New Leica EVIL and the Contax AX solution

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eleskin

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Well, the pre Photokina rumors are flying, but from what I am reading, it seems Leica is about to show the world a totally new kind of camera based on the autofocus system of the Contax AX. It looks like there will be a full frame EVIL camera with autofocus that can take M lenses, R lenses, or any lens ever made for that matter. Rumors have it the sensor will move for the autofocus function. This will be "THE" hot item. Leica could market it as a universal camera that can use any lens, and if you like, the premium M and R mount lenses if you want top quality. It will probably have the M9 sensor.

I own an M8, and would probably buy an M9 0r M10. This solution would be very attractive in that it would give a rangefinder shooter the flexibility of autofocus if they wanted it. Immagine wedding photographers and others using M glass with this new camera, and then having the M9 when they want to use a rangefinder. This could even add even more value to used aand new Leica M and R lenses (boy am I glad I invested in glass when I bought my first M 20 years ago and when I bought an M8 in 07).

Lets hope this rumor is true. It would be very smart for Leica, and may very well show the world that Leica has just built the most intelligently designed 21st century camera yet, and was the first camera and lens maker to make a truly universal camera body that can take ANY lens!!!

My mouth just waters thinking about the possibilities. For me, Lenses are where it is at, and I can just see all the old glass (Minolta 58mm f1.2, etc,,) coming back to life and increeasing in value!
 
Sounds interesting from technical point of view, but the question is wheter Leica M users need AF (what means bigger camera than M9 I guess) and whether the AF will be able to compete with Canon or Nikon DSLRs and with price about $10k I am not that sure. There is the S2 for serious DSLR shooters (or Pentax 645D for that matter ...).

But I am curious indeed :)
 
i'm not too sure about the moving sensor autofocus. none of their new lenses, m or r, have infinity locks. that doesn't sound right.
 
Yeah, Right.

Yeah, Right.

Any lens ever made? I'll bet it can do that without even needing any adapters, right? :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I do not see it happening on anything like a short telephoto- the travel is large, and the camera would be huge. Defeats the purpose. I really do not see the point, people like RF's for a reason.

I found some "trivia" in an old Pop Photo. The Leica S1. 1997. Used both M-Mount and R-Mount lenses. Designed for studio use, used a scanning sensor. Took 3~5 MINutes per image. Did anybody buy them?
 
Forget AF. It would already be cool to "just" get the full frame EVIL camera. With manual focus. For less than the price of an M9.

They should have provided an EVF with contrast focus for the M9. Then you could adapt your R lenses.
 
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Live View update for the M9 and a Leica M to R adapter and you're in business to use any R lens on the M9.

Easiest solution and it sells a lot more M9's too, which is a lot cheaper than launching another system or buying into an existing one.

the M9.2 is coming, and it might have film capacity too once Live View is accomplished. the "Leive Ca"! :p
 
Perhaps they've come up with a mount made of some special alloy (terminator 2) that can morph into any desired configuration?
 
lol Keith.

All I want from this (potential) new camera is the price of M camera going down in the 2nd hand market. :D
 
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