[Leica] Re: Leica AF camera

[Akhil Lal <alal@bcc.cuny.edu>]

Interesting, but a standard response.

Rumours of a family of M cameras have been floating
about for quite a while. I was unable to get get further
details, though. I do hope they come out with an M 6 TTL
variant having a true zoom finder: 15-180 mm would be
ideal, but I'd settle for 21-135 mm. Without heavy use
of electronics, I don't see how they can make an AE
body.

As for the other points, I can only summarize what I was
told in October:

It was explicitly stated that an AF system was no longer
being developed because of patent issues, resources and
a desire to avoid competing head on against Canon &
others. Perhaps a Contax style electronic AF indicator
in an R - body is in the works ?

Leica lenses for other camera systems were not feasible
as they would take away production capacity needed for
Leica mount lenses.  

Leica *were* involved with Konica - I don't know to what
extent - before the Hexar was released but decided, at
least for now, against a Hexar based body. Perhaps a
list member with "inside" sources could shed further
light on this matter ? Tom A., Stephen G. if you are
reading this would you please ask your Japanese sources
? 

R-8 price reductions may be an effort to boost sales
which are, by all accounts, slow. I seem to recall a
discussion on this list where Leica claimed to have
spent tens of millions of dollars in developing the R-8
body. It appears that the return on that investment has
been below expectations.

It *is* possible that between the Photo Expo in October
and now, Leica's management have reconsidered and
decided to move ahead with the AF project after all, but
I doubt it. I'd be pleasantly surprised - no stunned -
to learn of an AF system at the next Photokina. 

Regards,
Akhil Lal
alal@bcc.cuny.edu  


leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us wrote:
> 
> Wow!  Only 26 messages this AM, you guys must be taking photographs.
> 
> Anyway, for the 8 or so who actually read my post I have some interesting
> news.
> 
> I received a letter from Leica (Solms) in response to correspondence that I
> had written.
> This discussed the possibility of Leica manufacturing AF lenses for Canon,
> Nikon, et al.
> Leica Product Management stated that they are checking costs and quantities
> for such a project.
> Hope this is not just rhetoric.  They did mention they are also looking to
> build up AF SLR technology.  I speculate that this may be indication of a
> forthcoming R9AF and perhaps the reason for the price reductions on the R8.
> 
> They also discussed the M system in the letter.  They indicated that the M
> system needs to be enlarged but feel too much electronics in an M type
> camera will take away from it.
> Their intent is to build up the product family with several different bodies
> (M-type) to reach a bigger audience.  [Speculation: perhaps a re-badged
> Konica?! ;-) ]
> 
> Just thought this would be of interest.  I for one would jump at a chance to
> have a Leica quality AF lens for my Canon.
> 
> Peter K