Leica teases "Mini M"

[doolittle]

Judging my the line up of cameras Mini coming between an APS-C camera labelled Micro and the full-frame M I think APS-H/1.3 crop sensor would be a good bet.

The inclusion of two non-interchangeable cameras could suggest it will be fixed lens, however I reckon it will be M mount.

M would suggest Messsucher, however once again the inclusion of two cameras without rangefinders also referred to a 'M' makes me think not.

My best guess: 1.3 crop factor CMOS M-mount camera with EVF. Priced about 2/3 the price of the M.

 

[Pete B]

I'm thinking and praying that, for economy of manufacturing scale/supply, it's the M FF sensor.
Pete

 

[Clint Troy]

'Professional use' covers such a wide spectrum that I doubt it's possible to rule any camera out for 'professional use'.

Not all professionals fit into the mold prescribed by camera manufacturers or their fans.

Arguing for the sake of arguing? The M8 and M9 are worthless for just about any pro work, as a sheer tool. Even in a studio environment one can hit the buffer wall quite easily.
I don't want to go in that subject. But for most pro uses, the pros have spoken. The proof is right there.

 

[veraikon]

I'm going to guess that it's an interchangeable lens M camera, but with no RF. Probably just a screen on the back and optional EVF. Just a guess though.

Allows Leica to sell Leica glass onto a less expensive body.

+ 1 I guess to

 

[dcsang]

...something panasonic?

I think Joe's right:
http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/big...1-and-makes-a-hell-of-a-mft-camera-out-of-it/


Cheers,
Dave

 

[Spicy]

The S2 is a DSLR, and if we're being picky, all the range finders contain mirrors, as is required by all RFs.

If we're picky, prisms are not mirrors, and S2 production numbers are so insanely dwarfed by all their other sales to be as close to insignificant as makes no difference, not to mention that they're also so ridiculously expensive as to be reasonably excluded from virtually anybody other than the "professional" and "more-money-than-sense" wealthy amateur crowd.

 

[JeffNYC]

+ 1 I guess to

Possibly, they've taken some of the Panasonic technology and can produce an EVF camera.. Of course M-mount is the icing on the cake.

 

[Calzone]

I'm thinking and praying that, for economy of manufacturing scale/supply, it's the M FF sensor.
Pete

Pete,

I'm right there with you. Use the FF sensors already developed for the "M" and lower costs by using the same suppliers via increased volume. I'm also hoping for a Monochrom version.

Like a Zeiss Ikon folder: small camera-big negative, I want a small camera-big sensor.

If a Monochrom version were available I would get one. Also as a business model it makes sense to have inter-changable M-mount to boost lens sales and demand.

Cal

 

[JeffNYC]

Then again....... just make anything which uses that Digilux 2 / LC1 Summicron zoom lens

 

[ZeissFan]

If it's an original product and not a Panasonic in Leica clothing, I think that it could be very interesting. I'd like to see something that rethinks the Micro 4/3 mount in a way that would excite traditional photographers.

However, Leica does have to play to the mass market, which likes to take photos with the camera hoisted in front of the face, rather than held up to the eye.

 

[Particular]

I don't believe it will be anything panasonic related, as that relationship is not much more than a licensing arrangement. The Leica S2, X1 and X2, and the new M are all developed fully in house. I think for Leica this was a learning curve. Soon they are opening up a new factory with larger production capacity in Wetzlar, so it seems to me they want to do more production, and less licensing.

The two products that make sense to me are:
a. A stripped down live view M mount camera, without a rangefinder, but possibly with a built in electronic viewfinder. This would create demand for M lenses, and for the custom full frame sensor that is used in the M. This would be a great second body for professionals, and a way to diversify the system. The one caveat would be that through the lens viewing using lenses with manual aperture, is kind of pre-1960. Also this camera would not be so mini, so I don't think this naming would make sense.

b. Less ambitious but I think more likely, is that they are making a version of the X2 with a built in viewfinder. This should be easy for them to do, and fits with their new marketing/naming scheme. Micro-M and Mini-M sit well together.

My money is on option b.


EDIT;
ps. My design suggestion for the Leica X2 is that the electronic viewfinder pops up where they now have the flash pop-up. That would be a very slick solution, but I doubt they would want to ax the flash to achieve this.

 

[jsrockit]

The idea of a Digi-CL is a tasty one.

I'd love to see a fixed lens RF. Monochrom even better. But I doubt it's going to be that.

The only way it'll be a "digital CL" would be if it is fixed lens. According to Leica, "The M stands for Messsucher, the German term for a combined rangefinder and viewfinder, and for an unmistakably individual kind of photography." Therefore, it could be fixed lens and still be an M.

I can't see them making a cheaper mechanical rangefinder camera that accepts all M lenses. They made that mistake before with the CL (which outsold Ms 2:1 according to cameraquest).

Also, the artical said it would not be a panasonic camera.

Leica has been hinting for years that they've been working on a mirrorless camera and that it would be APS-C or larger. Most assumed that camera was the M 240. Now it is clear that it wasn't.

Now, can a camera with a EVF and a digital rangefinder be considered a Leica M? Would they dare call a mirroless camera without a rangfinder of any kind a M?

 

[hub]

Like other, I do believe it will be the successor of the Panasonic L1, with a Leica badge, maybe slight design change. And maybe also some newer m43 primes to go with it.

The obsession on larger sensor size only comes with the legitimate will of people to reuse their M-mount glass.

 

[Calzone]

The only way it'll be a "digital CL" would be if it is fixed lens. According to Leica, "The M stands for Messsucher, the German term for a combined rangefinder and viewfinder, and for an unmistakably individual kind of photography." Therefore, it could be fixed lens and still be an M.

I can't see them making a cheaper mechanical rangefinder camera that accepts all M lenses. They made that mistake before with the CL (which outsold Ms 2:1 according to cameraquest).

Also, the artical said it would not be a panasonic camera.

Leica has been hinting for years that they've been working on a mirrorless camera and that it would be APS-C or larger. Most assumed that camera was the M 240. Now it is clear that it wasn't.

Now, can a camera with a EVF and a digital rangefinder be considered a Leica M? Would they dare call a mirroless camera without a rangfinder of any kind a M?

John,

Your insights of fixed lens and rangefinder make sense.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

The obsession on larger sensor size only comes with the legitimate will of people to reuse their M-mount glass.

How do you suppose Leica is going to be able to price the Mini-M between the $2000 X2 and the $7000 M 240 if it is simply a rebadged Panasonic L1 m4/3 successor?

Also, how would it be a "Mini-M" if it does not have a M mount and does not have a combined rangefinder / viewfinder?

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Maybe they could just license the Fuji line, slap a red dot on it and be done.

Phil Forrest

 

[L Collins]

an FF fully manual M without an LCD. Just the rangefinder. e.g. a digital m6. Works for me.

 

[varjag]

Mini M still has, well, M in the name - which rules out m4/3 and panasonic clones, as well as new lens mounts.

 

[Particular]

Mini M still has, well, M in the name - which rules out m4/3 and panasonic clones, as well as new lens mounts.

But the new marketing speech has M in the name of their whole line up, so they are just using it's cache to associate anything they sell back to the history of Leica. If fixed lens AF compacts are now called M, then M clearly does not stand for messsucher anymore, but it just means Leica.

 

[jsrockit]

Good point Christian... I never went to the actual Leica site to see that Leica themselves called the X2 and D-Lux a M. Well, that makes it wide open as far as I'm concerned. This camera might not even have a M mount or a RF/VF combo.