The future of the digital rangefinder?

[silvalis]

Leica FF hybrid with evf, uses existing compact m-mount lenses; includes HD video. Light weight, compact, FF digital system. (no mechanical rf) 🙂

How do you plan to focus?

 

[DougFord]

How do you plan to focus?

It’s not in the design spec. yet. Too early.
Still working on the sensor/light angle thing. 😱
Seriously though, you gotta believe that leica is pursuing this possibility.
The good DR. and Rudy have to pour every penny they’ve got into the dev of the leica ff hybrid concept camera.
Imagine a light weight compact FF hybrid system with the name LEICA on it. And it also shoots HD video through any m-mount glass.
Truly a camera for the ages. The first 21st century camera. They did it last century. I see no reason why they can’t do it again!🙄😀😀

 

[alien8]

And since all you're looking at is a screen where MF accuracy is highly questionable...the rangefinder system would outperform any DSLR with video mode by leaps and bounds.

But any potential benefit of rangefinder focussing would be lost in a video application, since it's only the center of the viewfinder area that is used for focussing, which is not where subjects will necessarily will be. If rangefinders were great for video/film applications they would have been added to those cameras early in the last century. As far as I know, they weren't, or at least they didn't stay on. If I'm wrong about rangefinders not being used in film and video industries, please correct me.

 

[sjw617]

The drawback to the 5dmkII and other DSLR's with movie mode is that there is no autofocus while in video mode (the autofocus sensor is under the top layer of the mirror...when it flops up to expose the sensor...no more AF) And since all you're looking at is a screen where MF accuracy is highly questionable...the rangefinder system would outperform any DSLR with video mode by leaps and bounds.

But yes, serious photographers are looking more to still cameras that offer video for various reasons. I teach at a photography school, and in the PJ class they're required to utilize these functions and create multimedia presentations.

Video is a function of live mode. Live mode is full mirror lock up. There are 3 auto focus modes on the 5dmkII for live mode. Why would they work fine for individual pictures and not video? My Canon has live mode and auto focus works fine.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I have to agree with Bill Mattock that traditional RFs and DSLRs are on the way out and that cameras featuring very good EVFs are likely the way ahead. It is a new viewing system that could become very good for manual focusing and you would still have good AF and video if you wanted it. The Panasonic G1 shows the potential of this system.

Bob