Hi Chris, I enjoy the RF framing system, but rarely shoot long lenses on any rangefinder due to the postage stamp frame lines issue (I can only enjoy 50mm on a 0.85 body). But seeing as I shoot 90% of my work with rangefinders at 35mm and wider, it has not been a real impediment. As silly as it may sound, when shooting my long term Afghanistan projects, I settled into carrying my Leica M ready to go (usually with 28 or 35mm attached) and a heavy Eos 1n with 85mm 1.2 L II set up in my Domke bag. I could not have shot the portraits in that series had I been trying to mess around with 75/90mm Leica M lens focusing!
I think we're all in agreement really: the Q shows what can be done and an interchangeable Q (which I have seen stated online by someone claiming to know, is in development and about 12-18 months behind the Q). I would also imagine that any snags with the Q will translate into improvements in the interchangeable model before release, resulting in a fairly well finished product. I wonder if Leica got a lot of help from Panasonic with the Q as this would explain why the electronic side of things seems to be impressing people. In the meantime, the Q will do nicely one suspects, as it deserves to.
If there isn't an interchangeable Q, I fear the M platform will run out of puff and Leica will be in trouble five years from now. I think they will need to take that leap of faith and figure out how to position the ongoing M platform in light of a Q.
Just one example of the problems with the M is that I thought to myself (as a MM1 owner) what would also owning a M240 or 246 entail? Then I thought how some of my gear needed significant adjustment when I got the MM1 and wondered what the chances were of everything being adjusted to work perfectly on both bodies... then thought how absurd it is that one has to even think about such things these days. I have no interest in back and forth with Leica and fiddling.
Lots of people said Sony was no threat to Leica because they are different customers, but I beg to differ. I am a customer of both and will always select the equipment that meets my needs best and could not care less about labels. My money has gone to Sony of late, because Leica has not innovated beyond the finicky and expensive M platform, which was far better suited to film than digital tolerances. I still want a M246 though. And the future new M!
