Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Just for encouragement for your worthy campaign, Doug. These excerpts from an interview with Dr Kaufmann, Stefan Trippe and Stephan Schulz in LFI January this year. Worth a re-read in the light of the information that emerged from Stefan Daniel's address to the L Camera Forum dinner. No analysis from me, Im just sayin' ;-) Trippe: We have to budget our development funds and resources and pinpoint the most important solutions for Leica and its customers. Everything is urgent, but what is particularly relevant to the here and now? LiveView for example. Today, everyone is asking for it. LiveView can certainly be achieved with CCD sensors but actually works a little smoother with CMOS technology. For the Leica S2, however we consciously opted for CCD as it is here that we have established partners capable of helping us forge high-quality components for highest image quality. LFI: How important are the strategic implications of the R successor? To date, the Leica M has generally been the more successful product. Kaufmann: Oh, there were times when it was the other way around - but autofocus should have been included as far back as the Leica R8. There were many reasons why this didn't happen; and you know what? Its water under the bridge. Today, the DSLR sector is the strongest market for photography, and autofocus is nothing short of mandatory. And it doesn't really matter whether we agree or not. So we, too, will shortly be supplying customers with a very interesting product, and this will be good for Leica in the long-run. A little later in the article. LFI: Just to be clear: the development of an heir to the R will not lead to the redundancy of the digital M? Kaufmann: On the contrary. The M system has yet a lot to offer and we're bound to see it evolve. There will probably always be the classic Leica M, just like there will always be millions of classic Leica M lenses circulating in the world of photography. However, we're also thinking about what else we can do with elements of the Leica M, particularly its bayonet. The possibilities become endless. What would happen if we were to reinvent the viewfinder, moving beyond just optical? What if an automatic lens recognition mode were capable of always displaying the corresponding frame? Suddenly we're thinking zoom lenses. And what would happen if a camera were compatible with both M and R lenses? You see, these are dreams of the future. You know how it is when you're brainstorming. The imagination goes wild. Completely unrelated to that article. yesterday I got a copy of LFI that starts with a report on the announcement of a brand new M camera. I quote in part. Change is not always painless and the new must have its birth pangs. It is not therefore surprising that there were some overtones of criticism in the general paean of praise. Many, for instance, regret the halt that must now be called to the valued possibilities of converting earlier models into the latest - the break with traditional design so constant a feature of the Leica these many years. Those who would rather stick to the old, to the "classic" Leica, need have no qualms about the decision. There is no dis-advantage in so doing because earlier Leicas have lost nothing of their prestige or practical worth through these new developments. But life is a process of change and progress -at least in industry. This should not be forgotten however much one might deplore changes even for the better, in old and trusted things which have found a nook in our hearts. Photokina 1954 has shewn and the Future will confirm that the new Leica M3 has survived its baptism of fire! 2009/7/14 wildlightphoto at earthlink.net wildlightphoto at earthlink.net > > I had a couple of weeks @ home recovering from hernia surgery to do a > little brainstorming, and came up with a vision for a Leica-R digital > solution (all speculation, except for Leica's statements on this subject): > > Suppose Panasonic is developing a Mega 4/3 EVF camera, i.e., a full-frame > EVIL camera than can use adapters to fit SLR lenses? Since there is no > mirror the body could be thin enough to fit a huge variety of adapters: > Leica-R, Nikon (all varieties), Olympus OM, EOS, Sony, Minolta (MF and AF), > Konica AR, Canon FD, Pentax, Contax (N and RTS)... suppose further that > the adapters convert the camera's electronic signals to mechanical action > to operate apertures & screwdriver AF, and convert electronic AF and > aperture signals as needed to the lens-specific protocol. Would this > interest anyone? Imagine the sales volume (and pricing) vs. a body > dedicated to Leica-R lenses. Perhaps this is the real reason the R10 was > cancelled? > > Doug Herr > Birdman of Sacramento > http://www.wildlightphoto.com > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > mail2web.com ? Enhanced email for the mobile individual based on > Microsoft? > Exchange - http://link.mail2web.com/Personal/EnhancedEmail > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Cheers Geoff Alles was eine gute Kamera braucht / Everything a good camera needs: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/gh/ http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman