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CEO Alfred Schopf and future products


hoppyman

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The X line has no M adapter and the T line won't need one to exist either.

As far as the X line is concerned, I think no one had the guts to saw off the lens to attach an adapter.

 

On the other hand, for every mirrorless system with a flange distance allowing an M adapter to be fitted there is an M adapter available – usually from third parties but sometimes even from the camera vendor. It would be seriously odd if Leica would introduce a mirrorless system and not offer an M adapter, provided that was technically possible.

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On the other hand, for every mirrorless system with a flange distance allowing an M adapter to be fitted there is an M adapter available – usually from third parties but sometimes even from the camera vendor. It would be seriously odd if Leica would introduce a mirrorless system and not offer an M adapter, provided that was technically possible.

 

Yeah I think it should be obvious to anyone paying attention that this is the way they'd go. On the other hand there is no reason why future M cameras couldn't have some kind of electronic linkage incorporated into the M mount so that additional features could be added to that system.

 

As for whatever new system Leica has up its sleeve... I'm trying to think of anything special they could bring out that would have any significant impact on the camera market or photography world. (Other than providing some additional revenue for Leica. Which is OK of course.)

 

After all Phase One and Hassy have MF CMOS sensor cameras now, Sony has the A7 and RX1 for small full frame, Panasonic, Fuji, Olympus, Sony and others have the APS and M4/3rds mirrorless markets covered, and Canon and Nikon are kings of FF and APS DSLRs. GoPro dominates the low end action camera market. Good lenses are being made by a number of companies. Cell phones are replacing basic p&s cameras.

 

What's left and how is Leica in any position to innovate since they have to buy electronics from other parties?

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That is my point. I do not see the necessity that Leica limit all its designs to the requirement to ensure usability for M lenses.

My point is that the adaptability of M lenses, even when it was never a design goal, is something you usually get for free with mirrorless system cameras. The engineers would have to go out of their way to prevent it and for Leica that would be quite perverse.

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On the other hand there is no reason why future M cameras couldn't have some kind of electronic linkage incorporated into the M mount so that additional features could be added to that system.

Sure, if they thought it made sense to turn the M system into something else, like an AF EVIL system, for example. Chances are they have considered it. But will they go that route? I don’t think so.

 

What's left and how is Leica in any position to innovate since they have to buy electronics from other parties?

Most vendors are buying electronics from other parties, even Panasonic who usually take pride in sourcing everything within the company. Anyway, Leica has got some ideas what avenues to pursue.

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Most vendors are buying electronics from other parties, even Panasonic who usually take pride in sourcing everything within the company. Anyway, Leica has got some ideas what avenues to pursue.

 

I am sure they have a plan. I just can't see how it could be very innovative based on using readily available electronics. E.g without a significantly better sensor, EVF, or image processor, what kind of design or packaging can they do that will be so much better than what the other manufacturers can do? Do they have any exclusive access to certain technology?

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On the other hand there is no reason why future M cameras couldn't have some kind of electronic linkage incorporated into the M mount so that additional features could be added to that system.

 

Thanks for that.

 

 

What's left and how is Leica in any position to innovate since they have to buy electronics from other parties?

 

This is the interesting question. It just seems to be a shame that such questions don't seem to interest Leica at the moment. This is the company which came out with the 35mm camera, and was then near the lead in perfecting future developments - interchangeable lenses, rangefinder coupling, autofocus (abandoned), the full frame digital rangefinder, the S camera and the Monochrom.

 

It would be great if they could find some new twist which allowed them to expand into a new market sector. As others have said many times here, Leica joining an already crowded market and trying to compete with the electronics companies is unlikely to result in much more than an overpriced "Meh!" camera. Take the X2 and X-Vario; people here who use them can't stop singing their praises, but how many people in that market sector will look for, let alone recognise, those camera's charms?

 

They'll see the red dot and the price; and that will either turn them off or make it a must have camera. Why buy an ordinary APS-C made by Fuji, Sony or one of the other manufacturers which everyone else has when you can pay far more and have a red dot!

 

Sadly, that seems to be the market sector Leica has targeted for its future.

 

Cheers

John

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Leica are clearly going for that type of customer.

 

They don't want the same as everyone else, they want something more 'designer' and exclusive. I don't think technical specification really comes into it, as they're trusting the badge and price tag to mean that it's 'better'.

 

The lens/es may well be, but the basic camera won't be any better than most of the competition (if it's an X Vario clone).

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Leica are clearly going for that type of customer.

 

 

I agree, but I do hope "that type of customer" is someone like us, that appreciates fine optics and the simplicity of operation reminiscent of past Leica workhorses.

 

Personally, I am not interested in competing electronic gadgetry, not in the least. My interest in cameras and photography lie elsewhere.

 

My hope for Leica, produce cameras for photographers not techno-geeks. We have plenty of consumer electronics companies... none of which had the balls to make a Monochrom.

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That is my point. I do not see the necessity that Leica limit all its designs to the requirement to ensure usability for M lenses.

I tend to agree, who really cares today about compatibility with M lenses in an APS-C camera? Surely for its niche, all it needs is perhaps 3 or 4 nice small AF lenses optimised for the system.

 

On the other hand, if Leica had bothered to implement the design as a full-frame mirrorless camera, with micro-lenses, then that would have been a worthwhile goal -- surpassing the Sony A7 and similar forthcoming cameras by allowing some superb low distortion ultra-wide angle lenses,both new designs or M-mount lenses.

 

Nick

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...who really cares today about compatibility with M lenses in an APS-C camera?...

R-D1 owners, M8 users missing an EVF, M and R users put off by the price of the M240, DMR users needing a smaller body, photogs regretting the demise of the Ricoh GXR, and yours truly.

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Alan G -

 

Maybe one of the things Leica has in store for us, while using other manufacturer's parts, is enough different to warrant our attention even beyond the red dot. Remember the D2? It's still highly regarded while virtually all of its contemoraries have dropped in resale value to paper weight status.

 

Let's hope.

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I agree, but I do hope "that type of customer" is someone like us, that appreciates fine optics and the simplicity of operation reminiscent of past Leica workhorses.

 

We are already customers though. Leica are trying to sell to more people and (I think) aiming straight at the 'luxury' market with their new products. Those customers may have heard of Leica but certainly won't have used one before.

 

We are not the people Leica have in mind for their new model.

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