Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/10/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Jim, I have followed your writings regarding digital sensors, problems in storage, etc., in fact I have saved some of your posts on the subject. However, I was under the impression that the only problem in using "film lenses" was the divergent pattern of light transmission (from the nodal point) rendering the outer edges of the image unsharp since light rays have to strike the sensor in a perpendicular pattern. Supposedly Contax is working on a digital camera with a 24x36 sensor. The introduction is behind schedule by some months. The camera supposedly would use the current Contax N1 autofocus and 645 lenses . Given that Contax seems to be committed to this project, how can they reconcile the use of non digital lenses? Can you offer more details on this problem? Thanks, Joe Codispoti From: "Jim Brick" <jim@brick.org> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>; <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> > Digital cameras are digital cameras, a completely different animal from > film cameras. High resolution lenses, such as recent Leica M lenses, cannot > be used successfully with a digital sensor. These lenses were designed for > film. A digital camera is s-t-u-f-f-e-d full of electronics. Don't look for > an M look alike to contain all of this. > > As seen recently, Leica is partnering with a Japanese electronics company > to produce digital cameras with "Leica/Japanese" lenses. These digital > cameras will look like digital cameras. Digital features convenient for > digital operation. > > The Japanese digital camera companies have decades invested in digital > electronics. > > Leica has decades invested in film cameras. > > Leica would not be so foolish as to decide to design and build a consumer > digital camera built on a film camera foundation. This is way out of their > league and completely impractical. > > You will be able to buy Leica brand digital cameras. The lenses will be > computed for use with a digital sensor. Basically dumbed down lenses. > Necessary because the frequency cutoff of a digital sensor is much lower > than film. To use a high res modern Leica lens on a digital sensor, one > would need a resolution cutoff filter (these are built-in to the > Nikon/Canon/Kodak/etc. cameras that use off the shelf 35/MF lenses.) > > So, don't hold your breath for a consumer digital camera that will use your > M or R lenses. > > Jim - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html