Leica's M9 and Mini M plan

Reminds me of 1996 when Apple was nearly dead. With their small cult following and meek sales, overpriced computers and lack of accessories and software developers.

WHO'S LAUGHING NOW!!!

Leica will be just fine.
 
I hope also that their "mini M" is not a fixed lens solution...
otherwise I think I will switch to Nikon D3 with Zeiss 35 F2.0
I am not in the mood for waiting any longer for a decent
or affordable digital M rangefinder camera solution

An affordable Leica? Not happening. Not now, not ever. Just look at the Panasonic digicams. The Leica variants are the exact same thing and $100 more. Just get the D3, 35 f2 and save yourself the frustration.
 
What meant with: "I am not in the mood for waiting any longer for a decent
or affordable digital M rangefinder camera solution"
is:
"Decent" : a M9 (full frame, without any other problems ;-)
"affordable" a Leica version of the above Panasonic LX3 but with a M mount (NOT a fixed lens)

This "affordable" camera could be great "temporary" camera for people that cannot wait any longer till the M9 will be released.
A Leica M8 is too expensive to buy now at this point, knowing that the M9 is all ready on the horizon....
 
In response Zerrax a cheaper body for the beginner would give new users time to invest in lenses, although there are alternatives it would still attract new users to the rangefinder. As an example I think it was David Alan Harvey that bought a Leica from money he saved on his paper route. Harvey's camera probably came at time when prices were less inflated, but also probably used.

James
 
leicasniper,
But isn't the alternative keeping Leica for the old timer rangefinder people? I talk to people who are in photography school and they don't even know what a rangefinder is.

James
 
re: Digital Leica CL
Yes, a 'M' mount updated Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 (I have one):
Pix & review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv3/

Slightly bigger (keeping the 'handle'), with a 5-8 frame motor drive - no mirror to get in the way AND a manual shutter winder to keep the fingers happy and shutter quiet on stealth occasions.... electric 'click' then 'wooosh' wind manual <g>, to be MADE IN JAPAN! with a Sony digital engine and sensor, but allowing 3rd party lenses...... and a WiFi accessory module to fit under, like the Leicavit, . . . . . and also allow the camera to be remotely triggered by Pocket Wizards up to 100 ft away! and of course IR /UV enabled, and RAW of course.... Takes Sony Sticks AND CF cards ... easy to remove, leaving one card in there (just in case when in difficult situations) This camera also had a finder, sorely missing on the likes of the SIGMA DP1 and the Samsungs - would love waist level quick view for shooting from the 'hip' or off the ground....
 
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leicasniper,
But isn't the alternative keeping Leica for the old timer rangefinder people? I talk to people who are in photography school and they don't even know what a rangefinder is.

James


That tells me more about that school than about the demography of Leica's customers..:rolleyes:
 
re: Digital Leica CL
Yes, a 'M' mount updated Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 (I have one):
Pix & review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscv3/
What's the chip size? A 1.5x crop factor would be bad enough, and I suspect that the chip ain't even APS size. Also, what's the body thickness? Will it allow 28mm flange-to-film?

Me to Stefan Daniel of Leica at Arles: "What do you reckon is the time scale for a full-frame digital sensor in an M-series Leica? Two years? Five? Ten?"

Stefan: "We would hope rather less than ten..."

This suggests to me that <2 is unlikely, <5 is possible and <10 is a virtual certainty.

(Cue doom-mongers who say 'Leica won't be around in 10 years')

Cheers,

R.
 
it took nasa nine years to get to moon. leica needs ten years to get a full frame dRF.*

*not bagging leica as much as celebrating nasa's b'day!
 
Eh. Speaking as an eighteen year old with a Leica, the only people who really know about them from my experience are people from the older crowd. Sadly, the children these days are all about their little digital point and shoots and Nikon d40s or canon xti's.
 
There will be FF sensors in P&S cameras in five years. Can Leica really wait five years for a FF M digital?

wow, can you sell some crystal balls to us?

You missed point. Leica meant that they do 35mm cameras when it is possible. So you newer know how sensor technology advances at a few years. ´Maybe faster than expected or a bit slower. Im worrying more about future of B&W films than digital 35mm future M lol.
 
That tells me more about that school than about the demography of Leica's customers..
__________________
Jaap

I figured that someone would respond like that as soon as I posted it. And you are right. But I think you understand my point, which is putting a Leica camera in the hands of younger people, who are interested in an alternative to a DSLR.

James
 
I'd buy one of those. 10-12MP with a fixed lens, equivalent to a 2/35 or faster.
They could recycle the design from the last pre-ASPH Summicron (v4).
Sell it for around $1500 (knowing Leica it would be $2999).

Here's my chance to add my favorite chant!

Digital Hexar AF!!!!!!! :D
 
I figured that someone would respond like that as soon as I posted it. And you are right. But I think you understand my point, which is putting a Leica camera in the hands of younger people, who are interested in an alternative to a DSLR.

James

It is really a problem for youth to get an affordable, inexpensive digital RF camera now, while some guys which like films, could get very cheap affordable Bessa. M8 is single RFF camera which runs in production and cost multiple D50/XTi when young people dont have much money to buy "starter kits".

Where are you, Cosina? Get a sony sensor and get business :)
 
it took nasa nine years to get to moon. leica needs ten years to get a full frame dRF.

You know, there are people who maintain that *nobody* went to the Moon. Probably the same people who say that the M8 is not a rangefinder, much less a camera, and maintain that slapping a red dot on anything is the marketing equivalent of putting your thumb on the Sun and making it midnight. :angel:
 
leicasniper,
But isn't the alternative keeping Leica for the old timer rangefinder people? I talk to people who are in photography school and they don't even know what a rangefinder is.

Can they name the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? If they don't then the Supreme Court only applies to old-timer court people :D
 
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