Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]According to Geoff's report from visiting Leica people in Europe Leica is pulling back from 4/3's. But can't pull back from making a 4/3's body it doesn't already make or even badge; But it can I guess pull back from the IDEA of coming out with one. The question to me seems to be will it pull back from making 4/3's glass and I'd think not. It would certainly continue to do that whatever that might really mean. It says Leica on all kinds of glass the minute you walk into a BEST BUY right next to the Joseph Schneider Kreuznach and Carl Phillip Emanuel Zeiss. I have a very nice high end label maker and I'm going to try putting German names with lots of syllables on my household material objects and see if can't feel more fulfilled. Leica is a cutting edge modern camera glass company who has never been afraid of most of the high tech stuff going one in glass design I'd not put it past them at all to start incorporating a software aspect to their glass design to keep them competitive in the 4/3 and other format digital glass world. It would be like saying no to coatings or multi coatings or computer design. If its par for the course Leica is going to stay in the game. They're probably doing it as we speak. Mark William Rabiner > From: Richard Taylor <r.s.taylor at comcast.net> > Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:34:46 -0400 > To: Leica Users Group <lug at leica-users.org> > Subject: Re: [Leica] 4/3's lens firmware updates > > Geoff - From an engineering standpoint the question is simply where > are the corrections best done to optimize image quality, minimize > volume and weight, and minimize cost. It's surely possible, and I'm > sure someone has already done this, to identify by analysis and test > whether a particular aberration is best corrected in the firmware or > in the optics. If say, barrel distortion is best and most efficiently > done in firmware than optically, there is simply no longer any reason > to do it optically anymore than there is a reason to make a mechanical > watch anymore. (Other than for maintaining tradition or for aesthetic > reasons, of course.) > > From what I've seen and read about the new micro-4/3rds lenses, they > simply are going to be *very* good. Leica, unless it adapts, may find > itself in the same position that Rolex, Omega and the other mechanical > watchmakers are in now. They turn out a technically inferior product > at great expense for a very limited audience. Electronics wins the > accuracy race hands down. > > Thanks for the link. I'v downloaded the new standard and will take a > look at it shortly. > > Regards, > > Dick > > > > On Jul 21, 2009, at 5:27 PM, Geoff Hopkinson wrote: > >> Dick, as you noted there, the big companies are compensating for >> optical >> manufacture and design limitations with smarter and smarter >> firmware. Leica >> has said that they prefer to engineer the lenses as well as >> possible rather >> than correct errors later. Naturally that is simplistic and there are >> interdependent priorities and philosophies there. In principle I >> think that >> many Leica enthusiasts prefer the second approach. >> >> One recent development that I found interesting is the release of >> the new >> DNG 1.3.0.0 standard. As I understand it, some firmware operations, >> such as >> lens corrections will be moved to the converter. This potentially has >> significance for Leica firmware and future products. Well worth >> pursuing on >> the Adobe sites if you are interested. >> http://www.adobe.com/products/dng/pdfs/dng_spec_1_3_0_0.pdf >> >> 2009/7/22 Richard Taylor <r.s.taylor at comcast.net> >> >>> Mark - I think this design approach is going to lead to a whole new >>> generation of light, small and highly capable lenses. The day may >>> come when >>> the highly corrected optics we so prize today will become >>> anachronistic, >>> like a mechanical watch. Will the fine Leica lens go the way of a >>> Rolex? >>> >>> I'd really like to read about the comparative advantages and >>> disadvantages >>> of firmware vs. optical correction of lens aberrations. Geometric >>> distortion and lateral chromatic aberration are the two I've heard >>> they can >>> do now. I wonder what else is possible. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Dick >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jul 21, 2009, at 2:37 PM, Mark Rabiner wrote: >>> >>> I found this interesting as I wiki'd 4/3's to get the skinny on who >>> it was >>>> more than what it was. >>>> >>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Thirds_System >>>> >>>> The first thing they tell you is that the glass for the system is so >>>> "computerized" that there are firmware upgrades for them. >>>> New news for me I find it fascinating. >>>> >>>> >>>> Mark William Rabiner >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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