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Want a Leica MF Kit?

LJL

New member
Rob,
Not sure where you and others would like this discussion to take place....here in the MF forum, or in the R forum. Anyway, here are some thoughts.

It remains unclear to me where Leica plans to fit into the landscape at this point. If they are not willing or able to compete against Nikon, Canon and others on the 35mm DSLR front, and trying to hit the expected marks there for AF, fps speed, high-ISO, etc., and they attempt to cross into the MF world, what can/will they offer? First, the idea of a sensor just a bit larger than present 36x24 for 35mm format seems like a bit of a non-starter. If that is merely to allow use of their older R glass, it seems like a bit of a waste. That glass may be great, but if they are not going to field a camera that really is in line with the original glass design and capabilities, they appear to be heading for a new disaster, IMHO. They could use the R glass and design a non retrofocus device with no mirror box, using live view instead to get the most from the closer image circle of the present lenses. That may be interesting, and capable of being somewhat compact, but it probably would be more like a MF point and shoot, but really hard to work. Manual focus on a device without a real viewfinder or ground glass just seems problematic for all but studio or tripod work.

Then there is the issue of ability to even build and service a MF camera. Would somebody else be making the body for them?

The other prospect for Leica getting into MF is because it is already a smaller/niche market with premium glass and output expectations, would be to create a completely new camera body and new glass. That does nothing for the existing R glass owners, but by striking out to a new format, they would only need to offer a more limited line of glass to fewer places. This could be doable, but they would really need to show that what they have is at least as good, if not better than what Hasselblad, Phase/Mamiya, Sinar/Leaf/Rollei are now putting into the market. And prices for those kits are becoming more affordable at the lower end, which is where Leica would have to start competing. (If they jump in with a $50K rig at 50-60MP and 3-4 potential lenses, they may have few takers to start, as there is a lot of great stuff available now in that niche.)

Really not looking to throw cold water on any ideas or efforts that Leica may bring forward. They would need to significantly improve product availability, QC, and service over what they did with the M8 when it was introduced to a waiting and hungry market. Leica has no real track record in MF, so whatever they may bring forward would have to be either very innovative and super high quality and at a price that is competitive with others in the market space, or it may just be an interesting collector item.

I think they have the knowhow to make some really outstanding stuff, and they have done so for a long time. They have lost some of their gleam with the rough starts of the R series and the M8, so they would really need to hit one out of the park with respect to features, capabilities, options, serivce and performance with outstanding image capture. They could do this, but at what cost?

Just some thoughts to push this discussion along. I would love to see them do something really cool, like a compact body with both focal plane and leaf shutter capabilities in a simple switch. Having ISO 50-800 super clean and boosted to 1600 or so. Put out 4-6 new lenses with AF and their legendary optical quality and imaging. Handle as easily as a DSLR, but deliver like a top end MF rig. Lots of wishes. Will be interesting to see what, if anything comes of it.

LJ
 

Graham Mitchell

New member
The 'larger than 35mm' comment *might* just mean a switch to a 4:3 ratio, using the same image circle. I don't think anything useful will come out of this thread. Let's just wait for some official announcements.
 

robmac

Well-known member
foto-Z,

No problems with that. Just thought some MF shooters might find the tidbit interesting. IF it is a true (and M.R. is a more credible source than most) MF body vs. a 'simple' tweaking of the 35mm format AND the price isn't too breath-stealing, it will mean more MFDB competition, which can only be good for everyone (shooters that is).

I also agree that simply tweaking the existing format or expanding the sensor to the very edges of the existing image circle is a non-starter. All it will do is simply expose the weaker edges of any existing glass. With the trend towards stitching of 35mm frames, what does it buy anyone?

What we may be seeing hints of is a Leica collaborating on a new MF system with Jenoptic and ____? with a multi-branded system using Leica glass.

Anyway, no worries if the thread dies a quick death, just found it interesting that MR was very specific about it being a medium format kit coming - at some point and that most existing rumors were, well, baseless.
 
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LJL

New member
Graham,
Not disagreeing with you. It is pure speculation on most of our parts. Folks that may know cannot talk, and the rest of us put up wish lists. I do think it interesting to discuss what "could" be a direction that might attract a segment of the market, as none of the present players have it all figured out and packaged up themselves either at this point. If the goal of Leica is to grab existing MF customers, good luck to them. If the goal is to drag some present 35mm DSLR customers into a new niche they create, they may have some possibilities. Just as the 4:3 format ratio you mention. Doing just that may not be enough, unless the image capture is better than what Canon and Nikon already have, and if it does not have the other DSLR features folks have come to use, what is the point? One can already get there with almost any entry point MF rig for a lot less money than Leica will want to extract from customers.

We will all know soon enough what, if anything is brought forward. I guess the question then becomes "What could interest you to consider Leica for 35mm/MF gear?"

LJ
 

fotografz

Well-known member
I guess the question then becomes "What could interest you to consider Leica for 35mm/MF gear?" LJ
A full frame M9.

Other than that, probably nothing.

Can't imagine Leica competiting with Zeiss or Schneider for MF optics.

However, I can imagine what the service nightmare would be for a complex up-sized MF back or capture device would be.

Whatever it is, I'm sure the Sultan of Brunei will order one ... in gold ;)
 

Chuck Jones

Subscriber Member
Hmmm... last time I opened up Lightroom, it sure looked to me like Leica ALREADY had a better image quality than Canon or Nikon.... <Grin>.
 

LJL

New member
Hmmm... last time I opened up Lightroom, it sure looked to me like Leica ALREADY had a better image quality than Canon or Nikon.... <Grin>.
He he :D. I was careful NOT to say Image Quality, but instead image capture. Not disagreeing that the M8 or DMR files have more for their given pixels than the others are offering, but capturing those pixels is not the same (higher ISO, faster fps, better AF, reliable AWB, etc.).

Like Marc, I feel there is little that Leica can offer right now that would attract my attention. Maybe the FF M9 idea, but that may be a stretch also. As for a "MF" rig that may have a nothing more than a 4:3 format sensor.....well, it would still need about 20-30MP, work at much higher and cleaner ISOs than what the DMR or M8 presently struggle with, and other things mentioned.

LJ
 

PeterA

Well-known member
My understanding is that they will bringing out an R body which can take the existign line of R lenses and a new body with a totally new range of lenses.
I am waiting for the full frame M as well
 

David K

Workshop Member
As long as we're in the MF forum, I was out shooting my DMR this afternoon and have to say that the LCD is far better than I've had on any MF back I've used. So much for the argument that the MF manufacturers can't put together an order for 200,000 of Nikon D3 type screens.
 

fotografz

Well-known member
He he :D. I was careful NOT to say Image Quality, but instead image capture. Not disagreeing that the M8 or DMR files have more for their given pixels than the others are offering, but capturing those pixels is not the same (higher ISO, faster fps, better AF, reliable AWB, etc.).

Like Marc, I feel there is little that Leica can offer right now that would attract my attention. Maybe the FF M9 idea, but that may be a stretch also. As for a "MF" rig that may have a nothing more than a 4:3 format sensor.....well, it would still need about 20-30MP, work at much higher and cleaner ISOs than what the DMR or M8 presently struggle with, and other things mentioned.

LJ
Yep, loved my DMR with it's mini-Imacon digital back ... note I said "loved" ... the times I could practically use the thing was so narrow it just became an indulgence.

For my specific application arena, Canon and Nikon have delivered, every time, in every condition ... and for the most part they are getting better at it every year.

My 31 meg MF camera has taken over all other location, AF, flash applications and rendered the 1DsMKIII redundant, so I sold it.

Guess it's probably time to sell the last R lenses.
 

woodyspedden

New member
Already sold all of mine to Peter A who sold them all to another. Guess and hope they finally ended up in the hands of someone who loved, and USED them.

Hope that I won't be sorry that I sold virtually all of the really exotic R lenses. Two of those 35-70 Elmarits, 15 Elmarit, 280 4.0, 180 2,0 etc are now "out there" and hopefully being used. While these are certainly collectors items, they are also some of the best optics ever..........and I mean ever. Sad they never became part of a system that made real shooting sense.

All of that having been said.............bye, bye!!!! LOL

Woody
 

Guy Mancuso

Administrator, Instructor
Like to see what they announce but right now my Phase system is doing EVERYTHING. I'm at another model event and shooting with a system that maybe should be shot with a Nikon but not me. My client saw 400 shots last night on screen and the comments are worth my efforts with the look of the shots. having back spasms shooting all day with this in hand but I'm out of shape too so my bad. I just love shooting this new 150 2.8. Honestly maybe the sharpest lens wide open i have ever seen. Something I really need as I am pushing the high ISO stuff. But my system just flat out works with not a glitch. Something to be said for that and all I shot for the last several years was Leica. Not sure I can say without a glitch there, far from it. I wish them luck and I am watching but getting money out of my pocket maybe tough. They have to have a winner. PERIOD
 

Steen

Senior Subscriber Member
(...) Hope that I won't be sorry that I sold virtually all of the really exotic R lenses. (...) Sad they never became part of a system that made real shooting sense. (...)
Didn't the R9/DMR system 'make real shooting sense' ?
 

woodyspedden

New member
Yes, the DMR/R9 was a very good system but when Leica discontinued it with no replacement the issues which still remained with it were not going to get resolved. Thus not "part of a real shooting system." I think it is very sad (though understandable given the situation with jenoptik) since there was much promise for this approach to having both film and Digital in the same system.

Woody
 

fotografz

Well-known member
Didn't the R9/DMR system 'make real shooting sense' ?
Sure, if you accepted the limitations and lack of any future update support. As a replacement for shooting a film R, it was dandy ... very good image quality in decent light. No TTL flash ability, no SDHC card ability, no firmware upgrades, slooooow start up, and so on ...

Despite all that I liked it a lot, just not enough to keep all that money tied up in it compared to the money making AF DSLRs with dual card slots that take up to 16 gig CFs, excellent high ISO performance, and offer on-the-money TTL flash control.
 

Uaiomex

Member
Reichman said the other day to stay tuned. Kodak just drop the 49X37 9micron sensor. Dalsa is not pushing it either. The sensors size 44X33 went down in price immensely lately. Maybe they found their sweet spot for sensor production.

This size fits right between typical medium format and 35. If this size is the sweet spot and production is easier and much cheaper, maybe this is the time for a true new format. The second one after 4/3. That new format Leica could be a dslr not much bigger than a 1Ds and not much more expensive. Now, glass would be a different story of course, both in price and performance.

Eduardo
 
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