Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/06/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]B.D., I read here or elsewhere that the LCD and perhaps some of the other parts on a DSLR don't have long expected half lives. If it would help Leica sell fancy M style bodies, offering a sensor upgrade every few years (for $$$, of course) might be kind of a cool marketing gimmik. Scott B. D. Colen wrote: >First, Doug, there is no way any manufacturer is going to give you a sensor >upgrade. Period. Firmware - sure; I'm now on firmware version 4 for my >Olympus DSLR. But more important, if the first iteration gives you image >quality you're happy with, what's to upgrade. I don't know about you, but >when I was shooting film regularly - and even now when I shoot an occasional >roll - I was/am shooting Tri-X - at 800 asa. It's essentially the same film >I was shooting in 1960. Where's my "sensor upgrade?" How many people on this >list are shooting screw mount Leicas with lenses from the 40s and 50s - and >talking about the 'glow?' The only thing - and this point - that makes the >sensor "obsolete" within a year or two is the same thing that makes any >other good product "obsolete" - marketing crap. :-) > > >On 6/8/05 5:07 PM, "Douglas Sharp" <douglas.sharp@gmx.de> wrote: > > > >>I'm in for a Digital-M only if there is a warranty saying I can get a >>sensor and software update every 2 years. If the bodywork and VF/RF last >>for generations then where's the sense of putting in a sensor system >>that is obsolete within a year or two. >>Douglas >> >>B. D. Colen wrote: >> >> >>>No, if you really want the company to survive, the thing to hope for is >>>the >>>end of the M film line and the beginning of the digital M line. Because if >>>they build it - and it is excellent, and it doesn't cost more than current >>>high-end DSLR bodies - people will definitely buy it. Photojournalists >>>will >>>once again be using Leicas. Rich people will buy them. Not so rich people >>>will even buy them. Such a camera might just keep Leica afloat for a >>>while. >>> >>> >>>On 6/8/05 4:09 PM, "Gene E. McCluney" <mccluney@sbcglobal.net> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>>>Good points, B.D.! One thing that makes me doubt any imminet "end >>>>>of the M" is that I seem to recall hearing somewhere---was it here >>>>>on the LUG?---that it's the R series equipment that was heavily into >>>>>the red ink, and that the M series was doing rather better. But >>>>>please correct me if that recollection were mistaken. >>>>> >>>>>Art Peterson >>>>> >>>>> >>>>It is really of no importance whether the "R" line is currently in >>>>the red, or at least "redder" than the "M" line. What is relevant is >>>>rationalizing production costs in reference to a predominantly >>>>Digital product output. It makes much more sense to "spin off" a new >>>>film "M" mount camera from whatever technology has to be in place to >>>>make the Digital "M" mount camera. I doubt Leica could sustain >>>>multiple product lines making essentially incompatible parts cameras. >>>>They will have to have a design that will work for both digital and >>>>film with little difference in core parts (except for the digital >>>>bits), in order to continue making film cameras as production items. >>>> >>>>It is old news that the Digital "M" would have to have a metal >>>>vertical running shutter, similar to the "R" cameras due to the >>>>requirements of the imager chip. Who knows, maybe the shutter will >>>>be outsourced from Copal even. I assume Leica will adhere to the >>>>good tactile and sensory perception of their products and in the end >>>>the products will be perceived as top of the line. >>>> >>>>Gene McCluney >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>>-----Original Message----- >>>>>From: lug-bounces+arthur.peterson=navy.mil@leica-users.org >>>>>[mailto:lug-bounces+arthur.peterson=navy.mil@leica-users.org]On Behalf >>>>>Of B. D. Colen >>>>>Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 15:12 >>>>>To: Leica Users Group >>>>>Subject: Re: [Leica] The End of The "M" >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>Uh, "cheesy Newsweek hoax?" Isn't it odd that while the world has been >>>>>trashing Newsweek for its "cheesy hoax," verified report after verified >>>>>report of Koran desecration has come out - including from the Pentagon? >>>>>Yet >>>>>people speak of the "cheesy Newsweek hoax." Seems to me Newsweek got the >>>>>essential story right, and first; they were simply off on some of what >>>>>are >>>>>essentially meaningless details. So if you really care one way or >>>>>another >>>>>about whether Ms are made in the future, I'd hope this is more like the >>>>>weapons of mass destruction hoax (did I say that?! :-)) than the >>>>>"Newsweek >>>>>hoax." >>>>> >>>>>Now, as to it being a troll, a hoax, etc....Who knows. But at this >>>>>point it >>>>>would hardly be shocking - nor would it matter much, given that there >>>>>are >>>>>enough M cameras out there to supply all those who want them unto the >>>>>second >>>>>and third generations. The only people to whom the "death of the M" will >>>>>really matter are those who work making them - the rest of those who >>>>>care >>>>>about Ms will have them as long as they want them. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>On 6/8/05 1:05 PM, "mcyclwritr@comcast.net" <mcyclwritr@comcast.net> >>>>>wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>>Shades of Deep Throat? Perhaps he/she will be known as Wide Aperature. >>>>>> >>>>>>On the other hand, it might be another cheesy Newsweek hoax: >>>>>>"Adherents to sacred Leica M riot over flushing of M-series." >>>>>> >>>>>>-Chris Lawson >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>Ted writes: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>>Aaaaaahhhhhh the anonymous shadowy figure in the darkend under ground >>>>>>>parking lot whispers anonymously....... "The M end is near!" >>>>>>> >>>>>>>And the faithful fall upon their knees crying, whailing with great >>>>>>>gnashing >>>>>>>of teeth pleading the end not cometh! The sky fills with blackening >>>>>>>clouds >>>>>>>and flashing Leica lightening!!!!!! Red dots rain from the heavens >>>>>>>for 30 >>>>>>>days and 30 nights, all to avail. The end cometh sayeth the anonymous >>>>>>>shadowy figure! ;-) >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>>Leonard J Kapner offered: >>>>>>>Subject: [Leica] The End of The "M" >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>>Just to get our juices flowing this morning, here's a message that >>>>>>>>appeared In the photo.net Leica discussion group this morning from >>>>>>>>Kipling >>>>>>>>Phillips: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>I just talked to the manager of a large camera distributor here in >>>>>>>>Germany >>>>>>>>and he told me that he's received information that the "M" camera >>>>>>>>line >>>>>>>>is >>>>>>>>to be discontinued.I can't give any names.<<< >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>Aaaaaahhhhhh the anonymous shadowy figure in the darkend under ground >>>>>>>parking lot whispers anonymously....... "The M end is near!" >>>>>>> >>>>>>>And the faithful fall upon their knees crying, whailing with great >>>>>>>gnashing >>>>>>>of teeth pleading the end not cometh! The sky fills with blackening >>>>>>>clouds >>>>>>>and flashing Leica lightening!!!!!! Red dots rain from the heavens >>>>>>>for 30 >>>>>>>days and 30 nights, all to avail. The end cometh sayeth the anonymous >>>>>>>shadowy figure! ;-) >>>>>>> >>>>>>>WOW! What a great rumour to start mid-week, heck we should get a >>>>>>>couple >>>>>>>of >>>>>>>weeks worth of exciting horse hockey rumour filled key pounding out of >>>>>>>this >>>>>>>one! ;-) >>>>>>> >>>>>>>And the price on my M7's just went up a grand! ;-) Keep the rumours >>>>>>>going! >>>>>>>;-) >>>>>>> >>>>>>>ted >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>>>>Leica Users Group. >>>>>>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>>>Leica Users Group. >>>>>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>>Leica Users Group. >>>>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>>Leica Users Group. >>>>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>>> >>>>> >>>>_______________________________________________ >>>>Leica Users Group. >>>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>Leica Users Group. >>>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >>> >>> >>> >>_______________________________________________ >>Leica Users Group. >>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> > > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > >