Leica CL & Elmarit to be announced on 11/21/17

[Godfrey]

ALL Digilux2 sensors failed - the sensors were by Sony, the cameras built by Panasonic. Leica replaced them for free for twelve years...

That was a pan-Sony problem, really. I had two or three Sony sensor cameras that needed sensor replacement, from Sony and others. I wouldn't blame that one on Leica. As I recall, the cut-off happened when Sony cancelled the production and stopped funding the replacement procedure. 🙂

G

 

[taemo]

The viewfinder on this new CL is what I'm mostly interested on, it looks to be nice and big with 0.74x magnification
I was disappointed to see that the X-E3 VF remained small as I was hoping it would have the nice big X-T2 finder.

 

[David Hughes]

That was a pan-Sony problem, really. I had two or three Sony sensor cameras that needed sensor replacement, from Sony and others. I wouldn't blame that one on Leica. As I recall, the cut-off happened when Sony cancelled the production and stopped funding the replacement procedure. 🙂

G

Hmmm, well, um, it had the red Leica logo and the name "Leica" on the front and "Leica Camera Germany" on the back and, having read the catalogue I expected it to behave like a Leica and I expect Leicas to be thoroughly and individually tested...

Having said that I'll add that Leica behave responsibly and I'll risk saying that it's behaved itself ever since I got it back at least a decade ago; I hope the M9 will do the same. (But it's not the oldest digital camera I have and use; the oldest s from 2000.)

Regards, David

 

[Jdi]

The 911 isn't a cheap car in any spec but they are very reliable.

Some ownership experience on your part please. Having owned 2 911's, "very reliable" doesn't quite mesh with my experience. Porsche have always had component design issues. That, typical for all German manufacturers, don't get fixed. The margins are adequate to handle the warranty expense and a redesign would be an admission of flawed engineering. German engineers don't make mistakes, ask them.

My experience, rear main seal bearings, intermediate shafts, poor adhesion between rubber boots and copper oil feed lines.

What makes this acceptable is the service. 1 day to air ship an engine from Germany, another day to install it. Same with the second engine. The oil line was a bit of an issue as so many were failing they had no stock. An immediate jury rigged repair with sewing thread by the service shop lasted until new parts were available. On warranty, service is superb. Off warranty -- it took a class action law suit and years to get Porsche to replace/compensate owners for intermediate shaft failures.

Porsche's are not "very reliable". You are quite correct when you say they're not cheap. Thus rule #1, do not own one off warranty.

 

[Huss]

I've now viewed a bunch of different video reviews on this camera.

And

I really like it. Once it comes out I'll check it out to see if I can use the EVF (on most cameras they make me nauseous/give me motion sickness).

It's a great size, it looks very responsive, I can use my M lenses with it and it takes sweet pics. I came round, you will too..

😉

 

[Emile de Leon]

I'm actually thinkin about getting it...would be nice with my WATE...and 35 f1.4..pre and asph..maybe perfect...
Are they discounting yet...?...lol..

 

[jaapv]

That was a pan-Sony problem, really. I had two or three Sony sensor cameras that needed sensor replacement, from Sony and others. I wouldn't blame that one on Leica. As I recall, the cut-off happened when Sony cancelled the production and stopped funding the replacement procedure. 🙂

G

But, the X-series and probably the CL and TL have Sony sensors....

 

[aizan]

at first i was disappointed that leica missed another opportunity to make a lustworthy camera, but the thinking behind the bumpy top plate is winning me over.

 

[Huss]

Think of it this way... List all the Leica interchangeable mount cameras that have a built in VF.

Leica CL - 24mp - $2800
Leica M 262 - 24mp - $5600
Leica M 240 - 24mp - $6600 (incredible they are still selling this at this price)
Leica M 10 - 24 mp - $6900

Yeah the CL is APS-C but APS-C cameras still are capable of incredible pics. This is why we have the Nikon D500, Sony A6500 etc as well as their FF equivalents.
What we have here is an interchangeable lens (and M mount compatible) Leica camera for half the price of the next cheapest Leica. And think about this, it is the only one that has the AF option. Not bad...

I'm saying history is going to repeat itself. The original CL bludgeoned the sales of the M5, even though the M5 was - and still is - the best film Leica ever made.
This CL has the chance to do the same thing with the current M5 - the M10...

 

[jsrockit]

I actually like the camera ... but I just can't pay twice as much as a used X-Pro2 and a lens and three times as much as a used (or even new) X100F. It's nice though. I hope they make a smaller 35mm one day.

 

[jsrockit]

The venom constantly thrown at Leica on this forum is astonishing. Can’t people not care for things without denigrating them?

People are always going to do this until Leica makes a digital M that everyone can afford. The reccurring dream of RFF.

 

[Archlich]

I'm sure the camera's gonna be good, but oh the usual thing, price is high. Native lenses even higher, the lineup leaves me wanting, and gosh look at the size of that 35mm lens. Still I don't know why we could even argue about this after so many years, it's just Leica being normal...

Those who can shed out $4k for a kit would unlikely to be disappointed, but I'm glad we live in a time where choices are plenty and solid.

Now if only the X-Pro3 and X-T3 could utilize that top LCD display like what they already put into the GFX!

 

[finguanzo]

I like it, I would not buy it, but like it. Although, would be great if there was some type of hybrid viewfinder like the Xpro...

 

[kshapero]

Have you looked THROUGH the EVF instead of at it? Numbers do not make an image. I guess the EVF is by Panasonic and close to the GX8 one, which is pretty darn good.

I had the GX8. I wear glasses and this EVF is no different outside on sunny days. It sucked. Buyer beware. It's OVF for me.

 

[aizan]

the internet would be boring if nobody argued.

speaking of the internet, did you hear about the fcc chairman's proposal to screw it up?

 

[ptpdprinter]

This bit sells it for me as I would use it with mf Leica lenses:

"I made some detailed comparisons between the Fuji X-T2, the Leica M10, SL and the CL using the new version of the 28 M Summicron Asph and the 50 M Summilux Asph. Images from the CL did very well with both lenses with minimum vignetting ...Leica have obviously worked hard to make the camera do well with M lenses."

Minimum vignetting? One would hope there is no vignetting. The 28 Summicron and 50 Summilux are both designed to cover full frame, which is considerably larger than the APS-C sensor. Only the center of the image circle is being used. Classic BS review.

 

[Al Patterson]

You can certainly use the 40mm Summicron with it as long as the reduced (60mm equivalent) FoV isn't a problem for you. To get the same FoV on a 1.5x crop sensor, you'll need a 25-27mm lens.

Regards hitting the lottery ... putting ten dollars a week into a piggy bank will probably net you the required money faster than spending a couple of dollars a week on the lottery. The odds of winning the lottery are so low it's more likely you'll be able to walk to the Moon than hit a $5000 jackpot. 😀

Well, to be honest, a brokerage account I inherited from my mother pays enough in dividends to by roughly 2 CLs a year, but I put the money in a Roth IRA.

I might just check out a used one in a few years, I just picked up a 10 megapixel DSLR from www.keh.com for about $300 with the money I had left ...

 

[ptpdprinter]

That was a pan-Sony problem, really.

Except that the sensor was in a Leica camera, which kind of made it a Leica problem. Invoking the Hans Solo defense is a little disingenuous.

 

[mod2001]

Think of it this way... List all the Leica interchangeable mount cameras that have a built in VF.

Leica CL - 24mp - $2800
Leica M 262 - 24mp - $5600
Leica M 240 - 24mp - $6600 (incredible they are still selling this at this price)
Leica M 10 - 24 mp - $6900

Price comparison with the M models are somehow useless, the M is unique and actual the only digital rangefinder in the market, they could ask 10K for an M10 and people would buy it, me too if I had the money (and better eyes). The CL is a admittedly nice but never the less a run-of-the-mill APS-C camera and has quite a few competitors, and with this price tag not only in the APS-C market. Don't get me wrong, I normally don't blame Leica for their prices knowing that they can't (and don't) have to be on the same level like a Fuji or a Sony, no arguing here, their products are special and this is what you or me pay for, but serious, $3,8k for a technically average APS-C camera with an average 28mm (equiv.)? Thats even in Leica terms insane and imho no longer justifiable.

Just my 2 cents
Jürgen

 

[Huss]

CL is not a run of the mill APS-C camera, as it is the only one that works really well with M mount lenses.
If you don't care about that, then yeah, a cheaper one makes more sense.
It's a new $2800 24mp M body to me, as I already have a tub full o' M lenses.