Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/07/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]This is a very interesting discussion. Of course, none of us is privvy to the discussions in Leica's marketing department, but hey, it is fun to give our ? 0.02... I think that Leica is in a difficult position. Lucien's point is valid; but then the question is, if my existing M lenses are not usable with the new digital M, then why should I stay with Leica in the first place? I agree with BD that Epson/Cosina probably did not invest all that R&D money just to manufacture 10,000 units, so for someone like me the RD-1 would be a better option for a digital rangefinder than a new presumably very expensive Leica Digital M which would also require me to buy a whole new set of (also presumably expensive) M-digital lenses. After all, even Nikon and Canon have made their digital SLRs so that the old lenses can still be used, albeit with some limitations. I think what Leica might do is something similar: make the digital M compatible with the analog lenses but then also bring out a line of digital-only lenses which would offer added functionality. Precedent exists even within the Leica family: I can mount old 1-cam and 2-cam lenses on my R8/R9 but to take full advantage of some features, I need to use the newest ROM lenses. As for general speculation about Leica's corporate future, I have no doubt that it will end up as a subsidiary of one of the big companies--OR they will leave camera manufacturing altogether and become a specialized maker of high-end lenses, which is after all where their expertise is. Nathan > > van: Lucien <director@ubi.edu> > datum: 2004/07/12 ma PM 06:21:45 CEST > aan: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> > onderwerp: [Leica] New Leica digital rangefinder system ? , was: new M > lens? > > > B. D. Colen wrote : > > > IF Leica is going to survive longish term, I believe that what they > > need > > to do is come out with a digital M body of some sort priced within > > about > > $500 of whatever Epson produces. If they do that, they may be able to > > capitalize on the value of the Leica name, and the huge pool of used M, > > LTM, and Cosina lenses out there > > B.D., > > I don't agree. > > IF Leica want to survive, I believe they should come out with a totally > new digital rangefinder system. > > New camera and new lenses, both designed for any CCD or CMOS size that > will offer the best quality/size ratio. > > New lenses designed specifically for digital, with all the contacts > needed for the camera to know all the information possible from the > lens (aperture, focal length, etc...) and a new bayonet mount big > enough proportionally. > > At one point in the future, sooner than later, they will have to do it. > > Better to do it ASAP. > > I have a lot of Leica M lenses, and I love them on an M camera for film. > > But for digital I want the best Leica can offer in lens design FOR > DIGITAL, not for film, and a system open to the future and all the > possibilities softwares will offer soon, but only for pictures with > full exif ! > > The equivalent of a 35/1,4 for their future Digital M will be a 25/1,4. > If they want it to cover also the 35mm format for film camera, it will > be much to big. > > On the other hand, if they want it to cover only their 1,37x sensor, > better to redesign everything from the beginning... > > People will pay for that, and they will switch to it if they see a > value for the final quality of their pictures. > > I don't believe in the "lot of lenses on the market" theory. > > To survive, Leica need to sell new digital cameras AND new lenses, and > not only one camera and one ultra-wide-angle lens to current customers. > > New customers knows about what a modern digital camera can offer, and > they will not buy a system lacking a lot of possibilities because of a > lens mount designed in the fifties and based itself on a screw mount > standardized in the thirties.... > > A new Ernst Leitz II should declare: we will do it from scratch and > make it a success. > > ;-) > > If Leica want to design THE rangefinder of this new century, there is > no other option IMO. > > Now, I don't think they will do all this. But they may design later a > new line of digital lenses for the Digital M, covering the 1,37x format > only. That will give them more room for ROM contacts inside the current > bayonet and make smaller lenses possible. Something like the Nikon DX > lenses. > > At the end, the result may be similar, but it may happen to late... > > There are rumors of Leica joining the Four Thirds open standard for > digital cameras, and other rumors of Leica designing lenses for new > digital bodies. > > I don't believe so much in that, but only time will tell... > > Lucien > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >