[Leica] Digital progress

[imx <imxputs@knoware.nl>]

Recently Duane reflected on the possibilities and the added value of a full
digital capture/processing chain for photographers. This supports my
position that WHEN (and only in this case) the photographic result (slide,
negative) is only intended for use in printing (magazine or book or
Internet), then it makes sense to go the full digital route. After all, the
imaging chain is as strong as the weakest link. Furthermore if more than 75%
of the production chain is digital (scanning, manipulating, prepress
preparation and printing), why not add that one component at the begining,
the capture/recording device.
Now that Kodak has 16.8 Mb CCD's and other firms are far evolved in their
CMOS equivalent (also 16.8 Mb), we have 4x4cm chips that could be placed in
any SLR back. Conventional estimates say that a 35mm negative has about 20Mb
and that is so close to the chip capacity as to be neglected.
The Economist, in a recent article, noted that film should be dead as soon
as these chips can be mass produced for reasonable prices and manufacturers
accept these chips as standard and start making bodies and lenses for this
standard. A new format could be born.
Does this progress really spell the death for film? I do not think so. I
have long advocated the position that for professional photography
(photojouralists, illustration, fashion, that is all photography that ends
on a printed page) there is only one way: the full digital route.
But for many other types of photography and photographer the full chemical
and/or the hybrid way are very interesting and viable ways of producing
images. 
It is up to every individual to fill in the numbers in the equation that
encompasses economy, end result, satisfaction, need etc.
I was recently in a magazine for tools for painting. I was amazed at the
enormous variety of products in paper, paint, canvas, etc is still available
with fresh products coming out all the time. Here we see a vigorous industry
in a supposedly dead end of the imaging craft.
B&W film and slide film now capture each a mere 5% of the market, with B&W
going up slowly and slide going down slowly. So if the mass market for
photography which is colourneg anyway would shrink by 60%, it would not
effect the already niche markets for BW and slide.
People who argue that Leica should develop ASAP a digital back, presumably
with this 16.8 Mb CCD or CMOS, miss the point that Leica is a most minor
player in the professional market and Leica becoming digital would not
convince many professionals to go for Leica. (even with a digital back it
would still not provide AF: presumed to be the Achilles heel of the Leica
for pro-people).
Leica is married to 35mm emulsion for a long time to come and that is fine
and has room for improvement.
Kodak noted in an interview with the develoer of the CCD chip that they are
not afraid to sell the chip to others as the true knowledge is not the chip,
but the software for image manipulation and the algorithms for capuring and
compressing and correcting the raw ccd sensor output. That is probably true
and should be remembered when discussing Leica and digital.
Buying the chip is easy, access to this knowledge of algorithms is not and
to be honest Leica has zero experience here. So Leica would buy the
algorithms from any supplier and then what is left of Leica knowledge in
such a camera? The quality of the lens is in such a situation defined by the
software algorithms which is beyond Leicas ability to change or adapt.
Interesting dilemmas!

Erwin