leicar7 Posted September 23, 2008 Share #1 Posted September 23, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Unless Leica has another announcement up its sleeve, perhaps it is not out of order to take stock. The M community has several fantastic new lenses and a tweeked camera. In a bid to create demand in a new market, or to gain the interest of new, vice legacy, customers, Leica gives us a magnificent new digital reflex camera system. And those of us keen on the R get,,,,what?, ,,, nothing,..., for two more years.... Let's look at this strategy for a moment. My bottom line is that, at the very least, it would have been well to have given us two new R lenses, even if they had AF, which, of course, we couldn't use yet. But that would be better than the nothing we have. That would have demonstrated something approaching real commitment to a digital 35mm R. As it is, though, the last innovation for the R camera was the DMR, and that has been out of production for quite a while. No R camera has been produced for well over a year. No new lenses for quite a while. And we are supposed to be happy to have to wait another two years for a normally formatted DSLR. Is Leica expecting a bit much from its R clients? The S camera is of no interest to me. As an amateur, I refuse to even think about the likely near $100,000 it would take to purchase an entire new system. It makes sense for some pros and those for whom $ is no object. Finding satisfaction in putting R lenses onto an S2 is laughable, even if it will be doable. Many companies have introduced new camera systems in a plethora of formats larger than 35mm (and, of course, smaller than 35mm). Only a few are still around. I wish Leica well with the S2. But by the time mid 2010, probably Photokina 2010, which is later than mid, rolls around, the R community will have waited six years for a digital camera. I hope everyone's DMRs last that long. It is little wonder to me after this Photokina that R users move on out of dispair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 23, 2008 Posted September 23, 2008 Hi leicar7, Take a look here So Where Are We, R Users?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jacarape Posted September 23, 2008 Share #2 Posted September 23, 2008 In anoher thread, Kaufman is said to be commited to an R10. That being said, I'll pick up your DMR about then. Thanks in advance! jac PS, and us film guys get 3 new lenses! cool, I want the Elmar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
miami91 Posted September 23, 2008 Share #3 Posted September 23, 2008 While you have a valid point (more or less), you seem to be glossing over one very significant announcement from this years kina ---- there *will be* an R10. This was not known by anyone outside of Leica till yesterday. So now you (and all of us) can make an informed decision: wait it out with or without a bridge solution for your R glass, or give up and move on. Speaking for myself, I'm a four-thirds user (Digilux 3 and Olympus E3) eagerly looking to move to full-frame. I might have been tempted to go to Nikon, but now I will happily wait the 2-3 years for an autofocus R10, my preferred solution. Regards, Jeff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnastovall Posted September 23, 2008 Share #4 Posted September 23, 2008 Use you R lenses on a Canon 5D until the R10 is out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted September 23, 2008 Share #5 Posted September 23, 2008 Jeff - I agree completely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 23, 2008 Share #6 Posted September 23, 2008 In a way, I am very happy with the current situation. My DMR is still top of the heap and I have years of inspiration to go with it. To know the system is alive and kicking, without having to agonize about upgrading suits me just fine.... On the subject of lenses the same applies. There is so much beautiful R glass out there, but my current lineup suits me just fine. New lenses? Which lenses? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted September 23, 2008 Share #7 Posted September 23, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) We are sitting very pretty. In the driving seat (or at worst the front row). What on earth would be the point of an auto-focus lens on an R today? Come on... We have now been given a future path for the R line. One that looked pretty dead only a few months ago Be thankful for what you have. For years (decades?), the R has been the poor relation in the Leica family. Not any more. As of yesterday, it is now the rich cousin. The R has leapfrogged the M in terms of scalability and potential. Full frame before a full frame M. (A full frame M is years away, if indeed it is technically feasible). 24Mpx. Use of all your R lenses, most of which are equal to their M siblings. Now is a very good time to be an R user, IMHO. I'd say that things in the R world were definitely looking up, and I am saving my pennies for my "R10 in 2010". Has a good ring to it. Thank you, Dr Kaufmann. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted September 24, 2008 Share #8 Posted September 24, 2008 Me too. I'm happy with the DMR and knowing the R10 will arrive I don't have to worry about buying an extra DMR for eternity ;-) There's glass to be had and I'll peruse those exotic ones I want in the meantime. As well as saving up for the R10. I won't rule out the S2 as I have for a while been considering Hasselblad (as a system to replace the DMR if that was the last R from Leica). Now it would be S2 if I want to go higher than 24 MP. But actually low light and available light ability is big with me, why the R-system is more usable than the S2 range of lenses. And I actually think the R10 will be faster than the S2 (smaller mirror, smaller files, never technology, etc). Frankly, I've been considering Canon and Nikon also for speed and AF. But my conclusion was that I would rather change my work than quality (and soul) of my equipment. And I've realized that doing for example catwalks might be a lot of shooting (60 models in 20 minutes), but it's actually doable even with manual focusing. And I don't do sports or other fast moving objects, so I really don't need it. And when I think I do, I look at what the Nikon and Canon guys got of pictures, and I wonder why they have such a fast cameras - and why they always carry two of them ;-) But I might indulge in M8.2 as well, now that it's silent. Big issue that it's silent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overgaard Posted September 24, 2008 Share #9 Posted September 24, 2008 I'm the only one feeling like fondling my Leica's these days? It just feel much more sexy to own Leica these days... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telewatt Posted September 24, 2008 Share #10 Posted September 24, 2008 My last info is, the R10 comes the next year too.... ...I can wait with my DMR... regards, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R10dreamer Posted September 24, 2008 Share #11 Posted September 24, 2008 NOW is the time to win the lottery. :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnastovall Posted September 24, 2008 Share #12 Posted September 24, 2008 Dear flustrated R users, dump all those lenses now. I need to get some cheap R glass. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicar7 Posted September 24, 2008 Author Share #13 Posted September 24, 2008 Herr Kaufmann committed to the R10 two years ago at Photokina, and again at Rochester last year. We were given to understand that he had received the mockup, in a beautiful box, even, at Rochester, for what we were led to infer was the prospective R10. Now I have my doubts. It now becomes clear that the ideas that Steven Lee put out, generally in the form of questions, at the R meeting at Photokina 2008 were conflated into the S2, not the R. Fair enough. I say again, I hope everyone's DMRs last another two years. They weren't built by Honda or Toyota, for those who read Consumer Reports for autos. The point of having what would be an AF lens to mount on the R is just that, to have a new R lens, I don't care what, a 24/2, a new 35/1.4? Which ones would matter less than the fact of there being no lens updated now since the 28-90 lens. I'd be happier to wait for a new camera, having already one or two new lenses, already AF!! Yeah, for AF. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telewatt Posted September 24, 2008 Share #14 Posted September 24, 2008 NOW is the time to win the lottery. ..or to drink a bottle of fine wine... ..we have a nice party feeling here.... ..the R will come like lot of photographers dream was......faster and real R-lenses type.... regards, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telewatt Posted September 24, 2008 Share #15 Posted September 24, 2008 .. say again, I hope everyone's DMRs last another two years. ... one year is the timetable to do pictures with your new camera.... regards, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manolo Posted September 24, 2008 Share #16 Posted September 24, 2008 wait, enjoy DMR & M8, save & concentrate on getting better at the art. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyCoupe Posted September 24, 2008 Share #17 Posted September 24, 2008 This R user is delighted, if impatient. Yesterday, many of us had baskets full of R glass with a questionable future, me, from 19mm to 560mm with many examples in between, and today, we can be thankful there is an R commitment from Leica. I admit I will feel better when I hold an R10 in my hands, and put it back in my camera bag, but this is great news. There may be some new AF lenses that come along and are impossible to resist, but the bulk of my plans revolve around using some great R lenses and taking my time making what I hope are memorable images. What a relief! My R lenses, in which I rationalized far too great an investment are back in the game. I never could sign on for the DMR idea, too heavy, too bulky. The thought of using the 100mm APO-Macro again is really exciting. But for travel, a 24mm or the 50mm with some speed, in a body only w/o winder or motor drive, wow, that will be great again. Can you tell I am relieved/excited/ready for the R10! Sehr gut!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted September 24, 2008 Share #18 Posted September 24, 2008 I thought yesterday after the S2 was unveiled, that it was pricey - and while I would love to have one, I thought to myself - "I'll just wait for the R10". Think about that for a minute; we will soon have a multitude of CHOICES, (for years, and I do mean years) most of us have been waiting and waiting, and shooting images with our Leicas. Now we know that Leica is back with a creative vengance to match our years of frustration. I am extremely satisfied with that, and I have to mention and ask; did I not read that there may be not one R but two? Was that inferred by I believe, Maike ? (sp) I don't want to start any rumors, just curious if anyone else saw that somewhere. It's also very satisfying that we will probably be hearing about new S lenses, new R lenses, over the next 18 months. It's all good. Sit back have some wine, or as I did yesterday, 2 German hefe-weiss and said, 'Here's to Leica". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clw Posted September 24, 2008 Share #19 Posted September 24, 2008 I'm very satisfied, and now, especially since I know that Leica is committed to the R line, I'm going to be saving my pennies for the R10 as well. I'd love to buy into the S2, but it's very pricey. Still I am thrilled that it exists. (If I win the lottery, i'll take two S2 bodies as well as all of the lenses, please) My next Leica purchase may actually be a pair of binoculars. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicamr Posted September 24, 2008 Share #20 Posted September 24, 2008 I remain a very content R user. My vast R lens range remains in use with film and the DMR and I can't wait to use them on an R10. I am more than happy to wait for the R10. As I didn't spend my money on a second 'backup' DMR I will save the money and some more, to purchase an R10 and an autofocus optic or two. Well done Leica on the S2 and all the other lovely M products just launched. I wish you great success. How pleased I am that I didn't have a hissy fit and sell all my R kit just because a new firmware or lens update has not been released recently! If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Very happy snapping to all R and M users. Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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