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So Where Are We, R Users?


leicar7

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Mark: I reluctantly admit that I share your expression of dispair regarding the R. We were promised for quite some time that we would see an R development by this Photokina. It is not happening (again). We are now told to hold out another two years. What will happen by then?

I also fail to see the attraction of the new S2. Those that want ultimate quality (in that price range) have already gone the way of high-end MF such as Hasselblad, Rollei etc. Those that have enough with 35mm have already invested in their systems. Why then would anyone make the switch into yet another very expensive "in-between" system? Frankly, I do not see much of a market, at least not one which will be sustainable enough. I hope I am wrong but only time will tell.

 

Meanwhile, I keep on happy snapping with my film-based R9, which has given me no reason to complain. To that I have added a Hasselblad H system, and a Rolleiflex 6008 AF with digital back :-)

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Where we are is 4 years (if you take the 2010 date for the R10) without Leica producing a DSLR. 4 years??? That strikes me as crazy. And I seriously doubt that Leica will produce the R10 on that time table. To my knowledge, in the last 20 years, Leica has not delivered one "future" camera on time. We will see about the S2.

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I met Andreas Kaufmann at the Goodwood Revival motor sport meeting last Friday and Saturday. We had a couple of chats as he spotted me with my DMR and 280/4 APO. He told me that the R10 is definitely coming and will be announced next year. Apparently the R10 was delayed by a previous person at Solms.

 

Charlie

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I met Andreas Kaufmann at the Goodwood Revival motor sport meeting last Friday and Saturday. We had a couple of chats as he spotted me with my DMR and 280/4 APO. He told me that the R10 is definitely coming and will be announced next year. Apparently the R10 was delayed by a previous person at Solms.

 

Charlie

 

Is announcing the same as arriving?

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Interesting the range of responses.

 

It would appear now that the only reason for Leica to follow through on the all the verbal "commitments" these last two years to the R line might be to keep their R user community on board - or win them back if they have already defected - and to maintain their reputation in the 35mm reflex field. There doesn't seem to be a compelling business reason in all this. Anything R camera they produce would just be "another one." And there is now way around that.

 

So what Leica has created is the potential opportunity for their version of an "EOS moment." What will we call this moment, if it comes to pass?

 

That's why I'd be much happier if they had shown a new R lens or two at this Photokina. Something to wet our whistles while we CONTINUE to wait for a 35mm DSLR.

 

Sorry, it's the Navy in me. "I'll believe it when I see it." Words are words, especially since we've heard the same ones now for over two years with no result.

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Sorry, it's the Navy in me. "I'll believe it when I see it." Words are words, especially since we've heard the same ones now for over two years with no result.

 

Yes, but I think you're overlooking one of the major themes emerging from photokina: Herr Kaufmann's Leica is a different Leica. No more broken promises, no more missed deadlines, no more rushed products and shoddy quality control, no more lack of digital expertise in-house. He's even buidling a new factory and corporate HQ. From what we hear from good sources (David Farkas for one), there really seems to be new energy, confidence, and optimism amongst the Leica staff. Kaufmann wants us to beleive that he's truly reinventing Leica, and I for one am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. I like what I've seen so far.

 

Jeff.

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To say that Leica has introduced the S2 is not quite correct: they have announced their intent, but all you can see at photokina is a mockup in a glass case and Kaufmann talking about it to Wim Wenders, of all people. LFI reports that the shutter hasn't even been developed yet.... Announcing the leading edge technology of the S2 at least half a year before production starts (what if it takes longer?) does not look that much wiser to me.

 

Working prototypes were being demonstrated. September 23rd entry of this blog has plenty of details:

 

David Farkas Photography Blog

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If the DMR isn't for you, buy a Canon now, use your R glass on it, by the time the R10 launches you'd be wanting to upgrade the by then outdated Canon anyway.

 

I'm sorry to say this, but that's what I will be doing. With an R10 at least 12 months away I will now buy another FF DSLR. The 5DMkII will do for me. Not sure it is PC to say this, but I'm looking forward to trying its HD movie mode. With R glass mounted that might be some great fun.

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It might be smart if a 1Ds is what you are looking for. :D

 

The point here is that if you are looking for an R10 you'll be looking for another 18 months.

 

Some people here, myself included, are disappointed by another year passing without a successor to the aging DMR.

 

In fact, I would even consider getting the S2 but if you are invested in R lenses then what route does that offer you? You can either get a new set of lenses or (presumably, I think there was talk of an adapter) use your R lenses. That however would make no sense as it leaves some 30% of the sensor blind.

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Use you R lenses on a Canon 5D until the R10 is out.

 

I just wish that would work for my 28-90 and 19mm.

 

I think the risk is that people try out other lenses (like myself the Nikon 24-70 and the 14-24 and the 24TCE, the 105DC and the 200/2.0VR) and find out that other companies also produce very fine lenses and while waiting for the R10 might not feel the need for a R10 any more because one is happy with Nikon and/or Canon.

Life is too short to wait 2 years for something we dont even know yet how good it will work.

Therefore I have sold 80% of my R-lenses and replaced them with a Nikon system.

Announcing a S-system now for summer 2009 reminds me when they announced the DMR and it took forever until is was ready for the market.

Cheers, Tom

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