New Leica mirrorless camera coming

[Jim Evidon]

This is from DP Review yesterday:

"...Leica reported to be planning mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
Wednesday, 13 July 2011 22:33 GMT < Previous Next >

Leica's CEO is reported to have confirmed the company will introduce a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera system. The British Journal of Photography (BJP) quotes Alfred Schopf as saying: "It's more than an idea. You will see something at the next Photokina [trade show]." He also told them that it will use an: "APS-C sized sensor at least." The move would see the German company (which already makes the fixed-lens APS-C-sensor X1 model, pictured) join Panasonic, Olympus, Sony and Samsung in the large-sensor mirrorless market - the fastest growing camera segment in most countries. (From BJP)..."

I have a Panasonic GF1 as a backup for my Leica's. I think that mirrorless cameras are the greatest thing since Oskar Barnack invented the Leica.
We should look forward to this new camera to be shown at the next Photokina.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

"at least"? hmmm

 

[erik]

"mirrorless interchangeable lens camera"

describes any M. and any SM camera too.

I think a digital Leica II would be cool.

 

[back alley]

a panasonic m4/3 with a red dot...and twice the price...

 

[drewbarb]

a panasonic m4/3 with a red dot...and twice the price...

Well, if the part about it being an APS-C sensor is accurate, this won't be the case. I have no doubt it'll cost the earth, but at least we have reason to imagine it will have a decent sized sensor.

 

[Rayt]

If this means there will be Leica lenses for cropped sensors to follow then I am interested. The 25/1.4 I have for 4/3 is damn good.

 

[hugivza]

I note that Voiglander has recently introduced a micro 4/3 25mm 0.95 Nokton. It sells here in Singapore for SGD 1250 - about USD 1050. I have the X1 which was great for a recent visit to Angkor Wat.

 

[johannielscom]

Likely an updated X1, maybe sporting an EVF, Barnack style.

 

[rxmd]

After the S series, developing yet another system from scratch seems like a formidable and highly risky R&D strategy.

 

[eleskin]

M8 crop would be fine

M8 crop would be fine

If this new camera had the 1.3 crop of the M8 and had superior high ISO I would be VERY interested!!!!!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I have a Panasonic GF1 as a backup for my Leica's. I think that mirrorless cameras are the greatest thing since Oskar Barnack invented the Leica.

Well, field cameras are mirror-less and existed for almost a century before the commercial availability of Leica cameras. The rangefinder principle was first employed on a Kodak camera, btw.





Now...since the X1 is also "mirrorless", I don't think anybody can begin to guess what they mean. Their English translations are sometimes a little bit embellished.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I think everyone here knows what mirrorless means, in this context.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I know that's what everybody is thinking, but...then again: we don't know. I really wouldn't be surprised if they pull a groaner.

If they don't, then, I'd be very very very surprised. Leica has had a lot of misses with the expectations set with their press releases in recent memory. So we can guess all we want, but "assuming" what the meaning of "is" is (conjugated, or a typoed Si?)...you just never know.

 

[jsrockit]

Leica has had a lot of misses with the expectations set with their press releases in recent memory.

Like what>?

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Like what>?

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/18363/leica-m8/

 

[jsrockit]

http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/18363/leica-m8/

Well, they did offer upgrades, just not perpetual (which would make no sense anyway). Also, I would imagine firing Steven K. Lee changed the direction of the company big time.

 

[gfspencer]

I would love to have a camera similar to my GF-1 but with the ability to use and recognize my Leica M lenses. If I am going to have to buy a whole new set of lenses then I am not interested.

 

[johannielscom]

On that hideous M9 with the projected frame lines they experimented a bit on changing the specifics of the rangefinder concept. Testing the water, perhaps?

How about an M10 with a viewfinder and EVF projected image to accomplish focus? I've been proposing it for the Fujifilm X100 since it should not even be all that hard to build with modern technics...

Still, I think it will be just an updated Leica X1, though 😱

 

[Jim Evidon]

I would love to have a camera similar to my GF-1 but with the ability to use and recognize my Leica M lenses. If I am going to have to buy a whole new set of lenses then I am not interested.

I think that Spencer had the only response that understood what the release said. My interpretation is that they are going to release a 4/3's format camera similar to the GF-1 in concept. It is a growing field and they are smart to get in on the ground floor.

For those who have the M series digital cameras, there will be limited interest. For those that are looking for Leica quality and name recognition and damn the price, and I think that there are probably enough to satisfy the marketing needs of a small uber-quality camera company like Leica. I know that I never go anywhere without GF-1 as a backup along with my Leicas. I personally would like to have one that is as small as the GF-1 with auto focus capability and and would recognize my manual focus Leica lenses without having to program the camera manually such as is the case of the new Ricoh GXR A12 M lens capable module.

 

[LCT]

Stefan Daniel said that Leica is not interested by 4/3 and that he prefers APS-C. See http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/191671-stefan-daniel-new-m-aps-c.html