Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/02

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica marketing
From: "Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@istar.ca>
Date: Wed, 02 Dec 1998 21:33:17 -0400

At 11:34 PM 12/2/98 +0100, Nathan Wajsman
 wrote:
>4) The need for an autofocus R (of course with backward lens
compatibility) has
>been stated here many times.
>

I think what a lot of people have been missing in this "make an Autofocus
thread" is that Leica can make an Auto focus camera and maintain
compatibility with previous lenses.  Pentax and Nikon have done it.  Leica
would of course have to create a line of autofocus lenses to go with the
new camera, but these would still share the Leica mount.  

A new autofocus line of lenses may also allow Leica to make the motor
drives a little quicker because they can use elctrically actuated diaphrams
rather than mechanical.  The R8 may have the function already built in to
actuate such an aperture and mount such a lens but use manual focus.  We
could see an R9 with six or seven frames per second drive and autofocus.
Match this with  Leica's first rate prime lenses and Ted Grant may no
longer be the only pro at the Olympic Games using a Leica.

Regards,

Robert Stevens