Leica T "accidentally revealed"...

[Highway 61]

Actually I think this camera will sell extremely well to the targeted audience. I'd kill the vario x, or whatever they call it, from the product line.
I think this product hits the bull's eye for Leica. It's a recognizable, non-threatening, modern form factor alternative for their exclusive clientele.

Yes, very probably. It's extremely expensive if you buy the 23/2 lens and the external VF, which would be difficult not to do, but to my eyes this is a very clever design and the specs are way beyond the "sufficiency" level.

I don't have the least bit of the money to buy it, but I would keep it if I was given it. Even in yellow. 😉

 

[Range-rover]

Looks like a Sony or any other mirrorless design, I wish they made it look more like a
small "M" style camera like a CLE or CL.

Range

 

[Bille]

As always Leica is competing with their legacy. A Sony A7 with a used 50mm Summicron will be closer to what is usally associated with "Leica" than the new "T" - and cheaper.

But I wish them well.

 

[Pioneer]

Actually I like it. I have absolutely no intention of buying one myself, but there are a lot of people who will. By selling it and continuing to make a profit they can continue to produce and service those rangefinder cameras I am actually interested in.

So, from my point of view, GO Leica! Sell as many as you can and I hope it is a rousing success...and btw, I am still putting money away for that Monochrom so please keep building it, at least for awhile longer.

Pretty please 🙂

 

[Keith]

I always figured that Leica's phiosophy was 'less is more.' After seeing that video I suspect it may be 'more is less!

They obviously hung a notice in the tea room asking for any staff members with OCD tendencies to volunteer for an exciting new project! 😀

 

[Keith]

And the more I think about this camera the more convinced I am that Leica can and should make whatever they want and continue being a little left of centre. Personally I think it's unappealing and expensive but they know their market and others will obviously feel differently. Like most of their cameras image quality won't be a problem!

 

[semilog]

Hmmm I read this thread to try find out more useful information about the camera and its just turned out to be one huge Leica slate fest! Im surprised at people in this forum, the core of this site revolves around Leica and cameras that use its mount and with that comes an understanding what Leica is and what it costs.

You appear to be lost. May I assist you?

 

[cosmonaut]

No my cup of tea. Full frame is my thing. It looks cool though.

 

[raytoei@gmail.com]

I think that this shows us where the digital 'M' might go. The next generation can be both a manual focus rangefinder and an autofocus with the rangefinder viewfinder used per the Fuji 'X' series, or via EVF. They might even go with a touch screen UI. Of course they would use the 'T' mount/ adapter..

probably the most intelligent post in this thread.

 

[Samouraï]

And the more I think about this camera the more convinced I am that Leica can and should make whatever they want and continue being a little left of centre. Personally I think it's unappealing and expensive but they know their market and others will obviously feel differently. Like most of their cameras image quality won't be a problem!

Is Leica really so left of center with this new T-series camera? It seems like more of the same to me with a higher price. Perhaps North of center. I bet the lenses kick ass, though.

Sigma seems to me the only camera-maker who is doing anything left of center in the still photography market.

 

[Keith]

Is Leica really so left of center with this new T-series camera? It seems like more of the same to me with a higher price. Perhaps North of center. I bet the lenses kick ass, though.

Sigma seems to me the only camera-maker who is doing anything left of center in the still photography market.

Thanks ... I was going to suggest that but was in fear of being labled a Sigma Fan Boy! 😀

 

[willie_901]

Imagine an unconditional Leica lover who happened to be an Apple hater.

Would their head explode?

ps I realize Audi designed the camera. The GUI seems well done, I wonder if Audi had a hand in that too?

 

[Keith]

As interesting as this camera is I find Sigma's Quattro design much more appealing ... they have climbed a lot further out on the limb than Leica have in this regard.

There's a lot of similarities between the two companies IMO.

 

[Corran]

Imagine an unconditional Leica lover who happened to be an Apple hater.

Would their head explode?

I guess that would be me.
Love rangefinders. Getting my first Leica soon. But hate Apple. Overpriced crap.

There isn't a comparative product on the market to the Leica M cameras (digital). On the flip side is Apple, with purely derivative schlock that is nothing but the same thing everyone else is making but in a shiny case. Apple has more similarity to the Hasselblad Lunar, IMO. That said, yes I would say this camera is very Apple-esque. It's another MILC with an APS-C sensor and a shiny case, and a mash-up of different ideas from other companies. Maybe there's a market for it, but not me.

 

[irq506]

..and the guy rubs it for 42.7 minutes, and then they put it in a tumbler, so why all that rubbing?
Im sure the lenses will be great, and the design is pretty, practical ergonomics and solid construction, but it is not cutting edge, which means its a loss leader, but their initial high price means it will sell used for considerably more than its worth when everything else around it on the used market will be more practical and a quarter the price. Despite what you all think, no digital camera is a life long investment, few people want an M8 now, and in a decade when used parts are fatiguing and hard to find for it, or the M9 even further down the line, even less people will want it, so selling off your completely out dated and postage stamp sized camera that piques at 800 or 1600iso will be an impossible task.
Leica should concentrate on optics and industrial equipment. This T is an embarrassment.

 

[Keith]

It's almost like that 45 minute video of a supposed Leica employee painstakingly rubbing away at the chassis of the T is going to be the marketing 'hook' for the camera.

The principal behind releasing that video is very strange IMO ... what are they trying to tell us? I just find it weird personally!

 

[YYV_146]

"...what Leica is and what it costs" is now obscene.

I (and I think many others) will gladly dish out thousands for M lenses.
The rot comes with electronics, which is also why I avoid buying extremely expensive lenses with motors...The story of the Canon 200mm F1.8 says too much.

Back to this particular camera....
It's, what, $2850 for just a body? And, the lenses are $1500+ each. That's a lot for APS-C, but i suppose, in Leica world, it's a 'bargain' compared to the M8's starting point. But, again, we're dealing with last year's tech. thereof.

$1850. After a bit of thought I'd say it might be okay. The Xpro1 retailed for $1600 when it came out - and if I have a chance to pick up the T at $900, I probably will get one. The lenses are insane, though. An unstablized kit zoom for two grand?

The sensor is beyond last year, though. It's the same as the Nikon D7000 and NEX-5N, both of which are more than 3 years old. APS-C has improved by quite a bit since those days, just see some samples from a D7100 or A6000.

 

[Richard G]

You guys watched that 45 minute video??

 

[kknox]

I have a number of Leica's, along with a pre owned dated M8 & Lens. I have traded and upgraded to get most of them over the years. I got my first camera in 1958, it was not a Leica. I lusted for 40 years before I could justify spending the money on my first used M3 & Summicron, when my Minolta did fine.

The T is a great camera that one can use their M glass on for 5k less than the M. I know it's not full frame, but it has the substance of Leica, & the IQ similar to the M in a hand made camera. Leica will sell a ton of these, it will be an entry for many into the Leica family. It's a conquest camera for Leica, buy the T, see what Leica is all about, then you have invested in glass/lens. Maybe in 5 years buy the next T3.2 body to go with your lens. After reading the reviews I might even order one. Brilliant Leica.

 

[Particular]

You guys watched that 45 minute video??

Twice.

Has any more info been released about this new T-mount? Is it known what the flange focal distance is? My guess would be 17.80mm, as his would make the adapter exactly 10mm. This would be in between the X-mount and E-mount. That would make it improbable to make adapters for the new lenses on other mounts.