Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/04/01

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Subject: [Leica] Thoughts on the M8 for real ?????
From: Henry Ting <henryting10@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Apr 2002 14:11:57 -0800 (PST)

As far as Leica is concerned, due to the demand of a
digital M8 that can use all the existing lens of our
current M, no doubt is tempting for Leica to pursue,
both in riding on the success of the M and the
Leicaphiles' desire to get into digital. However, to
get into the digital arena, Leica will have to rely on
non-German OEM to supply the electronic bodies. This
is no small task. For any OEM to revamp what Leica
wants from R&D to signing off the product design it
has to commit to a long-term relationship which
guarantees financial incentive for them to go into
partnership. Leica has never been a company to market
its product for the mass. It is at best a niche in
this market and ONLY if we all will dish out an
extraordinary amount of cash injection, will this
partnership between Leica and OEM work. The danger
here is while we all support Leica's film/35mm medium,
a total digitalize M8 at best utilizing existing lens
with no zoom, nor all the bells and whistles of the
current state-of-the-art digital camera, will not
attract new Leica users that are currently using
Nikons or Minoltas to switch to Leica digital. Then on
the other hand, if the M8 is to come with zoom, LCD
screen, flash, zooms etc etc etc....then where is the
similarity between the M and the M8. Such a digital
camera will take to the form more akin to the
Asian-designed body as well as function rather than
the M. Also the technology, in digital domain, with
desktop scanners, printers etc, can process any
developed film, pictures into digital. Now one can
argue that the M lens will be superior to any,
compared with the current class of digital zooms; well
I think the zoom lens is already proven to be
perfectly adequate for digitalizing any imagery. 
Personally I just don't see any OEM will partner such
venture given the current state of mind-set between
the M and the rest of the digital systems.

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Replies: Reply from "Ted Bayer" <tedbayer@harbornet.com> (Re: [Leica] Thoughts on the M8 for real ?????)