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Mini M? [MERGED] AKA X-Vario

digitalfx

By digitalfx
in Leica X

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Archiver

Archiver

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This camera will go to well-heeled Moms With Cameras, Doctors with Dreams, and Communists with Cash. I simply cannot imagine anyone who knows a bit about cameras and photography buying an aps-c camera with such a slow and short zoom for $3000+.

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StephenPatterson

StephenPatterson

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One thing about this new camera, whatever it's called, is that it seems to be tailor made for the luxury Chinese market. First, it looks like an M9 or M240 knockoff. Second, it's got a zoom lens, because every camera should have a zoom lens. Third, it has a red dot on the front, so you can show all your friends that you bought a German Leica Camera and not some Japanese camera because Japan is trying to steal China's fishing islands. Fourth, it has autofocus, so you don't have to learn how to focus or compose with a rangefinder. Fifth, it has movie mode, even though 99% of buyers will never use this feature it's cool to show your friends that if you were to ever learn the skills to shoot, edit and post a video this camera would allow you to be the next Zhang Yimou.

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Peter H

Peter H

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....................

However, whether the leaked X Vario is the "Mini M" is another question. It probably is but it is perfectly possible that Leica have something more interesting (to us) kept more firmly up their sleeves and the X Vario is just a new product that will be announced on the same day.

 

This seems at least plausible.

 

I'm fairly sure of one thing. The leaked "Vario" camera is not the camera in the teaser photo. Even with the severely restricted view they give us, it is visibly different.

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pop

pop

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This camera will go to well-heeled Moms With Cameras, Doctors with Dreams, and Communists with Cash.

 

Shouldn't it be called the Minnie M, then? But then, the leaked image is missing the red bow with the polka dots we've come to expect with Minnie Mouse.

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earleygallery

earleygallery

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To Archiver & StephenPatterson, if you can get out of the mindset that Leica should only make cameras for Leica M enthusiasts, then you can see that the X Vario is aimed exactly at the kind of buyers that you somewhat rudely refer to, i.e. 'consumers' rather than serious amateurs as most of us are.

 

Leica have stated their target to gain 1% of the market - seems very little but is quite a leap from where they are now. The best way for them to reach their target quickly is to aim for new 'volume' customers.

 

I don't know for a fact how the sales of X1/2 cameras compare to M's but I suspect they are somewhat higher.

 

It's OK for Leica to go after new customers, honestly it is.

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stevelap

stevelap

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I agree with James, Ian and others that an X zoom would be a plausible option for Leica as a logical development of the X series line. And whilst I'm not yet totally convinced by the X Vario leak, neither would I be surprised if it turns out to be pukka.

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StephenPatterson

StephenPatterson

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To Archiver & StephenPatterson, if you can get out of the mindset that Leica should only make cameras for Leica M enthusiasts, then you can see that the X Vario is aimed exactly at the kind of buyers that you somewhat rudely refer to, i.e. 'consumers' rather than serious amateurs as most of us are.

 

Cheers James, and I don't disagree with your comments but I would like to elaborate on my earlier observations. I have lived and worked in China for over ten years, and one thing I have come to learn is that Chinese people tend to call it like it is. If you're fat and come to China be prepared for lots of "Wow, look at that fat western guy." The same hold true for tall, short, thin, ugly, crippled, have a large nose, ears or other body part, are poorly dressed, etc. Questions like "How much money did you make last year?" or "Nice camera, how much did it cost?" are perfectly acceptable. Being politically correct is not something that comes up in China very often, and so if I have offended anyone I sincerely apologize.

 

I have had several Chinese people ask me about Leica because they so vehemently hate the Japanese that they refuse to buy any of their cameras. Also I know from first hand observation that the M9 with manual focus and optical rangefinder can seem like a step back to the "newer, smarter, shiny, glitzy" customer entering a Leica shop for the first time. For these reasons I understand why Leica is coming out with the Mini. I don't agree with the strategy, and think Leica could have worked with Panasonic to come out with something visually and functionally similar for 1/3 the price, but no matter. As you correctly pointed out this camera isn't for me or anyone else here.

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bybrett

bybrett

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"We already have the best compact camera system here, with the M9. Now, we have to look at the size of the lenses. Do we like having a Coca-Cola can in front of a small camera body. The combination between the camera body and the lens has to fit."

 

CEO of Leica Alfred Schopf

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wildlightphoto

wildlightphoto

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I have had several Chinese people ask me about Leica because they so vehemently hate the Japanese that they refuse to buy any of their cameras. .... I don't agree with the strategy, and think Leica could have worked with Panasonic to come out with something visually and functionally similar for 1/3 the price

 

Would a Panasonic clone be marketable in China?

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Tonki-M

Tonki-M

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just come out with whatever...aim at whatever new customers they want. just don't alienate their loyal flagship model customers by belittling their legendary M by naming other products mini M, nano M, etc etc. it's an insult to their own M legacy IMHO, but then again Leica isn't Leitz either. :p

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Fran D

Fran D

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First time poster and actually, a new convert to Leica after 40 years of Nikon, TLRs and then a plethora of digital camera names and types that makes my head spin. So, go easy on me. As for this new Leica they will offer the world, isn't it fair to accept that Leica is in the business to make a profit, a profit as large as possible? They don't create products without business plans, forecasts, and marketing research. They might certainly get it wrong. When they started this product's planning and development, whatever they had in mind might have been a good idea that is now already "behind the times," but if they are going for a larger amateur audience (Chinese or otherwise), that doesn't mean that your Leica M, or M9, or Monochrome is of lesser value. So long as Leica still creates high quality cameras and lenses for "us," does it really matter to you if they go after other buyers who do not fit the traditional Leica demographic?

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glenerrolrd

glenerrolrd

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It seems that the limiting factor in "whats possible " is the insistence on producing the new camera in Portugal/Germany . Zeiss introduces a new line of lens for the Sony Nex and Fuji X cameras at a little over $1000 . Leica can t do that producing them in Germany .

 

A $3000 OVF/EVF body with a line of small AF lenses and the ability to add M lenses with an adapter ?

 

How many forum members have a NEX or Fuji X kit ?

 

I couldn t find an answer given the constraint of producing in Germany .

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