etienne_werner Posted June 1, 2007 Share #1 Posted June 1, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just went to a leica/zeiss demo day here in the Netherlands and spoke to a Zeiss sales rep. He stated that Zeiss is looking at making a FF digital camera in about 1 and a half year. Personaly I have serious doubts if a FF can be achieved in a RF camera. I believe that if this deadline and story is correct, they would already be working on some prototypes. I also spoke to the Leica importer for the Netherlands. He told me two things. Yes there will be an other firmware update shortly for the M8 and no they are not going ahead with a B&W version of the M8. This was supposed to be 33 MPixels but they found they could only do a maximum of 11 MPixels. I'm not sure what the technical reason are for that. On a seperate note for the Dutch Leica users among us: I was very pleasantly surprised at the fact that after showing some of the problems my M8 is suffering from (changing intensity of the LCD screen and turning on the camera will only realy turn on if you press the firing button), Transcontinental offered to provide me with a loaner while I send mine to Leica Germany. Kind regards, Etienne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 1, 2007 Posted June 1, 2007 Hi etienne_werner, Take a look here Sales rep zeiss Netherlands says ff digital in 1 1/2 year. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Guest tummydoc Posted June 1, 2007 Share #2 Posted June 1, 2007 I've learnt not to rely too heavily upon the word of sales reps. They would be sanctioned and/or dismissed immediately were they to reveal insider information to which they were actually privy, ahead of company schedule. However they seem to be under no restriction whatsoever when it comes to starting rumours as I suppose those do tend to hold the public interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
etienne_werner Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted June 1, 2007 I've learnt not to rely too heavily upon the word of sales reps. They would be sanctioned and/or dismissed immediately were they to reveal insider information to which they were actually privy, ahead of company schedule. However they seem to be under no restriction whatsoever when it comes to starting rumours as I suppose those do tend to hold the public interest. Very true. regards, Etienne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidigital Posted June 1, 2007 Share #4 Posted June 1, 2007 Thanks for the rumors though, Etienne. It would be logical to think that the folks over at Zeiss continue to watch what is happening with the M8 ... especially M lens inventory levels. I'm certain that they'd like a piece of the action. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted June 1, 2007 Share #5 Posted June 1, 2007 Hi Guys, I'm pretty sure that the Leica Rep meant a ff sensor for a Leica R. Mind you, in theory, if you had to produce a double curvature sensor (much like an eggshell), you could probably produce a full frame M. I know it sounds like science fiction, but I do know that Fuji has been working on such a sensor. Their main goal was to simplfy the lenses - makes sense if you consider the human eye is curved and has only one lens. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 1, 2007 Share #6 Posted June 1, 2007 Andreas, but none of the existing lenses would work with such a design. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted June 1, 2007 Share #7 Posted June 1, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi Steve, You're right - it will take a massive change in lens design. But then Leica will probably just get us to throw out the old M system and spend plenty on new equipment. Would be really great for them... I'm still recovering from the shock of my M8 and accessories. My bank statement arrived just yesterday. It was so heavy it just about ruined the post box... not to mention my better half's sense of humour! Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted June 1, 2007 Share #8 Posted June 1, 2007 If I was a Zeiss salesperson attending a Zeiss/Leica demo then the potential for mischief might be too much to resist. I'd think to myself "How could Leica be distracted from its core business to enable Zeiss to take advantage?" A juicy rumour about a ff DRF might just about do it ... . That might set the limited Leica design resource working frantically to assess the feasability of producing a ff DRF and cause the overworked customer service department to have to respond to a large numbers of queries from Leicaphiles and others enquiring why Leica hasn't announced or leaked plans to produce a ff DRF of its own. Yet. Or perhaps I'm being too suspicious in the wake of the recent Zeiss statement - can't recall where - that Zeiss's not considering entering the digital camera world (with a digital Ikon anyway)... As they say, all's fair in love and business. Pete. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hankg Posted June 1, 2007 Share #9 Posted June 1, 2007 Maybe it's a FF DSLR for the ZF lenses or a digital rangefinder for the ZF Nikon mount lenses with the sensor to flange distance of an SLR so they can use existing proven DSLR technology and avoid all the problems the digital M had to deal with. Think Distagon instead of Biogon. Zeiss would be in a position to do that as they don't have a legacy platform, user community and history they are obligated to support. Although more likely it was just a bunch of hot air Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted June 1, 2007 Share #10 Posted June 1, 2007 Hi Guys, I'm pretty sure that the Leica Rep meant a ff sensor for a Leica R. Mind you, in theory, if you had to produce a double curvature sensor (much like an eggshell), you could probably produce a full frame M. I know it sounds like science fiction, but I do know that Fuji has been working on such a sensor. Their main goal was to simplfy the lenses - makes sense if you consider the human eye is curved and has only one lens. Andreas I think this was a Zeiss rep. talking about a future Zeiss camera. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterv Posted June 1, 2007 Share #11 Posted June 1, 2007 Eteinne, I was there between 12.00 and 14.00 hrs. Would have liked to meet you. 'Rumours' they told me... - Leica is working hard on the new R. It is due somewhere next year... - At the moment, about a hundred M8's a day are beeing produced... - It's very difficult to get an ATA for any item from Leica, they are working in their own pace... Quality first! BTW I liked James' prints. Did you see them? Cheers, Peter Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
etienne_werner Posted June 1, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted June 1, 2007 Eteinne, I was there between 12.00 and 14.00 hrs. Would have liked to meet you. 'Rumours' they told me... - Leica is working hard on the new R. It is due somewhere next year... - At the moment, about a hundred M8's a day are beeing produced... - It's very difficult to get an ATA for any item from Leica, they are working in their own pace... Quality first! BTW I liked James' prints. Did you see them? Cheers, Peter Hi Peter, We must have just missed each other. Those prints were great. I am now starting to believe those stories that the M8 files can be compared to those of a H'blad. regards, Etienne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted June 1, 2007 Share #13 Posted June 1, 2007 Hi Peter,We must have just missed each other. Those prints were great. I am now starting to believe those stories that the M8 files can be compared to those of a H'blad. regards, Etienne I think more people may come around on that point eventually. David Adamson and I have taken a lot of heat for that assertion but time and experience will, I think, prove us right about what the M8 is capable of. Cheers, Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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