Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/10/06

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Subject: [Leica] Daniel's Comments on a Leica EVIL Camera at LHSA Wetzlar
From: r.s.taylor at comcast.net (Richard Taylor)
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 2010 09:32:52 -0400
References: <AANLkTikPFOZP1onFMe1JA=RGNy0774mhVrgqLV6oUYqD@mail.gmail.com> <AANLkTimLTL38tN89bA6rjZaX01ERD3VU7wEf0WQDVkCN@mail.gmail.com> <AANLkTinuFys3b4TRNYObgU=HBD4-BJV2z7wZ+BaiSZ-F@mail.gmail.com> <4CAC3E47.40806@gmx.de> <AANLkTi=UwbX-rOMWAs-qjvJr7fTD58aGA8QeMMrTy8GE@mail.gmail.com>

Stefan Daniel was asked about the "R Solution" at the LHSA meeting and he 
replied with what I felt was considerable regret that it was economically 
unfeasible given the current competition in the DSLR market.  But, ... 

He went on to talk about the development of a *full-frame* camera with an 
EVF that would be primarily directed at M users but that would also take R 
lenses with an adapter.  They are also considering development of a line of 
autofocus lenses for this camera.  Let's hope they don't snatch defeat from 
the jaws of victory on this one like they did with the X-1.

Another tidbit:  Leica, at least for its M lenses, remains committed to the 
development of lenses that are fully corrected optically - no firmware 
corrections, please. 

By far the most interesting thing at Photokina was the new Fuji X100 that 
Fuji was showing in mockup only but with an operating viewfinder.  The 
optical finder had projected frame lines and minimal info (shutter speed, 
f-stop and ISO) so it was nicely uncluttered. A flick of a switch converts 
the finder to an EVF.  It uses an APS-C sensor and I saw nothing to make me 
think the frame lines were parallax corrected.  Cool, nevertheless!  It's 
about the size of a GF-1.  It looks like an interesting camera and I look 
forward to seeing some images from it.

The Wetzlar meeting was a lot of fun, but having signed up for *all* the 
tours I ended the week walked out and considerably tired.  Maybe I'm just 
getting too old for this kind of stuff.  :-)      

Regards, 

Dick



On Oct 06, 2010, at 5:35 AM, Richard Man wrote:

> Ah, so it's not even "may be we will look at it in 2 years, but NEVER" :-(
> 
> (well not that I use the R systems, but seeing stuff from Doug and George,
> clearly there is something there there)
> 
> On Wed, Oct 6, 2010 at 2:15 AM, Douglas Sharp <douglas.sharp at gmx.de> 
> wrote:
> 
>> I quote:
>> 
>> R-SYSTEM
>> A digital solution in the form of a R10 was not presentable. Such an
>> investment would have been to great for Leica. The development of the
>> S-System cost ?30m. A similar effort for a digital R was not fundable.
>> 
>> 
>> Not presentable (nicht darstellbar) should be "not feasible" - it's an
>> expression often used by engineers - so what was actually meant above was
>> 
>> "we took a look at the idea and shelved it 'cos we couldn't afford it in a
>> month of Sundays, and it wouldn't be profitable even if we could"
>> 
>> Cheers
>> Douglas
>> 
>> 
>> On 06.10.2010 06:00, Geoff Hopkinson wrote:
>> 
>>> Absolutely understandable disappointment for R lens owners of course.
>>> However the expectaiton for a 'solution' this Photokina came entirely 
>>> from
>>> speculation and desire rather than specific promise. All largely
>>> unremarked
>>> here but there has been an awful lot of anguish and emotional outpouring,
>>> dummy spitting, rants and stompimg out of the room in the (dedicated) L
>>> Camera Forum.
>>> 
>>> Stefan Daniel told us in mid 2009 that they were working on the 'suitable
>>> solution' but not to expect it before this Photokina etc.  That of course
>>> has now slipped further but at least they have provided some slightly 
>>> more
>>> specific information on the possible form that it may take (in general
>>> terms). I think that Leica Camera have learnt a lesson there and are less
>>> likely to provide any specific models and developments that are only
>>> planned
>>> or not.
>>> According to an attendee at the LHSA meeting in Wtezlar Leica management
>>> have now excluded the possible solution prior to photokina 2012.
>>> Personally I am still stunned tht the S2 development costs were some 30
>>> million EURO and I note their comment that other medium format camera
>>> manufacturers occupied something like 50% less floor space at pk. Not a
>>> reassuring indicator for the genre, if unsurprising.
>>> 
>>> Cheers
>>> Geoff
>>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 6 October 2010 13:33, Jayanand Govindaraj<jayanand at gmail.com>  
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Looks like they are working overtime to 'repair their finances' for the
>>>> time
>>>> being. Can't blame them for that, it is a pragmatic business decision.
>>>> Cheers
>>>> Jayanand
>>>> 
>>>> On Wed, Oct 6, 2010 at 4:08 AM, Geoff Hopkinson<hopsternew at gmail.com
>>>> 
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>> Andy Barton, a MOD on the L Camera Forum has posted a summary of
>>>>> 
>>>> responses
>>>> 
>>>>> from Leica Camera Executives to a number of questions on Leica products
>>>>> 
>>>> and
>>>> 
>>>>> policy.
>>>>> You can read it here, even if not a meber of that forum
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/144758-leica-luf-%40-pkina-english.html
>>>> 
>>>>> Cheers
>>>>> Geoff
>>>>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> 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
>>>> 
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> // richard <http://www.imagecraft.com/>
> // icc blog: <http://imagecraft.wordpress.com>
> // photo blog: <http://www.5pmlight.com>
> [ For technical support on ImageCraft products, please include all previous
> replies in your msgs. ]
> 
> _______________________________________________
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Replies: Reply from ekowaleski at twmi.rr.com (Ed Kowaleski) ([Leica] Daniel's Comments on a Leica EVIL Camera at LHSA Wetzlar)
Reply from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Daniel's Comments on a Leica EVIL Camera at LHSA Wetzlar)
In reply to: Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Translation of question and answer session with Leica Camera executives)
Message from jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj) ([Leica] Translation of question and answer session with Leica Camera executives)
Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Translation of question and answer session with Leica Camera executives)
Message from douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp) ([Leica] Translation of question and answer session with Leica Camera executives)
Message from richard at imagecraft.com (Richard Man) ([Leica] Translation of question and answer session with Leica Camera executives)