Would you buy a Digital Leica CL ?

[apostasiometritis]

Well, I'm not sure how a $3000-4000 rangefinder is going to solve that issue since they can buy a M8 for $1500 and a M9 for $3500. If they are starved, then they can buy one of these.

I'd never buy an M8 or M9 for that amount of money with no guarantee or easy repair options (see M8). That is the only reason I do not have an epson R-D1; the lack of servicing options and cost of existing ones.

Honestly, for lots of people digital means "new" only.

If Voigtlander can afford to sell the Bessa series at £700 in the UK, I am sure they could find a way to manufacture the thing at £1200 with the right concessions made.

 

[Strawberry]

I'd rather buy something like a digital Contax G. Autofocus. And that probably is where mirrorless is taking us?

I like (real) rangefinders but wouldn't pay 3000 euros for a digital one ...
3000 euros means workhorse and digital means workhorse and workhorse means autofocus for me.
Autofocus because clients expect you to get everything all the time, because Canikon does that.

For everything else I like film much more than digital.

 

[jsrockit]

I'd rather buy something like a digital Contax G. Autofocus. And that probably is where mirrorless is taking us?

Fuji X-Pro1...

 

[jsrockit]

If Voigtlander can afford to sell the Bessa series at £700 in the UK, I am sure they could find a way to manufacture the thing at £1200 with the right concessions made.

Ok, couple that with the supposed frothing masses for a digital RF camera and why hasn't anyone done it? I'm not trying to be rude, but to point out that these fantasy camera threads have been here for many many years. The $3000 digital rangefinder seems to only be talked about here.

 

[apostasiometritis]

Ok, couple that with the supposed frothing masses for a digital RF camera and why hasn't anyone done it? I'm not trying to be rude, but to point out that these fantasy camera threads have been here for many many years. The $3000 digital rangefinder seems to only be talked about here.

I did not speak about frothing masses, nor I want to argue about anything.

Perhaps the best way of going about it is letting the vote run its course.

A budget digital rangefinder is not a fantasy camera. It has been produced in the past, when digital photographic equipment was very expensive.
The technology is there and the electronics that could make it true are tantalizingly affordable at this point in time.

I respect your opinion and approach to it, but I would not brand anyone a fantasist for wanting an affordable digital rangefinder camera.

As to why none has produced it, I am not sure, but I know for sure that in this current economical climate people are very reluctant to go for anything out of the ordinary.

 

[jsrockit]

A budget digital rangefinder is not a fantasy camera.

It has been produced in the past, when digital photographic equipment was very expensive. The technology is there and the electronics that could make it true are tantalizingly affordable at this point in time.

I respect your opinion and approach to it, but I would not brand anyone a fantasist for wanting an affordable digital rangefinder camera.

It's a fantasy camera since we've all been clamouring for it for years and no one has made it happen. Oh, I want one too...don't get me wrong. However, there has to be a reason that only two companies have made a digital rangefinder and both are/were expensive.

 

[semilog]

I already did. It's called the Fuji X-E1. It also is sometimes called the NEX-5 or NEX-7. You can quibble and say that it's not just like a CL or CLE and on that point, I'd have to agree. The X-E1 is vastly better and more capable (yes, I also own a CLE). I've done better work with the X-E1 than I ever did with my CLE.

 

[apostasiometritis]

I already did. It's called the Fuji X-E1. It also is sometimes called the NEX-5 or NEX-7.

Yes, I know, this is probably what I will go for at the end. Quite solid photography machines.

As for the expensive bit, I do not think that an APS-C camera at £1200 is cheap when (yes, I know, higher volume of sales) DSLRs go for £300. We are talking four-fold price difference here.

But it is affordable enough to break the mental barrier - well, mine anyway.

 

[rfaspen]

I voted no, too expensive. Not because I wouldn't want one. Price point is the issue.

Price point for me: around $1500.

It remains a dream of mine to acquire a full frame digital that accepts M-mount lenses. I'm not at all picky about manufacturer. It would be nice if the camera was well proportioned, functional, etc. The CL and CLE are certainly nice form factor. Come to think of it, first I need a CL or CLE.

 

[CameraQuest]

To this point in time,
the Ricoh GXR may be the closest camera so far to a digital CL
and its not all that close
unfortunately it seems Ricoh has decided not to keep it updated
- instead spending their new project money on more average consumer products like the Pentax Q.
too bad for Ricoh, dumming down their camera lineup.

Stephen

 

[DougFord]

Leica is an electronics consumer manufacturer of high end cameras for the well heeled photo enthusiast.
The ME is the redheaded stepchild of their digital camera line- up, no live view, no EVF option, no sales.
Live view and optional EVF are what the electronics consumer demands, along with apparently a very slow zoom lens.
They already manufacture an m mount digital camera with a RF, live view and optional EVF and its called the M and its back ordered, so why devalue the m-mount branding?
FWIW, I don't see a digital CL happening in this product environment.
Leica knows their market and they've invested the time and expense to design and manufacture the Leica mini to meet that demand. Presumably they've spent zero time designing a digital CL.
This is Leica, take it or leave it.

 

[Tom Diaz]

"CL" has many connotations for me, including "compromise(d) focusing." I'm not sure what that would mean in the digital era or whether there needs to be much compromise. But, for instance, I would happily buy one for $3K if it had full frame but an electronic-only viewfinder. I would wish for a more versatile optical-electrical finder a la the Fuji X-Pro 1, but at least this way I would get the full bang out of my Leica lenses.

Tom

 

[Duane Pandorf]

To this point in time,
the Ricoh GXR may be the closest camera so far to a digital CL
and its not all that close
unfortunately it seems Ricoh has decided not to keep it updated
- instead spending their new project money on more average consumer products like the Pentax Q.
too bad for Ricoh, dumming down their camera lineup.

Stephen

I really enjoyed shooting with my Ricoh GXR-M. It introduced me to M mount lenses and now a Leica M-E. My issue with a cropped sensor M mount camera is no one makes a compact 35mm FOV lens. The Leica 24mm lenses are the closest you'll get to 35mm. But you'll pay dearly for the Lux version to get any kind of OOF character from small sensor.

The other issue I had out of the GXR was durability. Sure I could keep buying the GXR body and EVF and maybe my continuous traveling was the cause but I have to have a body that can endure.

Having never handled a CL but having seen comparison photos and now that I have a M body, I voted the second option.

 

[Godfrey]

To this point in time,
the Ricoh GXR may be the closest camera so far to a digital CL
and its not all that close
unfortunately it seems Ricoh has decided not to keep it updated
- instead spending their new project money on more average consumer products like the Pentax Q.
too bad for Ricoh, dumming down their camera lineup.

The GXR-M is a great piece just as it is. While there are things I'd change about it given the opportunity, it doesn't really need an update.

It's not a digital CL but it is, indeed, the closest TTL electronic camera to it available in form factor and overall feel. Next to it is the NEX 6 body, which might be a smidge closer due to the built-in EVF in terms of feel, but I haven't worked with one yet to say whether it works as well as the Ricoh with all my lenses.

G

 

[raid]

I was curious about digital Leica cameras, so I bought an M8 and an M9. Now I am not curious about it anymore.

Bbc.com had an article yesterday on the come-back of audio cassettes. People are getting tired of digtal (0,1) music. Maybe people will also get tired of digital imaging?

 

[charlesholland]

I voted no, irrespective of the price tag. I just don't want to follow the consumers track: every camera has its restrictions and strengths. I decided for 1 digital camera: the sony nex7 that has evrything I need: live view, interchangeable lenses, lots of adapters, good sensor (though with its known limitations). The funds that I don't need to spend to stay on the digital track are used for analogue: this keeps me in the learning curve of photography, rather then in the learning curve of user manuals.....

 

[jsrockit]

Bbc.com had an article yesterday on the come-back of audio cassettes. People are getting tired of digtal (0,1) music. Maybe people will also get tired of digital imaging?

The comeback is not mainstream though. Without the mainstream, there is no true comeback for formats IMO.

 

[shadowfox]

I don't care about the M-mount compatibility (don't mind it either, just not my priority).
But anyone who can come up with a compact full-frame digital with a good viewfinder today is worth $3000 to me.

Sure beats RX1 which cost about that much with no viewfinder.

 

[semilog]

We are in a golden age for small cameras. I have to admit: I am baffled by the obsession with "full frame," particularly when we have so many fast light µ4/3 and APS-C cameras that offer IQ equal or better than a D700: Panasonic, Fuji, Samsung, Olympus, Sony… David Alan Harvey is shooting with an X100S and says the file quality is comparable to FF. He shoots with that and GX1/GF1. That of course is what the lab tests say, too. But this is a renowned working photographer taking his files under field conditions. And he is printing his pictures BIG for gallery exhibition. 48" long edge is common for him at this point.

Moreover, we're perhaps a year or two away from APS-C sensors that equal a D800 or 5DIII.

 

[Monochrom]

We need an Epson/Voigtlander Bessa Rd1x to be re issued and the sensor upgraded....it´s not that difficult or is it???

It doesn´t have to be Full frame...