Re: Leica M lenses - digital readiness

Gordon Moat wrote:


Dmac wrote:

DD wrote:



According to the gurus on the Rangefinder forum, it is a Leica produced product, that has very little to do with Panasonic, in much the same fashion as the DMR.
Believe it or not there is already a waiting list for this M8 and believe it or not, there is still a huge following for Leica products.
One of the biggest appealing factors relating to the M mount nowadays is the staggering array of lenses that one is able to select from and use on a digital rangefinder. Like William, I think I would wait for a Cosina Voigtlander version, but having used the Epson R-D1 extensively over a 4 month period this year, this would be the kind of digital camera I would like to own. I don't care who makes it, or whose name is on the front.
I didn't read that the "corrections" would be related to lens anomalies, but rather that it would be related to lens characteristics that are known, such as the look of various types of Leica lenses (i.e. tonal issues and contrast).



There's a waiting list for Epson 9800 wide format printers too. That doesn't mean they are any better than other, more freely available printers, it just means people who think Epson are the "best" -whatever that means - are waiting.

Leica have to use a Sensor in their camera. Currently they have no ability to make one so they'll have to either buy them or design one from the ground up. Starting to design a sensor now is a very regressive exercise when all your rivals are on 4th generation designs.

Given that Panasonic already make the existing Leica digital camera and that Olympus have begun using Panasonic sensors which are getting better with each version, in place of the previous Kodak sensors, it is pretty certain that the new Leica will have at the very least, a Panasonic sensor. My bet is Panasonic will manufacture the thing too.

This is a good thing in my opinion. I already have a Panasonic with a very good Leica vario-Elmarit lens of unusual zoom range and exceptional image quality all through it. I'm actually waiting for the new Panasonic DSLR which will be a 4/3rd compliant camera able to use the coming Carl Zeiss 4/3 lenses as well as the exceptional quality Olympus lenses.

The Panasonic sensor has a high power demand, being a CCD but it also has amazing low light response. If the new sensor soon to be revealed has also mastered the digital noise issue, it will be a good choice for any camera maker.


Kodak make the CCD for the DMR, and are supplying a slightly updated version for the Digital M camera. Kodak also are the source of CCD 4/3 sensors for Olympus, though you are correct that the 4/3 Panasonic due soon is their own sensor. Panasonic unfortunately do not yet have larger APS-C or larger sensors. The firmware and software for the Digital M is being developed by Imacon, who did the majority of similar work on the DMR for Leica. All this is publicly available information, though not easy to find.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
A G Studio
<http://www.allgstudio.com>

I think your information is a little erroneous, Gordon. One of the Product managers at Leica (Eschweiler) said earlier this year that Leica are working in partnership with Panasonic to build a DSLR.

Also the Olympus comment is out of whack too. Olympus have begun using Panasonic Nmos chips in the E330 (of which I have 2 for tethered event work) and are working with Leica to further develop the 4/3 system.

So it seems that all three firms have gotten together to combat the big 3 (Kodak, Canon and Sony) and provide the world with a choice. Whether that choice actually materalizes into any threat to the market is another matter altogether. I can report however, that the E330 sensor is a big improvement over the previous Kodak one used in the E300. Particularly in the area of highlight clipping and noise in shadows. It is also less power hungry than the Kodak sensor. From all reports I've read, Leica are as committed to the 4/3 system as Olympus are.
.

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