9 Sept - G1 based camera for M and R lenses?

[Guest BigSplash]

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I like many on the forum am intrigued what we shall see on 9/9/9 and I have given thought to what I would like to see and what may come after reading the various threads.

Reading the various threads :

1 It occurs to me that a M9 FF with 18MP sensor, better ISO range (and hopefully an electric shutter release) is what is likely to be announced on 9 Sept. I take that by now as almost a given. Personally unless the picture quality is so much better than M8 (due to a larger sensor with a significantly higher pixel count and the probable usage of S2 Fujitsu graphics chips ) I am not sure I shall rush out and buy a M9 at £5000 or whatever. I cannot see what it will really add to my photographic capabilities.

 

It is also the case that "other products" are to be announced on 9 Sept.

Furthermore the expectation remains for a Leica product that addresses macro, telephoto and helps those with legacy "R" lenses ...that is what was eluded to at the recent Solms meeting.

 

Could that mean:

2 A G1 based camera body supporting LiveView, EVF and Autofocus...but using M9 sensor and S2 graphics chips with a mount (possibly with adapters) for Leica "M" and "R" lenses (plus ideally Viso Telyt lenses) such that they can be used without a heavy crop factor.

 

3 Some new Leica lenses for the above unit that opens the door to Macro photography and a general purpose Leica zoom

 

4 A super Wide angle M lens (15mm and fisheye)

 

Personally I would be very interested in "2" as a compliment to my M8 and I guess many other people would also if it is technically feasible. Comments?

 

It would provide a backup camera to the M8 and alllow M users to enter macro and telephoto world, plus allow "R" users a digital option.

 

Many people have derided my desire for a Visoflex in the past, while others have supported the need for such a device. That said the above unit would kill any need for a Visoflex and allow access for the Leica affectionado to go into the world of macro and telephoto that is not available "new" today for a Leica user. It sure would be an opportunity to also buy up old "M" and "R" lenses and put them to great usage.

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[luigi bertolotti]

Yes, agree, many can be interested into such a thing: but I think that is an almost impossible engineering task to design a "G1 based" body which accomodates M9 (FF, supposed) sensor, or even the M8 18x27 sensor: I mean , G1 (so as the today-announced GF1) is strictly built around the Micro4/3 sensor... probably with parts/subassemblies that are in "co-design" with Olympus... with top miniaturization as one of the main goals (Micro 4/3 can survive if market will perceive something like "APS quality in P&S size"): so, I think that a "Leica - G1 based" but with another bigger sensor can't be part of the 9/9/9 announcement: if an "entry level Leica" will be on the show, it could be a Micro4/3 with M mount (uneven, but someone has speculated that Herr Daniel said that "Leica will not MAKE m4/3....", not "will not SELL....") or a 18x27 "small" DRF camera.

[holmes]

Backup or solo? In my Leica bag I have an M7 0.72 with the M 50 f 2.5. As for the "R's I have a R6.2 with a M 75 f 1.4, R 90 f 2, R 180 f 4, a 250 f 4 (late). I can reduce weight by eliminating all the "R"s and taking my R 105-280 f 4.2 ( with ROM contacts) and a tripod. Then I can add my M 28 f 2 asph along side the M 50 f 2.5 Having done quite a bit of shooting that new M 50 f 2.5, I'm impressed. Or I could substitute for my M 35 f 2 asph or even wider, my 28 f 2 asph. I've tried to balance both of my M and R systems for maximum versatility to cover the widest areas I'm interested. No interest in an M f15 or f19. I have that covered with my EOS system and a F 16-21. For macro, I finally found a right angle finder for my 'R's. Again I have a virtual macro system in my EOS system from all three Canon macro lenses, one ring flash and Canon's separate twin flash unit. For most of my EOS shooting I use EOS 3, EOS 1N RT or an old RT.

[adan]

1 It occurs to me that a M9 FF.... I am not sure I shall rush out and buy a M9 at £5000 or whatever. I cannot see what it will really add to my photographic capabilities.

 

For me, it turns my $1000 21 f/2.8 back into a real 21 f/2.8 - that's worth $3000 right there, since the alternative is the Zeiss 15 f/2.8 @ $4000 on an M8. But that's personal...

 

It is also the case that "other products" are to be announced on 9 Sept. - agreed

 

Furthermore the expectation remains for a Leica product that addresses macro, telephoto and helps those with legacy "R" lenses ...that is what was eluded to at the recent Solms meeting. Well S. Daniels also said it would not be soon - but Leica has backtracked on many things (R10?, permanent upgrade roadmap?)

 

Could that mean:

2 A G1 based camera body..... Based on similar technology, yes, at some point. Based directly on a G-1 - no, not big enough for FF + the require electronics.

 

4 A super Wide angle M lens (15mm and fisheye) - Mmm, Daniels said the line of M lenses was "complete" as of the intro of the 18mm, except maybe for a 35 f/1.4 update - FWIW. Fisheyes are SO 1975!

 

I am intrigued by the idea of Panasonic putting out a larger-sensor camera based on GH-1 technology (video, plus big, sharp EVF, plus constant angle of view in different aspect ratios (a 24, e.g. shows the same diagonal coverage in 3:4, 2:3 and 16:9)) - with a whole range of adapters for all the orphaned 35mm SLR lenses systems: Leica R, Canon FD, Pentax SM, Minolta MC/MD, - heck, why not Topcon?

 

M lenses have specific sensor requirements that SLR lenses don't, so getting a sensor that can handle both (especially full-frame) is going to be yet another challenge. Offset microlenses are a fine fix for wides, but eventually the offset is going to start causing vignetting with telephotos - for the same reasons Nikon had to make "tele" and "wide" versions of their full-microprism and clear-spot G and H screens.

[Mahogany]

The 2nd big announcement (and Leica's 4/3s solution) will be the X1, which looks to be a rebadged GF1.

 

Source is here: http://leicarumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/leica_M9_leica_x1.jpg

[Andrew V]

The 2nd big announcement (and Leica's 4/3s solution) will be the X1, which looks to be a rebadged GF1.

 

Source is here: http://leicarumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/leica_M9_leica_x1.jpg

 

As the leak indicates the X1 will be an APS-C sensor. NOT A 4/3 SENSOR. I think It's ugly and I think that it's fixed 24mm lens is a missed opportunity. I'd rather have the E-P1 or the even uglier GF1. Can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeves though. Also curious about price. I could be in the market for a solid $1000 pocket digi.

[dkCambridgeshire]

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Panasonic have just announced two new Micro4/3 lenses including a Leica made 45mm f2.8 apo-macro ... British Journal of Photography - Panasonic adds two new lenses to Micro Four Thirds system ... http://photo.net/equipment/panasonic/micro-four-thirds/20mm-and-45mm-lenses/preview/ ... http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09090202panasonic45mmmacro.asp ... which might hint at a new Leica micro four thirds camera?

 

Cheers

 

dunk

[adan]

It hints that the 45 Macro meets Leica's standards in terms of not needing post-exposure correction for optical weaknesses. That is the determinant for whether a lens gets the "Leica" or "Lumix" designation on a Panasonic.

 

Panasonic has marketed 20+ different video cameras with "Leica"-designated lenses - but that has never "hinted" at a Leica video camera in the works.

 

Having said that - it is altogether possible that there will be a Leica micro-4/3rds camera, despite their previous statement that they were not interested in 4/3rds.

 

And perhaps even a video camera (as opposed to still cameras that sorta-kinda shoot video). Leica did register "Leica-cine" earlier this year as a trademark.

 

Perhaps in one body - hopefully based on the GH-1, not the silly little GF.

 

The X1 leak lists a 24mm lens as "35mm" equivalent - which means a 1.5x crop (APS-C), not a 2x crop (4/3rds). So that product will have had to have morphed significantly to be a rebadged GF-1.

[SteveYork]

If Leica is introducing an R solution on 9/9, then they're really stupid for not pre-announcing something. Strong words, but so many R users (i.e., potential customers) have already jumped ship since the R line was discontinued in the spring.

[offshore]

I spoke to Camera West yesterday and was told Leica would be introducing a camera on 09/09/2009. I asked the Leica specialist there if he meant one camera only and he confirmed that it would be one camera and they were not told what it would be. I sent a picture of the X1 that has appeared here and on other sites to a friend of mine who is also a Leica rep and told him that if this was the camera to be introduced I would drive to see it and possibly buy it. He wrote back to tell me that I shouldn't bother with the drive.

[adan]

Glad everyone is up-to-date.

 

new Leica M-system brochure leaked - tops with M9 full-frame body, no mention of R system in any form, X1 is included briefly on summary page with Dlux/Clux/S2.

 

X1 is real but not yet available - thus no point in making a long drive to see it 9/9 - Next month, yes.

 

When it comes to the R system - d-e-a-d is only a one-syllable word. It can't really be that hard to comprehend.

[storybrown]

I comprehend it well enough, I just can't decide if I want an $8000 M9 for street shooting or a $10000 white M8. These are so "alive" in this day & age.