Full frame Leica, Canon and Nikon

[AlanG]

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The solution could be an Auto-Focus FF M with "life view" included, where the Range Finder is only the second choice. Or is this technical impossible?

 

Regards

Georg

 

If it is too hard to go FF and too revolutioary to go AF, I think they could keep the sensor size the same even if they add some resolution. Perhaps make some newer smaller lenses for this format. These would be easier to design because if they have smaller image circles, perhaps the lenses themselves can be physically smaller and may not block much of the viewfinder. And if it has live view and focus confirmation, along with an accessory hi res EVF, the camera could work well with a variety of lenses and applications. (Sort of like a modern visoflex that will work with all lenses.) If Leica can get a suitable sensor, the rest is just a question of having the desire to do it as there is nothing new in this proposal. Whereas autofocus would require a major redesign of lenses.

 

This way you'd have the best of both worlds - a small fast camera with rangefinder viewing that could easily be utilized for precision work when needed - either directly on the LCD or for eye-level work with a clip on EVF. This way Leica could keep the form factor and all of the things that traditionalists like but update the functionality. Plus it would open the door to a whole new range of items for Leica to sell. And it will work with lenses made for the Leica R (put some ROM contacts in the body to work with an M to R adapter.) Many other SLRs would fit on the camera and work with live view too.

 

This could be the first "Hybrid" camera. Why not?

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[carstenw]

I doubt that Leica would ever embrace the smaller sensor formats fully. Leica has a real advantage (one of few) with their excellent FF lenses, and going to a smaller format they waste that. In any case, as the technology settles down, pixel pitch will probably hit some kind of practical limit after which advancements will come very slowly. Already the development cycles of SLRs are slowing down. Once that point really hits, the only way to higher resolution (and how else do you sell a new camera) is via larger sensors. The 4/3 format and crop cameras will get left behind as everyone settles in with the old 35mm format.

 

That would be my guess anyway. If not, perhaps 4/3 will gain momentum in the long run? I find the in-between crop factors, especially Canon's 1.6x format, awkward to work with and think about.

 

I am very curious about the new Olympus E-3's viewfinder. This camera will presumably show just how good a 4/3 viewfinder can be, with its 100% coverage and 1.15x enlargement. Can it compete with crop cameras? With FF cameras?