marknorton Posted August 29, 2007 Share #241 Posted August 29, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) As I recall, the RoHS regulations allowed manufacturers to continue to sell items already built and to service those and items already sold with non-RoHS stock and you can still buy non-RoHS components for just this purpose. For example, the electronics supplier I use most often is showing 2188 types of RoHS compliant transistor listed and 1389 types of non-RoHS compliant transistor. The new regulations apply to on-going production and new products. So Leica could have built enough R9s for stock and spare part assemblies for them before pulling the plug. For the M7 and MP, if they are still making them, they will have needed to re-engineer them to allow on-going production. Making a product RoHS compliant is not just a question of using RoHS compliant parts, the production processes have to be as well. In the context of electronics production, surface mount facilities have to be changed/upgraded to handle the different (higher) melting points of RoHS compliant solders. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 29, 2007 Posted August 29, 2007 Hi marknorton, Take a look here Is R10 or a brand new Digital-R coming ?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mgcd Posted August 29, 2007 Share #242 Posted August 29, 2007 Well, a lot of my images are sharper because of it. For me, sometimes it is the difference between requiring a tripod or not, or a higher ISO or not or even getting an acceptable shot or not. However you don't need it. So maybe you always shoot with strobe or have lots of light or shoot static objects on a tripod. I guess you have not seen my work... But I want to know how the presence of image stabilization on a camera could lead to compromises. The only thing I'm compromising is my shakiness when I use it. I would never buy a camera that didn't offer IS at least on a bunch of lenses if not in the body. The same with some other features. Now that I've used them, why would I choose a camera without them? I'm sure I'm not alone with this view. So Leica shouldn't make a camera that appeals to me because I want too much? They should just tell me to use Nikon or Canon? Do you actually use a Leica R? Sounds like N or C are more up your alley with respect to those features. Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted August 29, 2007 Share #243 Posted August 29, 2007 Somehow I think they will figure a way to turn off the AF and and the fine focus will still be there, without compromise, or I too will not be interested. I guess that's exactly what we'll see ... but you don't have to turn off anything, just mount your manual focus lens, there you go. All Leica can't forget is a decent viewfinder and precision focusing screen. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted August 29, 2007 Share #244 Posted August 29, 2007 I tell you what IS nice though, having an R line to discuss as opposed to "My M8 is rubbish, because..." We will have to wait until the R10 comes out to get into the "My R10 is rubbish because.."" discussions Being a DMR user, I had realistic expectations of the M8. The same will apply when the R10 comes out, I will have realistic expectations of its performance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted August 29, 2007 Share #245 Posted August 29, 2007 ...The Japanese approach is quite different. You want GPS connectivity?... I really don't see it as a German/Japanese thing. Traditionally German companies were leaders in technology in cameras and some other fields. The Zeiss Contarex was pretty advanced for its time. The Rollei SLX, 6006, 6008AF were technologically very advanced and feature rich. Rollei also made an interesting 35mm system with interchangeable backs. (It lost out to some degree because it wasn't AF.) And Linhof made the Technika 2000 that incorporated an electronic rangefinder until they found out that not many people who shot 4x5 used a rangefinder anymore. Zeiss and Leica microscopes embrace technology. And German cars have been leaders in performance and safety features as well as in the "bells and whistles" department. I remember BMW being the first to use antilock brakes in some of their racing cars in the 70s. If Leica, instead of Canon, had come out with an 11 megapixel full frame AF camera 4 1/2 years ago, this entire conversation would be different. And who knows how many photographers would be using Leica by now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgcd Posted August 29, 2007 Share #246 Posted August 29, 2007 If Leica, instead of Canon, had come out with an 11 megapixel full frame AF camera 4 1/2 years ago, this entire conversation would be different. And who knows how many photographers would be using Leica by now. Actually, If Leica had come out with the DMR as it is today 5 years ago we would not be having this conversation. Period. Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhsimmonds Posted August 29, 2007 Share #247 Posted August 29, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Actually, If Leica had come out with the DMR as it is today 5 years ago we would not be having this conversation. Period. Cheers, Well said!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted August 29, 2007 Share #248 Posted August 29, 2007 Actually, If Leica had come out with the DMR as it is today 5 years ago we would not be having this conversation. Period. Cheers, That's a good point, but they didn't. So now Leica surely must be assessing where it can position any future products in the marketplace. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgcd Posted August 29, 2007 Share #249 Posted August 29, 2007 That's a good point, but they didn't. So now Leica surely must be assessing where it can position any future products in the marketplace. And keep its core base happy... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted August 29, 2007 Share #250 Posted August 29, 2007 And keep its core base happy... That's a given. But I wonder how they'll determine what will keep them happy? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted August 29, 2007 Share #251 Posted August 29, 2007 On a second thought, I think that Leica should keep making some manual focus lenses ... selectively, they certainly know which lenses sell really well ... and these could complement the incomplete initial AF system offerings. When everyone is happy about AF ... they'll forget about MF. Of course, this is under the assumption of a new AF system and 100% backward compatibility. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgcd Posted August 29, 2007 Share #252 Posted August 29, 2007 That's a given. But I wonder how they'll determine what will keep them happy? Do you really think that Leica does NOT speak with its core base? Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted August 29, 2007 Share #253 Posted August 29, 2007 Do you really think that Leica does NOT speak with its core base? Cheers, So if they speak to you what are they asking you and what are you telling them? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted August 30, 2007 Share #254 Posted August 30, 2007 Same thing we been saying all along 18 mpx,16 bit, FF, CCD, No AA as big as a 5d , at least focus confirmation maybe AF with a couple zooms. Faster buffer, 3 to5 fps so on and so on. Will they listen and build it, maybe but they do talk to people and ask questions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted August 30, 2007 Share #255 Posted August 30, 2007 Has that information been confirmed by Leica.If so, they should inform their loyal "R" customers. Ken, as I recall, it's in the Kaufmann interview. I don't understand exactly what you want done. I don't think they're going to send out a letter to owners saying it's out of production. My car company doesn't do that, nor the manufacturer of my computers. It's not really a case of Leica 'confirming' the information; the chairman and owner is the one who released the information in the first place. --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted August 30, 2007 Share #256 Posted August 30, 2007 It's not really a case of Leica 'confirming' the information; the chairman and owner is the one who released the information in the first place. I agree, Howard. From the impression I've gathered from these LFI interviews, web interviews etc. , both Dr. Kaufmann and Steven K. Lee are very outspoken persons, I think they're both very openminded as well. This certainly bodes well for the future of their business and will benefit us fans as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telyt Posted August 30, 2007 Share #257 Posted August 30, 2007 When everyone is happy about AF ... they'll forget about MF. Camera makers don't need everyone to be happy about AF before pulling the plug on MF. When MF product fails to provide sufficient return on investment they'll kill it, even if there are those whose working style depends on it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted August 30, 2007 Share #258 Posted August 30, 2007 Camera makers don't need everyone to be happy about AF before pulling the plug on MF. When MF product fails to provide sufficient return on investment they'll kill it, even if there are those whose working style depends on it. I can't disagree with you on this but keeping both the MF and AF lenses in production at the same time certainly isn't unprecedented ... Nikon has done that for many years. Among Leica's current R family optics, most of the zoomers are relatively newer than the primers falling into the same range so I'm guessing some prime focal lengths will get the AF version first, an AF 50/1.4 is a given, perhaps an AF 80/1.4, and a AF 35/1.4, or even an AF 180/2.8 ... that apparently will not satisfy a lot of people especially the newbies so why not take the chance and sell some MF lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted August 30, 2007 Share #259 Posted August 30, 2007 I actually think that Leica could keep MF and AF two lines in production as long as they see there's a demand. There would be little doubt that the new camera could (and should) handle both. Keep the manual lenses as sort of a la carte or special order items ... charge for a price, without much effort. There should be a market, never mind how small it is ... even Zeiss can sustain such a suicidal act. But, if Leica is working it out perfectly ... with a AF on/off switch, it can be a decent manual lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted August 30, 2007 Share #260 Posted August 30, 2007 Gee, I don't want to get roped into a discussion of what I think Leica _ought_ to do, when I'm sure their plans are already firm in the first place. However, if I were planning the R10's first set of AF lenses, they would all be top-quality zooms. Why? for the simple reason that that's where the market is, unless I miss my guess. Maybe a long AF, like a replacement for the 180/2 that they're now making conveniently available. But I don't think the 50 Summilux is in the line for a while yet. New wide to short tele zoom, perhaps, in an AF version. But who really cares? When it comes, we'll buy and ask why they didn't do what we asked them to do. --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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