Do the Japanese boycott Leica with sensor tech?

[dant]

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I read somewhere that the Japanese refuse to sell Leica cutting edge sensor tech. They will only sell Leica older tech sensors. That is what Leica uses less desirable Euro sensors. Is this true?

[jdlaing]

I read somewhere that the Japanese refuse to sell Leica cutting edge sensor tech. They will only sell Leica older tech sensors. That is what Leica uses less desirable Euro sensors. Is this true?

 

No.

[colonel]

I read somewhere that the Japanese refuse to sell Leica cutting edge sensor tech. They will only sell Leica older tech sensors. That is what Leica uses less desirable Euro sensors. Is this true?

 

Leica has no sensor fab

Their sensors are made by Sony, Panasonic, Truesense and CMOSIS

 

All are world class

[wlaidlaw]

I believe that the M240 and other full frame and medium format CMOS sensors for Leica, are now made by AWAIBA in Grenoble, France. However they are still designed by CMOSIS in Belgium and are custom designs for Leica rather than off the shelf items.

 

Wilson

[indergaard]

No. That is not true.

What I heard is that Leica did not want to purchase sensors outside of the EU to avoid import duties/tax/customs that they would have to pay if Leica imported sensors from outside the EU.

 

I hope the next M will have a custom CMOS sensor by Sony. Sony's 35mm sensors are the best in the market, and they are really advancing rapidly in sensor technology and leaving everyone else behind.

[250swb]

If you want your pictures to look like a Sony camera, why not buy a Sony camera?

 

Steve

[jdlaing]

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No. That is not true.

What I heard is that Leica did not want to purchase sensors outside of the EU to avoid import duties/tax/customs that they would have to pay if Leica imported sensors from outside the EU.

 

I hope the next M will have a custom CMOS sensor by Sony. Sony's 35mm sensors are the best in the market, and they are really advancing rapidly in sensor technology and leaving everyone else behind.

 

You heard wrong.

[mjh]

I believe that the M240 and other full frame and medium format CMOS sensors for Leica, are now made by AWAIBA in Grenoble, France. However they are still designed by CMOSIS in Belgium and are custom designs for Leica rather than off the shelf items.

The sensors designed by CMOSIS for Leica have always been manufactured by STMicroelectronics in Grenoble, France, since CMOSIS lacks a fab of their own. AWAIBA, on the other hand, is a company headquartered in Switzerland that was recently acquired by CMOSIS.

[mjh]

What I heard is that Leica did not want to purchase sensors outside of the EU to avoid import duties/tax/customs that they would have to pay if Leica imported sensors from outside the EU.

Except that they do import sensors from outside the EU, namely from Sony (Japan) and Truesense (USA).

[pieterpronk]

I shouldn't say this, but what I heard from somebody on the inside is that the Japanese camera manufacturers are forced to use their own lesser sensors because the European sensor manufacturers boycott them. Sometimes by begging a lot a Japanese company gets allowed to use an old generation sensor but generally they're forced to use their own poor quality sensors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[k-hawinkler]

If you want your pictures to look like a Sony camera, why not buy a Sony camera?

 

Steve

 

That's an excellent idea! I did.

I have NEX-5N, NEX-7, and A7R.

Very happy with them as with my M9.

[indergaard]

Except that they do import sensors from outside the EU, namely from Sony (Japan) and Truesense (USA).

 

Not for the M240 (which was my point).

[mjh]

Not for the M240 (which was my point).

Only the fact that Leica has no problems importing sensors from outside the EU for other models invalidates that point. Other components are imported from outside the EU as well; this is of no concern really.

[indergaard]

If you want your pictures to look like a Sony camera, why not buy a Sony camera?

 

Steve

 

So all cameras containing Sony sensors looks like pictures from a Sony camera?

 

Nikon (mostly all the cameras in the recent years)

Fujifilm X-Trans cameras

Pentax cameras

 

Having used a Sony A7S extensively, and Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100S cameras, and a Nikon D800E, I can clearly say that the images from those manufacturers do not share a similar look at all. There is even a clear difference within the same brands with the same sensor design: X-Pro1 and X-E1 images have a different look/processing compared to the X100S for example, even though they share the same 16mp sensor, but with a different processing: X-Trans and X-Trans II. Fuji might market it as two different sensors, but with the exception of phase detection on the X-Trans II design, the processing is what differs the most.

 

The processing of the raw data captured by a cmos sensor, as well as the sensor cover glass and filter stack, and most significantly - the lenses, is what creates a look, not the sensor itself.

 

So... I don't see your point.

[dant]

No. That is not true.

What I heard is that Leica did not want to purchase sensors outside of the EU to avoid import duties/tax/customs that they would have to pay if Leica imported sensors from outside the EU.

 

I hope the next M will have a custom CMOS sensor by Sony. Sony's 35mm sensors are the best in the market, and they are really advancing rapidly in sensor technology and leaving everyone else behind.

 

Well, if sensors are a big expense and the tax is anything like UK VAT it would make sense.

[dant]

So all cameras containing Sony sensors looks like pictures from a Sony camera?

 

Nikon (mostly all the cameras in the recent years)

Fujifilm X-Trans cameras

Pentax cameras

 

Having used a Sony A7S extensively, and Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100S cameras, and a Nikon D800E, I can clearly say that the images from those manufacturers do not share a similar look at all. There is even a clear difference within the same brands with the same sensor design: X-Pro1 and X-E1 images have a different look/processing compared to the X100S for example, even though they share the same 16mp sensor, but with a different processing: X-Trans and X-Trans II. Fuji might market it as two different sensors, but with the exception of phase detection on the X-Trans II design, the processing is what differs the most.

 

The processing of the raw data captured by a cmos sensor, as well as the sensor cover glass and filter stack, and most significantly - the lenses, is what creates a look, not the sensor itself.

 

So... I don't see your point.

 

Sony has the market tied up pretty much. Who makes Canon sensors?

[mjh]

Who makes Canon sensors?

Canon. The sensors in all of their DSLRs anyway.

[jdlaing]

So all cameras containing Sony sensors looks like pictures from a Sony camera?

 

Nikon (mostly all the cameras in the recent years)

Fujifilm X-Trans cameras

Pentax cameras

 

Having used a Sony A7S extensively, and Fujifilm X-Pro1, X-E1 and X100S cameras, and a Nikon D800E, I can clearly say that the images from those manufacturers do not share a similar look at all. There is even a clear difference within the same brands with the same sensor design: X-Pro1 and X-E1 images have a different look/processing compared to the X100S for example, even though they share the same 16mp sensor, but with a different processing: X-Trans and X-Trans II. Fuji might market it as two different sensors, but with the exception of phase detection on the X-Trans II design, the processing is what differs the most.

 

The processing of the raw data captured by a cmos sensor, as well as the sensor cover glass and filter stack, and most significantly - the lenses, is what creates a look, not the sensor itself.

 

So... I don't see your point.

 

Now there's a revelation. I wonder how many photographers on this forum had no idea that's how a sensor worked. Wow.

[AlanG]

Photokina 2014: Sony interview - 'we still need to create more lenses': Digital Photography Review

----------------------------

Sony sensors can be found in cameras from several different manufacturers. How does your sensor business work?

 

When we make sensors we put them in several categories. [At any given time] one category of sensors is reserved purely for Sony cameras - we don’t sell them to other companies. Like the sensor in the A7S. But once we’ve enjoyed this advantage we might sell them on later, after some time has passed. This is the second category. The third category of sensors is completely generic - the sensors are created for use internally and to sell externally, to anybody. China or Taiwan or wherever."

 

_____________________________

 

This explains why the T does not have the A6000's sensor or some other recent Sony sensor with or without PDAF.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[colonel]

I don't know, China and North Korea make a lot of Censors, but personally I like a censor with Moire rather then less. Which is why I never use Alcoholics Anonymous filters.

Hit a raw nerve ?