Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/06/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]It's more than just currently available glass that can be coded. Leica's release states: Discontinued lenses that can be updated: Besides those presently available, even lenses that were discontinued quite a while ago can be updated (see list below). Since Leica Camera AG regards system compatibility as a vital virtue, many lenses introduced as long ago as 1963 can be updated. ------- This is followed by a list that does include the 135 Elmarit of 1963, but it's mostly 1970s and later production, starting with the model 2 "Wetzlar" 50 Summicron. The puzzle for me is what kind of "optimization" they'll actually produce in camera, other than recording focal length and max aperture for EXIF data. Since most serious M8 users will be shooting RAW (won't they?), any in-camera magic is rendered moot in the RAW file. Perhaps there will be embedded coding that will be picked up by Leica's RAW converter, but if it's like most camera manufacturers software (weak) it will be quickly abandoned (or ignored completely) by those with established workflows in Adobe Camera Raw, Capture 1, etc. The Leica release also says: On account of their legendary quality, nearly all Leica M lenses are ideal for digital use. However, the new 6-bit coding also uses the performance reserves in the image processing of the camera to give our customers the excellent image result they expect from Leica,? says Rainer B?ltert, product manager for the M system at Leica Camera AG. ------- So, which is it, the lenses are "ideal for digital use" or their images need special processing? If the M8 is only using the "sweet spot" of this expensive glass by relying on a 1.33 crop factor, what kind of processing is necessary? Canon's L glass performs extremely well on the 1.3X cameras (1d, 1dMkII). Leica R lenses do a heck of a job as well on both Canon 1.3X cameras and on the DMR (1.37X). But M lenses will need a tweak? Is this a factor of the closeness of the rear elements to the sensor plane, or is it just some extra verbiage to encourage customers to spend $125 a lens to record EXIF data? I'm sure all the codes will be figured out within days of the release of the M8, then $2 stickers will soon be available to "code your own." The full Leica release is here: http://www.leica-camera.com/imperia/md/content/pdf/objektive/18.pdf rs ______________________________________ www.robertschneider.com www.schneiderpix.com On Jun 7, 2006, at 6:50 AM, B. D. Colen wrote: > They have indeed not said that you can't use every Leica lens ever > made - > they have simply implied, with this latest announcement, that only > those > lenses that have been "converted" will produce results that don't > need major > surgery in Photoshop. ;-) > > > On 6/7/06 6:27 AM, "Luis Miguel Casta?eda" <lmc@interlink.es> wrote: > >> >> On 07/06/2006, at 11:51, B. D. Colen wrote: >> >>> I am sikply reacting to what LEICA has just told us about it, and >>> what Don has written. >> >> I supect that this is a kind of ocean made from a single, and tiny, >> drop. >> AFAIK they haven't said that you can't use all the old glasses (more >> or less the opposite), just said that the exif and some automatic >> corrections will not be available. Well, that's much more than all >> other brands are doing with their new releases, except perhaps >> olympus and a few exceptions on some models, and at a similar cost >> (cost isn't measured in cash here) . >> >> IMHO, with all my respects, that's just gratuite talking. >> No, I have no plans to buy anything leica D or anything else in D, >> I'm not a leica (or anything else) advocate. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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