Meakin
Established
I remember a time, when a lot of people said that the M series would never go digital...
/Meakin
/Meakin
Richard Marks
Rexel
I doubt that there have been all that many "new" RF users. The M8 market is primarily for RF film users who for a large nunmber of reasons want to use their precious M glass for digital image capture. The M8 achieves this, and resolution wise goes beyond 35mm film (at least ISO320 beats ASA400 film in my opinion), so we ought to be happy! Obviously the 1.33 sensor crop is a nuisance as this prevents using the same lens with the same perspective on film and digital, and yes full frame would be nice. I have had 2.5 years of super photography with the M8 and no regrets at all about buying one. I think what disatisfactions I have are more to do with the fact that Leica have always made a big deal about "perfection" , but the early M8 release was very short of the mark, and whilst most of the problems have been fixed, it does still leave a bit of a bad taste.
Richard
Richard
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
The first thing I noticed with the announcement of the Leica S2 is its introduction as Leica’s new "flagship."
The Leica (digital) M niche market is simply too small for me to believe that there will be any competitors. So the notion that Leica may well be discontinuing the M line is something they could be considering (a notion I haven’t thought of) - they did it once already back in 1975, so they could do it again.
However, with the introduction of these new high speed M lenses, Leica seems fully entrenched in (and committed to) the M-line. The M9, should there be one at all, will surely have a smaller crop-factor and a higher resolution sensor. 2011 seems to me most likely the soonest. Until then Leica will be pushing some interesting upgrades on us M8/M8.2 owners.
The Leica (digital) M niche market is simply too small for me to believe that there will be any competitors. So the notion that Leica may well be discontinuing the M line is something they could be considering (a notion I haven’t thought of) - they did it once already back in 1975, so they could do it again.
However, with the introduction of these new high speed M lenses, Leica seems fully entrenched in (and committed to) the M-line. The M9, should there be one at all, will surely have a smaller crop-factor and a higher resolution sensor. 2011 seems to me most likely the soonest. Until then Leica will be pushing some interesting upgrades on us M8/M8.2 owners.
swoop
Well-known
I say definitely two years until the next digital M.
DelDavis
.
It's because there are those of us who don't want to deal with external IR filters and the various other hassles (e.g. servicing) involved with M8 ownership, especially for the price paid. If the hypothetical M9 solved these issues, but was still hideously expensive, then maybe I'd consider it.
FWIW, I'm shooting with a Zeiss Ikon, but desperately wanting a digital version. A $6200 M8 just doesn't cut the mustard for me. I am considering buying used, but it's mostly the IR issue holding me back. I'm not that concerned about a cropped sensor.
It's not that I want something new; it's that I've sampled the benefits of digital photography, and their siren song is calling me back again. I really do miss the ability to take test exposures and get immediate feedback. That's just such a powerful learning tool. And changing ISO on the fly? The first time I did that with my Canon 20D I thought humanity had finally transcended to perfection.
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John Camp
Well-known
At least two years, I would think -- I wouldn't be terribly surprised if it were announced, if not shown, at the next Photokina. I also wouldn't be too surprised if it were a smaller but FF version of the S2 chip, which would give a new M9 about 24mp. Even a 1.3x crop version would make it comparable to the Canons, and probably better in IQ. The question is...does the market remain? I would like to know how many M8s that Leica actually sold.
JC
JC
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Anyone want the Party Line?
Yes, there will be a full-frame M9. That's from Leica themselves. I spent a modest amount of time with them (a few hours in total) at photokina, talking to a number of people including Dr. Kaufmann.
Now my own speculation, totally unsupported by the Party Line.
I have the impression that they have revised downwards their estimate of when the full-frame will arrive. photokina 2010 might indeed see a prototype, but I woudn't bet on it, and I wouldn't bet on availability in under 3 years; quite possibly, it might be photokina 2012, but with availability shortly afterwards.
We know, though, that Leica can be VERY good at keeping a secret: the AFRIKA project (S2) demonstrates this...
Cheers,
R.
Yes, there will be a full-frame M9. That's from Leica themselves. I spent a modest amount of time with them (a few hours in total) at photokina, talking to a number of people including Dr. Kaufmann.
Now my own speculation, totally unsupported by the Party Line.
I have the impression that they have revised downwards their estimate of when the full-frame will arrive. photokina 2010 might indeed see a prototype, but I woudn't bet on it, and I wouldn't bet on availability in under 3 years; quite possibly, it might be photokina 2012, but with availability shortly afterwards.
We know, though, that Leica can be VERY good at keeping a secret: the AFRIKA project (S2) demonstrates this...
Cheers,
R.