Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/03/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]That's part of it Mark. It's also a question of value and being on top of the technology development curve. When the Leica first appeared with a built-in, and later coupled, rangefinder and exceptional optics it was on the top of the technology heap and gave photojournalists and amateurs an effective alternative to the bulky 2=1/4 square and 4X5 cameras that had set the standard for best performance until then. If I'm remembering history right, it took a long time for the Leica to be accepted as a proper photojournalist tool since many saw it's small format as distinctively inferior to the larger negatives in common use at the time. Eventually it was, of course, and photographic history was made. It gave photographers a new tool that allowed a new approach to photography. The M9 is stuck in history. It won't do that and, I strongly suspect, Leica will never become the dominant factor in photojournalism it once was based on it. The current top technology is auto-focus, digital sensors with hi-ISO performance far exceeding that available from film, and firmware correction of some optical lens characteristics. And, it's all coming from Japan and the US, not Germany. This new technology currently provides the highest value in cameras. Unfortunately it's mostly available in big, bulky DSLRs. So, can history repeat itself? Sure. Someone may finally come up with an alternative to the DSLR that is smaller, lighter and more than flexible enough to meet the needs of today's photojournalist and quite a few of those big DSLRs may give way to it. There's nothing sacrosanct about the 35mm format, after all. If a smaller sensor camera gave "good enough" performance it could easily succeed, particularly if it allowed the kind of transformation the original Leica did. Micro 4/3rds cameras have sensors that bear about the same size relationship to 35mm film that 35mm film bears to 2-1/4 square. Someday a small-format camera that is "good enough" for daily professional use and is the game changer the original Leica was may appear, but the M9 isn't it. Could it come out of Germany? Sure, maybe Leica has something up it's sleeve we don't know about. More likely it will come from Ricoh, Samsung, Olympus or Panasonic, who are already pushing the design/performance envelope for today's small cameras. End of rant... ;-) Best. Regards, Dick On Mar 29, 2010, at 11:11 PM, Mark Rabiner wrote: >> Yeah, but rumors don't cost $7K. :-) >> >> Regards, >> >> Dick > > > The point is well taken that someone whose done well shooting with M6's in > the 90's and now wants too continue in digital Leica experience but does > not > have seven grand to pay for the new M body and is maybe "looking" for > answers. Wants to be delivered from the perhaps impossible load of > acquiring > seven grand and then spending it on a camera body. > Maybe Canon will come out with a camera with the rangefinder focusing we > loved with our M's and with real affordable glass or with an adaptor for > your Leica glass? Except we all know that's not going to happen. > The best place to keep us in gear with our Leica shooting is Leica. > And its not rumors we're interested in its announcements from the company. > The problem with looking to Canon or Nikon for our Leica shooting > continuance is that when we go there we are no longer shooting Leica. We > are > shooting Canon Nikon. Me I'd rather be shooting Leica. And when I think > "Leica" I don't think Canon. Or nikon. > > I think Leica may come out with an M9s for a bit less money. Modified > specs. > Less megapixels. > > [Rabs] > Mark William Rabiner > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information