The Sony A7 thread [Merged]

[IkarusJohn]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If a full frame Sony CSC became available, and surely someone would produce an adapter for M lenses (Novoflex, almost certainly), I don't think I would buy it. I'm sure it would be a fantastic camera, but I would rather a Leica offering of this sort.

 

I have been really enjoying using my Monochrom and my M9-P - it is a very pure experience, it's compact, and I like using the rangefinder. The shortcomings of those cameras are lack of macro, limited reach, no stabilisation, lack of video (not really my thing, but prepared to give it another go), and sometimes AF is useful (not often). Logic would suggest getting the new M, but to be honest, the D800 is a cheaper, better option. Sorry, just my view. I have enjoyed the familiarity of the return to Nikon (early days).

 

For the rangefinder experience, I'll stick with my M9 series cameras till they die, I think. I'll pass on the Sony - I just hope it gives Leica a shove to protect and improve on its market position.

 

Cheers

John

[naturephoto1]

Rumor now has it that there will be 5 FF NEX or at least E mount cameras offered in the next 5 or 6 months. Sony is expected to be releasing 2 shortly and one (or 2?) is expected to be released possibly in October.

 

At least one if not 2 of the FF NEX cameras is expected to be displayed/shown at PHotoPlus in NYC October 24-26 at the Javits Center.

 

sonyalpharumors

 

I hope to bring several Leica R and at least an M mount lens (I have a Minolta CLE M-Rokkor 40mm f2 MC lens coming from Germany) along with adapters to the show in NYC. Hopefully Sony will allow me to mount the lenses on the camera(s).

 

Rich

[lct]

...I hope to bring several Leica R and at least an M mount lens (I have a Minolta CLE M-Rokkor 40mm f2 MC lens coming from Germany) along with adapters to the show in NYC...

I would bring M wides as it is with them that FF Sonys will fail if any.

[naturephoto1]

I would bring M wides as it is with them that FF Sonys will fail if any.

 

Unfortunately I don't have any Leica M wide angle or for that matter any Leica M lenses to check at this point. I have just ordered the 40mm lens on Thursday as my first M mount lens.

 

Also, for anyone interested and considering one of the E mount Sony cameras, this was mentioned over at Fred Miranda.com about a new adapter for the NEX cameras for the M mount lenses that will allow for information transfer between particularly the 6 digit coded M lenses and NEX cameras:

 

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1240887

 

https://www.phigmenttech.ca/lmnex/

 

By the way, the new adapter had not been certified at this point for Europe, so I believe that it can only be sold at this point in North America and I am not sure where else.

 

Rich

[krooj]

The rumor mill is churning and the word is the official announcement is due late September.

 

Sony is a fierce competitor and they tend to enter markets with a clear goal of dominating it. To this end, they have an excellent track record (televisions, gaming systems, music labels, etc) with some epic fails (Beta vs VHS). Sony's also surprisingly nimble. There're also part of the mirrorless camera movement. Now it seems they're getting ready to launch a potent offense and if the rumors turn out to be true, their competitors should be worried. That being said, I'm not sure Sony considers Leica a competitor; Leica's minuscule market share doesn't add up to a whole lot. I think Sony wants to take sales away from DSLRs and the other mirrorless system makers. Fuji's X line is distinct enough where the type of people who like the interface will stick with Fuji. The rest of the market is pretty much the same. There are no strong product differentiators, though there are a variety of superficial differences (excepting Canon trailing the pack in tactile interface design).

 

If they do this line of FF NEX cameras, they are getting a generational leg up on Canon and Nikon. Correct me if I am wrong, but Sony SLRs are a minuscule player in that space compared with Canon and Nikon, and if what you say about their tendency (or want) to dominate market spaces is true, then I think this is just a well thought plan to preempt a product space with domination in mind. By the time Canon and Nikon get there, Sony is hoping to make it a bad uphill battle for the competition. The execution of such a plan is not in the least hurt by their weak presence in the SLR space, I would guess. If this product line goes well, I wouldn't be surprised if they almost simultaneously ceased SLR development and just streamlined to APS-C and FF NEX with E and E-FF lens lines.

 

I would guess that the bigger challenge is to start off with the right lenses. Right focal lengths, speeds, quality, and most importantly: consistent differentiation and marketing. It needs to be dead obvious that you are buying an E-FF mount lens with the following specs. I think if they can get Zeiss to just design the entire line, they're starting off right.

[lct]

I have a M-Rokkor 40/2 as well. It should not pose any problem to any FF camera but will hardly reveal their drawbacks either.

[naturephoto1]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I have a M-Rokkor 40/2 as well. It should not pose any problem to any FF camera but will hardly reveal their drawbacks either.

 

I knew that you had the lens. Your threads and comments and those of members both here and over at Fred Miranda.com are the reasons that this was my first purchase of an M mount lens. I knew that I wanted one lens with the M mount that would not cause any issues with the camera and would be a very good or excellent performer. Additionally, coming from an all Leica R system and not wanting either a 50mm or a 35mm (have Summicron versions of both) lens this was an appropriate and very small lens to purchase.

 

Based upon the findings of others using the NEX FF camera and wide angle Leica M lenses will determine whether I invest in any wide angle Leica M lenses in the future. If the wide M lenses perform well, I anticipate the purchase of the 21mm f3.4 Ashperic M lens and possibly others.

 

Rich

[jaapv]

Don't put money in Leica wideangle lenses then. It is highly unlikely that Sony will be able or willing to provide a suitable full frame camera for them.

[naturephoto1]

Don't put money in Leica wideangle lenses then. It is highly unlikely that Sony will be able or willing to provide a suitable full frame camera for them.

 

I am in no rush and will be waiting for input from those that have the wide angle M lenses and that can put them and the FF NEX camera through their paces.

 

Unfortunately for me, besides the cost issue of the Leica M240 which was of concern, there were too many issues with the camera for my needs as a nature, landscape, and wildlife photographer to invest in the camera.

 

Now due to my age, and having had Quadruple Bypass Heart surgery on May 22, I do not believe that I can just wait for Leica to come out with the successor to the M240 that will solve my needs in a reasonable time frame.

 

Rich

[algrove]

Eagerly wait further info on that NEX-M adapter that transfers 6 bit data. Please us informed when you hear anything. My only interest in Sony comes from owning the RX-1 which is a very nice AF camera.

 

As far as the 40 M, I own it and it proves worthy of mention more than it gets on most threads.

[Don Morley]

I have used Leica's as a Pro photographer since the 1950's and though retired now still have two M9's and rather a lot of Leica lenses, but despite my long term loyalty to the marque I now have no interest whatsoever in up-dating to the latest M240's

 

Why? Well as with every other M type body in these digital times they too seem to me to suffer from far too many inexcusable issues. Sorry to say it but I only have two M9's for instance because I would not dare place my trust in going out with just one, whereas I would have no such qualms about relying entirely 100% on a single Pro level Nikon or Canon, or as regards to this thread, one full frame Sony (or Fuji).

 

So yes I would welcome a full frame Sony, and do so with open arms, and whats more I would also very likely kiss my actually much loved M9's goodbye then. BUT but only assuming any such Sony or whatever still allowed me to continue using my fabulous 'M' lens's, and for what its worth. I have long thought Leica are now far too small a company to compete in the electronics or digital stakes anyway, better in my view if they let someone else make the camera bodies whilst just getting on with making and designing more of those fabulous lenses.

 

Don Morley

[naturephoto1]

Eagerly wait further info on that NEX-M adapter that transfers 6 bit data. Please us informed when you hear anything. My only interest in Sony comes from owning the RX-1 which is a very nice AF camera.

 

As far as the 40 M, I own it and it proves worthy of mention more than it gets on most threads.

 

Check the link for the adapter and then go to products. There is a lot of info there that you can access about the details, comparability, and links which includes the manual and lens configuration.

 

Rich

[krooj]

So yes I would welcome a full frame Sony, and do so with open arms, and whats more I would also very likely kiss my actually much loved M9's goodbye then. BUT but only assuming any such Sony or whatever still allowed me to continue using my fabulous 'M' lens's, and for what its worth. I have long thought Leica are now far too small a company to compete in the electronics or digital stakes anyway, better in my view if they let someone else make the camera bodies whilst just getting on with making and designing more of those fabulous lenses.

 

Don Morley

 

I wonder if they'd ever consider making cinema lenses.

[jaapv]

As it happens they have two lines of cine lenses, one priced stratospheric, one priced in outer space . One is the Summicron C line, the other the Summilux C lenses. I understand they are doing very well.

[krooj]

As it happens they have two lines of cine lenses, one priced stratospheric, one priced in outer space .

 

Weird - is it something they generally don't advertise?

[Guest malland]

Not surprising at all. There's no reason to advertise on a broad-based, consumer basis high-price, low-volume lenses that are sold mainly to the few companies that rent out ciné equipment to film-makers. If you do a google search for "Leica cine lenses" you'll find information on these lenses.

 

—Mitch/Paris

Tristes Tropiques [WIP]

[jaapv]

They do advertise - in media that are aimed at their target customer base: high-level cine companies.

[charlesphoto99]

Yes, but there is a demographic of clueless rich people that want to shoot their M 4/3rd cameras with $10K plus lenses (more like $20K plus for Zeiss cine lenses). Imagine those sharp corners! Of course they'd be bummed there's no click stops on the aperture ring.

[krooj]

They do advertise - in media that are aimed at their target customer base: high-level cine companies.

 

I suppose - just thought it was strange that they didn't advertise the lenses on their regular website.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[jaapv]

Yes, but there is a demographic of clueless rich people that want to shoot their M 4/3rd cameras with $10K plus lenses (more like $20K plus for Zeiss cine lenses). Imagine those sharp corners! Of course they'd be bummed there's no click stops on the aperture ring.

Well, they will have to make do with those low-grade S lenses, I guess..