Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Sorry ... but I have now secumbed to 'M9 frenzy' which truly shocks and ashames me!
It does make me ask this question though ... will Zeiss see Leica's bold move as incentive or disincentive regarding potential development of a digital Ikon?
It does make me ask this question though ... will Zeiss see Leica's bold move as incentive or disincentive regarding potential development of a digital Ikon?
Personally, I think Zeiss/Cosina will come out with a Digital camera and it will be 60% of the cost of the M9, or less.The fact that an $8,000 Full-frame M9 has created this much stir should tell them there is interest in the product and that many are waiting for a less expensive alternative.
Of course, film cameras are a less expensive alternative.
Of course, film cameras are a less expensive alternative.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I think it'll be cloudy with a chance of rain.
Jim Radcliffe
Hack Photographer
I have always felt that competition in the marketplace is a good thing for us consumers. A competing full frame M-Mount rangefinder from Zeiss would be a welcome, and probably a much more affordable option. I would love to see it happen but I will not hold my breath.
Mackinaw
Think Different
Depends if the M9 has legs or not. If Leica sells 20,000 M9 cameras for a couple of years, Zeiss just may get into the game. If the M9 sells well the first year, then sales nosedive, Zeiss may pass.
Jim B.
Jim B.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
If the M9 becomes the runaway success story that Leica hope for ... maybe Zeiss will be content to just lean back and bask in the extra lens sales it will create?
sojournerphoto
Veteran
No, but the Ikon is an 'improved M7' (runs for the hills - original quote M Johnston...) and offering an improved M9 at a similar or lower price might be a stretch.
Perosnally I hope they do.
Mike
ZeissFan
Veteran
It's a complex answer. From the start Carl Zeiss AG has said that a digital camera was always a viable option. It didn't mean yes, but at the same time it was never a definitive no.
I think we can be certain that Zeiss has been closely watching the M8 and will be closely watching the M9. Remember, their goal is not to sell bodies so much as it is to sell lenses. That's how it was with Kodak and its many cameras -- the end goal was to sell film, not cameras.
And if a digital version of the Zeiss Ikon will help them achieve that goal, then we'll see one. Personally, I think it's a matter of "when" and not "if."
I think they would like to avoid the problems that Leica encountered with the M8 and not have to send to every customer a special filter. That's not a cost-effective strategy, by any stretch.
This would likely be the last digital camera that I would buy. For me, digital is a fruitless endeavour, and I get much more satisfaction from trying and using different emulsions instead of figuring out how to not blow the highlights or spending a good portion of the time click-click-clicking through menus for one option.
I think we can be certain that Zeiss has been closely watching the M8 and will be closely watching the M9. Remember, their goal is not to sell bodies so much as it is to sell lenses. That's how it was with Kodak and its many cameras -- the end goal was to sell film, not cameras.
And if a digital version of the Zeiss Ikon will help them achieve that goal, then we'll see one. Personally, I think it's a matter of "when" and not "if."
I think they would like to avoid the problems that Leica encountered with the M8 and not have to send to every customer a special filter. That's not a cost-effective strategy, by any stretch.
This would likely be the last digital camera that I would buy. For me, digital is a fruitless endeavour, and I get much more satisfaction from trying and using different emulsions instead of figuring out how to not blow the highlights or spending a good portion of the time click-click-clicking through menus for one option.
oldoc
oldoc
Not gonna affect my M8 and MP shooting..
xayraa33
rangefinder user and fancier
It will encourage Zeiss to make a DRf camera.
Even a less than full frame compact that will list for $1999.99
Even a less than full frame compact that will list for $1999.99
kbg32
neo-romanticist
I don't think it will encourage or discourage Zeiss. I think they'll remain on the fence for quite sometime. Someday maybe, but not while the economy is the way it is. Leica is already committed and has a loyal following.
Mephiloco
Well-known
I thought one of the big guys from zeiss was quoted recently saying there will be no digital RF put out by them, stating if they were able to produce one, they wouldn't be able to sell it at a price point competitive with the M8 or M9
35mmdelux
Veni, vidi, vici
Zeiss is a well run company with alot of clout. So far as I know thy're not a camera company outside a few lost leaders and IKON to support the M-mount sales. I dont see them launching a big digi project unless they hear cha-ching.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
There is a limited market for DRF cameras. Splitting it between Leica and Zeiss would hurt both of them, I'm afraid.
swoop
Well-known
I don't think Zeiss will bother with a digital Ikon until they can afford to make it fullframe And provide it at 2/3rds the price of the leica equivalent.
Zeiss knows there's no point in making a digital Ikon unless it can be full frame. They also know that right now there is no cheap way to go about it. Zeiss also doesn't have the means to manufacture such a camera. Cosina currently produces the Ikon and Zeiss lenses. And Cosina has no digital capabilities whatsoever. Zeiss would have to do the research themselves or hire someone to do it. And they would be in exactly the same boat Leica was in when it started on the M8. They'd have to develop everything from scratch. Zeiss would probably have the benefit of being abe to use Sony sensors. The same sensors that are in Nikon cameras because of Zeiss and Sony's relationship.
Zeiss has nothing much to gain from a digital Ikon. They do fine selling lenses and licensing their name. Leica created the M8 out of necessity. A digital M was needed to keep the brand and the company alive. They needed to create a digital M to keep selling lenses. Zeiss doesn't. They create lenses for a variet of camera formats/brands. And I guarantee a lot of Zeiss lenses, Like Voigtlander lenses will be placed on M8's and M9's. With Leica creating the digital rangefinder, everyone wins.
I say it'll be at least 3 years until we see a digital Zeiss Ikon if ever.
Zeiss knows there's no point in making a digital Ikon unless it can be full frame. They also know that right now there is no cheap way to go about it. Zeiss also doesn't have the means to manufacture such a camera. Cosina currently produces the Ikon and Zeiss lenses. And Cosina has no digital capabilities whatsoever. Zeiss would have to do the research themselves or hire someone to do it. And they would be in exactly the same boat Leica was in when it started on the M8. They'd have to develop everything from scratch. Zeiss would probably have the benefit of being abe to use Sony sensors. The same sensors that are in Nikon cameras because of Zeiss and Sony's relationship.
Zeiss has nothing much to gain from a digital Ikon. They do fine selling lenses and licensing their name. Leica created the M8 out of necessity. A digital M was needed to keep the brand and the company alive. They needed to create a digital M to keep selling lenses. Zeiss doesn't. They create lenses for a variet of camera formats/brands. And I guarantee a lot of Zeiss lenses, Like Voigtlander lenses will be placed on M8's and M9's. With Leica creating the digital rangefinder, everyone wins.
I say it'll be at least 3 years until we see a digital Zeiss Ikon if ever.
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SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
I'm with Gabriel... let's take an umbrella, just in case.
Jason Sprenger
Well-known
I think there's a window of opportunity to re-invent and re-invigorate the RF market while Canon/Nikon/Sony are still married to mirror-box cameras in their high-end offerings.
However, I expect Panasonic or Olympus to take better advantage of the situation than Zeiss or even Leica.
However, I expect Panasonic or Olympus to take better advantage of the situation than Zeiss or even Leica.
wgerrard
Veteran
I doubt it will have any impact on Zeiss one way or another. You can buy a Mercedes for over $300k. Has that fact had any influence on, say, Toyota?
Small companies -- every RF company is small -- don't have the resources to build plants to fabricate their own sensors. So, they buy them. When full-frame sensors are cheap enough to allow the marketing of a $2000 full-frame digital RF, then Leica, Zeiss and Cosina will all be in the same position at the same time.
Small companies -- every RF company is small -- don't have the resources to build plants to fabricate their own sensors. So, they buy them. When full-frame sensors are cheap enough to allow the marketing of a $2000 full-frame digital RF, then Leica, Zeiss and Cosina will all be in the same position at the same time.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
Jason, you are talking about something other than rangefinders. I suspect neither Panasonic nor Oympus have any interest at all in true rangefinder cameras. They may ultimately kill optical rangefinder cameras with their higher end products, but they surely won't participate in the RF market.