Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/10/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks very much for the report. I had been just about to put myself on a waiting list for a Nikon D200 10.2MP camera, but the details here puts me to pause. Perhaps a new scanner is a wiser investment. -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+ken=iisaka.org@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+ken=iisaka.org@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of pmcc Sent: Monday, October 31, 2005 12:50 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] First Crush; also: BALUG; Digital M futures Among them was yours truly. A boisterously good time was had by all, thanks in no small part to the efforts of Greg Lorenzo who deftly orchestrated the event with courtesy and bonhomie. The event also marked the reunion of the Bay Area LUG, with ur-members Mark Cohen, John Gong, George Hartzell, Ken Iisaka, Byron Ratkitzis, Tom Schofield and your correspondent in attendance, joined by new BALUG inductee Wayne Serrano. Our group photo was taken by Slobodan Dimitrov, who joins John Sexton on the elite roster of photographers who have rendered the official BALUG portrait. > I let Seth talk me into attending the LHSA lunch > today, which as I think about it means I'm going to > be joining the LHSA. I guess they tolerate saloon > keepers in their membership... The Screwmount Summit was a historic moment in the annals of LUG/LHSA diplomacy. Brian and Seth have been jointly nominated for the Barnack Peace Prize. No longer will the average age of LHSA members be the subject of derision on the LUG, and no longer will LUGgers be summarily dismissed as a gang of contentious geeks off their meds by LHSA members of long sitting. A few interesting statements about the Digital M surfaced at the LHSA meeting, in response to questions from the floor addressed to Stefan Daniel of Leica Camera AG. In no particular order, my best recollection is as follows: - Digital M will preserve continuity of look and form factor with existing M cameras - optical rangefinder - modified R9 type shutter (auf Wiedersehen to horizontal travel cloth shutter) - 1.33 crop factor, not full frame (do the math to calculate effective focal lengths for 35mm lenses) - 10.5 megapixel sensor - 2.5" playback only screen - 1/8000 top shutter speed - lithium ion battery - SD memory card - self-timer - auto-shutter cocking - USB 2.0 connector, no video out - supports RAW - black and white mode in JPEG - 5 or 6 sets of framelines (TBA) - VF magnification TBA - shutter lag goal under 20 milliseconds - upgradable digital componentry under consideration but not promised - digital sensor partner is German (not Imacon) - camera to be made in Germany - price goal under US$5K - targeted to ship at Photokina 2006 - expect compatibility with 95-97% of existing Leica lenses - expect new Leica M lenses in the ultra-wide range, which are also to be compatible with existing M cameras (philosophy is against digital-only lenses) - compatibility with wide-angle M lenses to be achieved as follows: incorporate new micro-lens offset technology in front of sensor; micro-lens design to be ultra-flat; replacement of pre-sensor anti-aliasing filter with software solution; infra-red cut-off filter to be incorporated into sensor cover glass, to be made of scratch- resistant material; separate cover glass thus eliminated Can't guarantee the total accuracy of the above, but it's to the best of my understanding of what was said. PMCC. SF, CA __________________________________ Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information