Leicas plan for 2012 Photokina

Leica's goal is to create a new market in the Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens segment. "It's more than an idea," says Schopf. "You will see something at the next Photokina [trade show in Cologne]." The new system will use an "APS-C sized sensor at least," says Schopf.
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at least an APS-C Sensor !!!!
Kaufmann has also revealed that he plans to launch, later this year, a new company that will be tasked with the publication of photobooks. The company, which will act as an intermediary between Leica and photographers, will feature the work of famous, as well as unknow Leica photographers. Kaufmann hinted that the first book could come in the Autumn featuring Seal's photography. The English singer is renowned for being a Leica ambassador.
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At least the german LFI is actual published by the new company
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"APS-C at least"

"APS-C at least"

"APS At least". This means APS-C is the smallest Leica would consider. O read this and conclude they may use an M8 1.3 crop or larger. Any smaller, and they reduce the market for M lenses. With 1.3, they can sell a few 1.3 crop lenses as a kit as well as attract people who own M lenses. They may even sell more M lenses too!
 
dcsang said:
But we ALL want an M9 at the price of a, oh, used Leica CL don't we?

*smirk*

Dave
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Sure, I do. However, it isn't realistic. Some people will read about this new camera concept and think that Leica is truly going to compete with Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, etc and it just isn't going to priced like mirrorless models from those companies. That's a dream. However, if they can make a system camera that chops of a few thousand from the M9, that may be enough.
 
If it doesn't take M-mount lenses I'll wager it'll be a flop. It's bound to be more expensive than the competion and image quality won't be any better. Leica have lost the plot now they've gone digital. They are already playing catchup with fuji who will release other focal length X100s at a price meaning you can have two or three fujis for one new leica with one lens.
 
tlitody said:
If it doesn't take M-mount lenses I'll wager it'll be a flop. It's bound to be more expensive than the competion and image quality won't be any better. Leica have lost the plot now they've gone digital. They are already playing catchup with fuji who will release other focal length X100s at a price meaning you can have two or three fujis for one new leica with one lens.
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Gosh. I wish I knew as much about the photographic market as you do.

Cheers,

R.
 
tlitody said:
If it doesn't take M-mount lenses I'll wager it'll be a flop. It's bound to be more expensive than the competion and image quality won't be any better. Leica have lost the plot now they've gone digital. They are already playing catchup with fuji who will release other focal length X100s at a price meaning you can have two or three fujis for one new leica with one lens.
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Honestly, Leica doesn't truly compete with Fuji. Sure, they make cameras that could appeal to the same user, but Leica's not going under because Fuji seemingly had a hit. There's a ton of brand loyalty with Leica and they are still the only brand new digital rangefinder in town.
 
jsrockit said:
Honestly, Leica doesn't truly compete with Fuji. Sure, they make cameras that could appeal to the same user, but Leica's not going under because Fuji seemingly had a hit. There's a ton of brand loyalty with Leica and they are still the only brand new digital rangefinder in town.
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I think you miss the point. Sure for rangefinders in the M mould Leica have led the way for a long time but what they are proposing is something else in which they have never been in the market for. Who is it aimed at? Most everyone here complains about Leica prices and buys second hand cos its cheap. Being cheapskates means they'll buy a new fuji over a new Lecia since the Leica WILL be more expensive. Why do you suppose so many have Olympus and Lumix and 4/3 systems. That's the market this is aimed at. Do you think it'll be price competitive in that market. I'll wager it won't. The only people who will buy it are people with Leica stamped in their brains.
 
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It will be interesting to see how this fits.

Sounds sorta like they're talking about an X1, but with interchangeable lenses. But, it will have to be inferior in IQ to an M9. And, priced in somewhere in between. But, how many people would consider buying another range of Leica lenses that will not be as good as the Ms? People seem to either want a full-fledged M and/or a real compact, and the compact typically is sought for simplicity, cost, and because there aren't a lot of options in which to invest.

And, practically speaking, why buy into a new system on the heels of Leica promising and then de-promising an R-digital solution? Either way, it seems like this new system won't be supported nearly as fervently as the M, so technologically it will likely always be behind Canon, Sony, Pentax, et al.

I kinda agree with master prognosticator "tlitody" — if it doesn't take M glass, it's a short-lived flop. The system will be too costly to sustain. And, if Leica makes it good enough to actually be worthwhile, it crashes the M- party.
 
Why do we alway feel any new Leica product damages the M. In the article they are taking about a possible consumer product. There are certain areas of photography that the M's are not designed to do ie. macro and longer lenses.
 
Hey, I have an idea! Let's wait to see a real product description, price structure and compatibility definition before guessing how "uncompetitive" the product may be. Big companies are not always the innovators friends, big ships can take a long time to turn.

For a couple minutes let's be pleased that another offering is in the wings, with eventual appeal to some and being of no use to others (just like everything else).

If it's interesting enough maybe this product can rise to the absurd hysteria level of the X100 at introduction (a product I happen to like too).

Go Leica...make it a good one!
 
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