No M9 yet, hello Nex 7 and full frame in 2012!!!!

[CK Dexter Haven]

Full frame or not, users will not experience better pictures, contrary to popular belief. Whatever the NEX 8 will/may have, it's not why die hard Leica M 'users' chose the Leica M8/9. There is still no other M mount 'rangefinder' available, among other M benefits.

Being an "M" is not a "benefit." It's just a characteristic. There's nothing inherently better about the way Leica does things. Users may adopt it and adapt to it, but that's all- it's not a 'better' way of doing anything. And, in many cases, it's actually a hindrance.

There will always be a more 'feature-capable' camera out there, and there will always be 'better photographers' just wanting/needing simplicity. That is what the M is about, making the photographer do the work, photography in it's simplest form - a lightbox, aperture, shutter and lens.

"Photography" is about the result. If you view two images, you have no idea whether they were shot entirely in manual mode, manually focused, and with exposure by guesstimation or Minolta spot meter versus an AF camera in Program mode. "In its simplest form - a lightbox, aperture, shutter and lens?" Aren't we discussing the M9 versus an NEX7/8? There's quite a bit more to both of those instruments. It's funny how Leica manages to convince people an M9 is still the 'most direct connection between a photographer and light' or somesuch nonsense. They're all little computers.

And, to me, using AF is simpler than trying to match up a little tinted window within another window. To me, a simpler process of photography is being able to focus the camera while it's actually IN the composition i want to use. A manual focus rangefinder doesn't do that. To me, it's simpler to be able to see what the actual DOF is going to be.... Stuff like that.

Therefor I'm saying that the NEX will be a great small mirror-less camera, but it shouldn't be compared to the Leica M cameras, and vice versa. The size is the only thing they have in common. Both systems are great for different reasons but the NEX cannot replace an M9 unless the user wants a totally different camera/style of shooting.

That's like splitting hairs. Like, when all the Leica people felt a need to insist a Contax G2 wasn't a "real rangefinder." Whatever their little operational differences- they don't matter except to people who need to diminish one in some sort of argument.

I don't know why there are so many of these arguments. They seem to arise when the Leica is somehow 'challenged,' and doesn't have such a clearcut advantage in the comparison. That's when we shouldn't compare it.

[Sorry, Leicashot. I used your post, but i'm not really targeting you. I'm also very hungry, so, there's that....]

 

[alien8]

I believe that it was sonyalpharumors where I read about this. I have no idea if this is a credible source. I don't think that companies are going to build a full frame camera to make money. They do it as a marketing tool demonstrating their technological expertise. I doubt that the M9 will remain as the only full frame mirrorless camera, but in the tough economy, practicality might just win out and you will be proven correct. I'm hoping that at least one new full frame camera that accepts 'M' lenses is introduced in 2012. Leica is a likely candidate for an M10, or their hinted at new system of unknown sensor size. Fujifilm recently introduced a medium format film camera... how does that make marketing sense? They might just spring for a full frame camera with simple controls. Sony.. I haven't really followed them much.. They certainly have the expertise to do it.

What you're saying makes sense. It's certainly possible that a full frame mirrorless will appear on the market in the next year or so, but I'm not convinced that the odds are in our favour. I don't currently own any kind of digital camera, and I have limited means. I have few M lenses and when I look at the digital market today I feel like the nex 5n and 7 are my best bets for digital bodies that would compliment my lenses. I'd love to have a full frame option of almost any kind but I don't see it happening very soon.
cheers,
sean

 

[Avotius]

I absolutely do not believe the rumors of a full frame nex. It could only take alpha lenses and would be a small body, long tube and then a lens mount....with alpha lenses on the other end. That is not a small camera and does not seem to subscribe to Sony's design philosophy with the nex.

 

[eleskin]

Lessons from View Cameras and the mirror less full frame box

Lessons from View Cameras and the mirror less full frame box

With view cameras, we have a place for film and to mount a lens, any lens in fact that can be mounted on a lens board to produce an image. Everything is universal and interchangeable. Now imagine that logic applied to a box we mount lenses on. As digital cameras continue to advance with better high ISO resolution dynamic range, etc,, the differences will blur between models and form factor (layout, DSLR, RANGEFINDER, etc) will be one of the deciding factors.

Mirrorless designs have one major advantage over any camera in that they can mount a vastly larger selection of lenses than other designs. Just like the view camera! This is a MAJOR selling point and in fact makes the use of many types of lenses possible. Great news for photographers that believe lenses are more important than boxes (something I always believed). Any full frame model can take full advantage of any lens ever made for the 35mm format. Artistically, this is a huge benefit. Lenses form the image, create the color casts, sharpen, soften, create shadow detail, etc,,, we all know this. They are the paint brushes and paint for the canvas. The sensor and even film are the canvas.

Mirrorless designs, especially APSC to Full Frame will increase the value of many lenses, especially used classics from many manufacturers.

My advise: Start buying as much used quality glass as possible on Ebay (M mount, screw mount, Minolta, Canon, Nikon, Olympus, etc,,,). Not quite Gold (Noctilux is different here, better than gold ha haaa) , but a decent investment. Prices will go up. Mark my words!!!

 

[gavinlg]

I absolutely do not believe the rumors of a full frame nex. It could only take alpha lenses and would be a small body, long tube and then a lens mount....with alpha lenses on the other end. That is not a small camera and does not seem to subscribe to Sony's design philosophy with the nex.

Agreed. It would need an entire new lens system.

I think people are confusing rumors of a full frame DSLR/SLT with the nex.

 

[splitimageview]

Prices will go up. Mark my words!!!

This has been happening for two+ years starting with m4/3.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

The NEX is already full frame with its native lenses. 😉

Oh, details details! 🙄