm trying not to jump to any conclusions, but this leaked model doesn't appear promising.

 

At first blush, it looks like an X3 that STILL lacks the integrated VF and fast lens (f/2) that many of us have waited patiently for ever since the X1 announcement.

 

If we assume a US price of around $3K, doesn't this still leave a price gap between this new "X3" and the M240 at $7K?

 

For US$3K, the competitive field includes the FF RX1.

[iedei]

so the X2 says "Leica X2" on the top.....what does it say on top of the new camera? Leica something-something? can anyone read it?

 

I think there is a 50/50 chance this photo is a fake. but i guess we won't know til later....if it's not a fake.....then i will just continue to LOL.

[trastevere]

I think the middle character is an X.

[Dannybuoy]

If this is indeed the real deal then this is a very sad end to a very exciting buildup. There will be some who buy this but if you're on this forum reading this then you're unlikely the target demographic. This appears to be a very 'safe' product. But could end up being dangerous for Leica in the long run if sales are poor.

[JayGlaze379]

I think sadly, the link that was posted is going to be accurate. Leica is just too slow bringing things to market. The amount of time between the first rumors of the 'm mini' and when we will actually be able to go into a dealer and purchase one is just far too long in terms of how new technology is developing.

 

They should stick to what they do well, and try to get their cost and manufacturing times down to a competitive level; then if they really feel the need to compete against the newest and fanciest technologies, they can continue to farm out to Panasonic and Olympus.

 

If you look at the progress of the X1, X2, and now assuming the 'm mini' is going to follow in their footsteps, you have 4 years of this camera line being available, and very little has changed with it. Compare that to something like Sony's NEX line. It came out in 2010, and the newest that I've held, the 6, is just amazing compared to the first NEX-3. They even managed to fit a EVF with minimal increase to the body size, and on top of that the cost of a NEX-6 is still less than even a used X1 costs.

 

I guess to sum it up, what I'm trying to convey, is I feel camera manufactures should keep pushing the boundaries of technology, and continue to create new and amazing things for consumers to lust after, but trying to play catch-up with other companies, when you have a very marketable product, just seems like a bad idea for everyone, company and consumer. It would be like if Rolex started to trying to compete with Timex, its a market that just doesn't need to exist.

[sps]

I don't believe it. Why would the "French" specs be ALL in French except for the one line saying "Made in Germany." Something fishy. Plus overall camera doesn't seem to make sense. Good joke on us.

[Hey You]

I think the image is a fake. On the top plate of the camera there is the miniature round glass window which is used in the M9 to impute lens aperture opening. This is redundant in a camera with a fixed AF lens as the lens provides aperture information electronically to the body.

[trastevere]

X Vario

[iedei]

X Vario

 

that's what i was thinking i read too.......i definitely think the photo is a fake. there is NO WAY Leica would name the camera "X Vario"

[Guest borge]

HAHAHA

 

That's all I've got to say.

 

f3.5-6.4 lens? Seriously? APS-C? Seriously? $3000 USD ?!?!? Seriously?

There are FAR better alternatives available for HALF the cost.

 

This is just Leica trying to sell a cheap product with an absurd amount of margins JUST because of the Leica brand.

 

Meh.

[StephenPatterson]

If this turn out to be true it's a huge missed opportunity for Leica to be the first to market with a full frame EVIL camera. Pass. Somebody wake me when the next Photokina rolls around.

[digitalfx]

If this is accurate, Leica has really missed the mark.

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[dwbell]

Phew! Thought it might muddy my M240 vs XPro2 (X-E2) decision making process.

Thankfully not. Not in the slightest bit interested.

[lct]

...Fuji manages to make a nice 18-55 f/2.8-4 zoom for their X-series, in about the same volume as this pictured lens.

Yes good news for Fuji indeed.