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New Leica M in September 2016? The speculations.


Paulus

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You forgot the most likely option: camera (RF) is in need of calibration. This is why I hope some day we could perhaps see a well implemented digital rangefinder patch :)

 

Since it would still rely on mechanical linkages (with the lens) it would still be prone to variance.

 

For those who think that the point of posts is becoming lost, I suggest that the existing RF M system camera is approaching or may already have reached its limit in terms of what improvements can be made. To seriously improve it further, there will have to be electronic information sharing between lens and body and this is unrealistic if legacy lenses are to be widely used - and the T and SL both do this already to some extent anyway, as much as is possible using 6-bit coding. The problem is that the 'ultimate' M rangefinder has limitations and none can be addressed if it is to survive in its present, relatively simplistic form. So we either accept those limitations or it becomes a bastardised and Heath Robinson style camera with compromised modifications which try to address these limitations.

 

For me it has limitations which I am more than happy to live with because I like its simplistic form. My suspicion is that for others those limitations are seen as obstacles but there is a reticence to accept that addressing them is only possible by developing new products like the T and SL (I can only speak about the T when used with M lenses which can produce excellent images with them) although these too will be a compromise when using legacy M lenses. Modifying the existing rangefinder M camera to overcome its limitations is no doubt possible but will fundamentally change it from being a simplistic camera to a complex one which in my opinion goes against its entire ethos. Any new M should concentrate on refining the body if and where possible IMO, not uprating its specification simply to keep pace with what are IMO misplaced desires for mostly irrelevant changes. BUT this is only my opinion and we will have to see what Leica consider possible /marketable won't we?

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Rangefinders can remain simple with accessory EVFs. Was the great idea of the M240. Suffice it to update the EVF and to implement a quiet (or electronic) shutter in LV mode and we'll get the best of both worlds as expected four years ago.

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Rangefinders can remain simple with accessory EVFs. Was the great idea of the M240. Suffice it to update the EVF and to implement a quiet (or electronic) shutter in LV mode and we'll get the best of both worlds as expected four years ago.

 And more mp version.

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MPs don't take up space. At least, the photographic variety doesn't :D

 

I'm no techie at all but i guess more MPs take up space in that the camera needs a bigger buffer to keep or preferably improve its speed and responsiveness. 

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Memory chips don't take up space by capacity  either ;) Remember your first 128 mb SD cards? Compare the size to 128 gb ones.

 

OK but how do you explain that the M240's buffer is so small, or if it is not that small how do you explain that it is not possible to shoot more than 6 or 7 raw files in fast succession w/o interruption with it? None of my digital cameras has ever been so slow including my eight years old Canon 5D. I have always thought that the lack of room was the culprit. If it is not the case, how explaining this slowness or weakness actually? Just curious.

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Well... thinking of my attitudes and considering the relative "youth" of my 240, my mood about the speculated "new" M" at the moment is this :

 

- More MP only ---> won't buy on this 

- "Advanced" accessory EVF ---> won't buy on this

- Both of the above (possibly with somthing more on the sensor side, apart MP)  : start to think of...

- Both AND something on the RF side ---> temptation is real.

 

Bought M8 in May 2007... considering that surely, anyway,  won't order at announcement but will wait for trustable feedbacks.... this would mean 3 cameras bought new in 10 years... which is someway on the high side for my habits... but affordable if worths... ^_^

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OK but how do you explain that the M240's buffer is so small, or if it is not that small how do you explain that it is not possible to shoot more than 6 or 7 raw files in fast succession w/o interruption with it? None of my digital cameras has ever been so slow including my eight years old Canon 5D. I have always thought that the lack of room was the culprit. If it is not the case, how explaining this slowness or weakness actually? Just curious.

I think it is more a question of processing power and possibly heat dissipation. The word "size" of the buffer does not refer to physical size.

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I think it is more a question of processing power and possibly heat dissipation. The word "size" of the buffer does not refer to physical size.

I think you're right. Sometimes more ram compensates for lack of processing speed but can't help with things like refresh rates of the EVF.

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Perhaps its just me, there seems to be interest in the new whatever Leica brings out but none of the "mania" that anticipated the next new version only a few years back. I get the feeling there is no great overwhelming need to get the next new thing. It could be cameras have become like PCs, the time for holding existing versions has extended significantly, no longer to necessary to swap with each new version. The leaps are too small to matter?

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The leaps are too small to matter?

 

Any real 'leaps' to be made in the future will almost certainly require fundamental changes in specification/form factor. As I have said before elsewhere in the forum, many changes would require data transfer between lenses and camera body for optimisation, something which is simply not possible for an M series camera unless it is completely redesigned, and its lenses too. So to answer your query, IMO the 'leaps' will now be incremental - the cameras as they stand are pretty well 'fit for purpose' and modifications are going to be minor unless the whole design is to be messed up by adding specification for the sake of doing so.

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Communication between body and lens can be done wirelessly, like an RFID. This wouldn't require any change to the mount. Older lenses could be fitted with a simple rfid which identified the lens; operational characteristics of which would be stored in the camera.

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Communication between body and lens can be done wirelessly, like an RFID. This wouldn't require any change to the mount. Older lenses could be fitted with a simple rfid which identified the lens; operational characteristics of which would be stored in the camera.

 

Simply identifying a lens is not enough to optimise for ever increasing MPixels. Transmission of lens, focus distance and aperture would all be required, as I assume would a power source (battery). Easier to start from scratch and build an errr, SL ;) call it. So why is nobody requesting that an RF is added to the SL or T I wonder - just as feasible :o ? If your solution is viable can you give examples of its use? 

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