An interchangeable lens version of the Leica Q... October?

[jsrockit]

8 K $ ? Hmmm, ok lens included but the ones who already have M lenses?

They buy a M body...

$8k just is going to be way too much for me.

 

[raid]

Many years ago, Leica was selling a lens with a free new VW car included!
$8000 (here) is "Leica Cheap" ... the new adjective on the market.

 

[CameraQuest]

Rumor Here:

http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/com...ses-due-out-in-time-for-photo-plus-in-october

If true, its good to see Leica adding to their camera lineup.
Time will tell how it works out.

Stephen

 

[giellaleafapmu]

It is for a company that stuck with the M for as long as it has...

It was a joke... Nevertheless, even if a company sticks with some classical product line forever (they probably will still produce M cameras for quite some time), this doesn't make a camera with an already old and perfected technology in it "thinking out of the box".

GLF

 

[Godfrey]

As always, I look forward to seeing what Leica introduces.

I have learned never to say "I'll never buy one" because I've had to eat those words too often, but for the moment I'm quite content with my M-P, M4-2, and M-mount lens kit, X, etc, so my interest will be curiosity rather than actually considering for purchase.

That's the real problem. Leica already has such excellent gear in their users' hands that new products generally mean exploring/finding new markets.

G

 

[bwcolor]

totally applaud leica for thinking outside the box. totally dont understand leica if indeed this is not compatible with with their singular indisputable legacy, M lenses.

Just a Sony A7 for photographers. The A7 series is groundbreaking, but I suspect many will pay for a more traditional approach, with a better menu system.. if any.. and eventually, a full line of excellent lenses. I think that this move is a matter of survival. The 'M' only shooter should welcome this. If done right, it will bring greater financial stability for Leica.

 

[seakayaker1]

No interest in this camera, especially with the 8K price tag. I am not sure at what price point I would be interested.

It could be the money I have already spent to own a couple of Leica digital and a couple of Leica film bodies along with the lenses is enough for me to say enough is enough.

When I need to use a auto focus camera in the meantime I will be happy to pick up the Pentax K5IIs

 

[photomoof]

If true, its good to see Leica adding to their camera lineup.
Time will tell how it works out.

Stephen

I think they will sell, after talking to a dealer friend. It is a beautiful camera.

 

[dave lackey]

Jeez, remarkable with the next recession projected in a couple of years. If this is true. Has this been fact-checked?

Yet another move up into the luxury camera world.

No, it is not for the lower class I associate with and I am quite happy to stay put. 😀

 

[robert blu]

Not interested in that price level, but...this make the M.type 240 more interesting.
I heard from one local dealer that he has client who bought that camera because they were told to be the "excellent camera" but they have not the experience and the desire to learn how to manual focus therefore a kind of disappointment. They will probably sell it for that new autofocus system which should make things easier for them...
Now where I live there are one year old M-type 240 at around 4 K eur with still one year warranty, maybe in a few month will become more affordable...just my free wheel thinking...
robert

 

[nongfuspring]

I'm a bit skeptical about the price. 8K is a lot, twice the price of the Q, body only similar price to the M240 but without the complicated RF mechanism.

Also not crazy about the rumour of the SLR shape - the SLR hump has no advantage on a mirrorless other than to make the camera look more "professional" to people that don't know any better; you either get your nose against the screen or your nose against a screen and a thumb in your eye.

 

[icebear]

If it was true then it's a RF less M which of course they can't call M (Messucher = Rangefinder) anymore, so they come out with a different line up the Q and then the Q+ w. interchangeable lens mount. And I highly doubt that it will be compatible with the M lenses. Is the flange to sensor distance identical?

 

[robert blu]

For what I have read I think this camera will be not aimed to the RF lovers (as many among us are) who probably already own M lenses but is (could be) an attempt to have a large customare basis, attracting the photographers interested in the Leica experience but not in the RF Ms.
Therefore two series, M (240 type) for RF lovers and this new model, same quality same price level I guess for the AF lovers. And the Q for simplicity lovers 🙂

robert

 

[jsrockit]

And I highly doubt that it will be compatible with the M lenses. Is the flange to sensor distance identical?

If the T is compatible, then I can't see why this wouldn't be. And we don't know the flange to sensor distance yet because the camera doesn't exist.

 

[Mudman]

Wouldn't they just use the same flange as their T camera? Makes the most sense to me.

 

[jsrockit]

Wouldn't they just use the same flange as their T camera? Makes the most sense to me.

That depends on if the T mount is FF compatible.

 

[jsrockit]

Interesting rumor update... shaped like a Leicaflex?

http://petapixel.com/2015/08/26/rumor-leica-has-a-full-frame-mirrorless-camera-up-its-sleeve/

 

[sevo]

Interesting rumor update... shaped like a Leicaflex?

Simply upscaling the Q might make it too close to a M3 lineage design, and they probably will not want to compete with themselves, but with Sony and Fuji. Shaped like a M5 would be another option, but there are more people with a sentimental feeling towards the Leicaflex than towards the M5.

 

[willie_901]

... They cannot compete in sensors and electronics.

Which is a bit of a mystery to me. Toshiba and SONY provide the majority of pinned-diode sensor arrays. Leica is one of the few companies that attempts to compete. Everyone else uses similar photodiode-amplificatin and digitization technologies. The CFA and IR filter layers are a different story. These are passive optical components.

I never understood why Leica doesn't take advantage of these chip vendors. About five years ago back-side illuminated CMOS sensor technology became common. These sensor assemblies house all the most important electronic on a single chip. Expertise in electronics becomes moot. Expertise in getting the light to the sensor sites (optics) and the EVF signal processing (in the case of the Q) are relevant.

 

[ferider]

Which is a bit of a mystery to me. Toshiba and SONY provide the majority of pinned-diode sensor arrays. Leica is one of the few companies that attempts to compete. Everyone else uses similar photodiode-amplificatin and digitization technologies. The CFA and IR filter layers are a different story. These are passive optical components.

I never understood why Leica doesn't take advantage of these chip vendors. About five years ago back-side illuminated CMOS sensor technology became common. These sensor assemblies house all the most important electronic on a single chip. Expertise in electronics becomes moot. Expertise in getting the light to the sensor sites (optics) and the EVF signal processing (in the case of the Q) are relevant.

For larger sensors (APS-C and up), BSI only became practical 2014 and later, while the M was released in 2012. ST Micro is also a major player in the image sensor fab market, as are Samsung and others. Newer large CMOSIS sensors (taped out at ST) have BSI as well. Also, we are talking Europe, were R&D is often co-funded by national and/or the European Governments.

To the areas of expertise that you mention (optics and EVF signal processing), I would like to add the high performance signal processing between sensor, image processor (for distortion correction, for instance) and image buffer. Most relevant for the Q and I suspect this new camera as well. Note also that Leica did pick a Japanese manufacturer for the M image processor.

Roland.