Digital M Update

[ywenz]

even the newest 20D is not much of an upgrade in picture quality, even compared to the venerable D30.

You do know that you're speaking only a period of time of 4-5 years between the D30 and 20D? That's not a good bar to set your standards to.. The fact is, 4 models in 4-5 years.. What is the life expectancy Leica users expect from their M cameras? You do the math....

 

[RML]

You do know that you're speaking only a period of time of 4-5 years between the D30 and 20D? That's not a good bar to set your standards to.. The fact is, 4 models in 4-5 years.. What is the life expectancy Leica users expect from their M cameras? You do the math....

Not to offend anyone but....

What's the life expectancy of the digilux? 2 years? 5 years? I think quite some Leica owners (many also own (d)SLRs) are already very much used to life expectancies of less than 50 years. Besides, that a sensor is surpassed by a newer one doesn't mean the old one is all of a sudden no longer good enough. My M2 is still a fine piece of kit even though it's been replaced many times since it was first available (M4/5/6/7 anyone?).

So, get over it. If you don't like digital, that's your choice. If you can't live with the idea that your camera could be replaced in 6 months to a year, than don't buy that camera. However, to demand life expectancy of 50 years or more for a camera (digital or film) is ridiculous. I don't see you demand that from your microwave oven, your pc, your plasma tv screen or your car.

 

[jaapv]

You do know that you're speaking only a period of time of 4-5 years between the D30 and 20D? That's not a good bar to set your standards to.. The fact is, 4 models in 4-5 years.. What is the life expectancy Leica users expect from their M cameras? You do the math....

You obviously didn't read my post very carefully: My point was that after a period of rapid development over the last, say eight years digital technology has reached a level that is adequate for high-level photography. So any improvement wil be getting more and more gradual. A good comparison is the audio industry. You will be hard put to hear a significant improvement in sound between a twenty year old high-end system and a up-to-the-minute one. Is does exist, but it can only be expressed in promilles. My point is that digital photography has reached a level of maturity to warrant the production and use of , for instance Leica-M type camera's. I look to the future, you look to the past.

 

[JohnL]

The very fact that many people upgrade to the current model from time to time, and often sell their old digital cameras rather than keeping them as a backup, is now the primary source of good equipment at more accessible prices for those entering the market for the first time. The gear still works OK, and likely will for many years to come.