Camera Labs

Hi folks,

A truly EVIL thought occurred to me while working out in the gym this morning. I wonder if Leica might licence the 18 MP full frame sensor that Canon has just deployed in the 1D X and use it for the M10.

Strictly speaking this should have gone in a newly created M10 thread but, as I said, it was an EVIL thought.

For the record, I don't think Canon ever licence their sensors, though I've not checked, so this probably ain't going to happen. But with rumours that Leica may ditch CCD sensors in the future in favour of CMOS I wonder where they'll go. Sony perhaps, but Canon would be fun.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Leica would want the best combination of value and performance from whatever sensor they use. With speculation on Kodak not looking good for them, I guess that does leave few other players with full frame sensors with Sony being a significant option.

Unrelated observation: even Canon uses Sony components in their cameras. At least, the Ixus 500 and later 300D both used Sony LCDs.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Hi folks,

Leica have promised an EVIL/CSC/MILC announcement towards the end of the year so do they now have a problem? On paper (a big caveat) the new Fujifilm X-Pro1 is going to be a huge competitor if Leica were planning an APS-C launch. But if Leica were actually planning a full-framer which could also accept Leica M-system glass (as the X-Pro1 will do later this year) they risk cannibalising sales of the M9 and the future M10. Either way Leica have a problem.

I think it's a given that Fuji won't be competing in the full-frame arena as the X-mount lenses won't cover such a large sensor and I don't see Fuji producing two new lens systems (who'd buy lenses with an XXL-mount moniker anyway? ) so the questions are whether Leica can see a large enough market that they can make money from an APS-C CSC or whether they can sufficiently differentiate a FF CSC from the M9/M10?

Maybe they'll just cancel their CSC and subsume some or all of the technology into the M10 and beyond. My crystal ball needs new batteries...

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Hi folks,

According to an interview given in the presence of the BJP Leica is kicking their new CSC into the long grass, at least so far as 2012 is concerned. I'll treat some of the reported comments about other manufacturer's offerings and Coca-Cola quality lenses with the disdain they deserve as I already own one Leica designed lens, albeit one manufactured by Panasonic, for my own CSC.

It seems that Leica production is fully stretched already and with the expected launch of the M10 not too many months away that isn't likely to change IMHO. Maybe when they move into the new factories things will improve. But for those who were looking forward to a Leica CSC/EVIL option, including those few still waiting for a digital home for their R-system glass, this is disappointing news. That, coupled with Leica's own goal of organising a major product launch on May 10th which wasn't an M10 (I read of one guy who had already sold his M9 in expectation of ordering an M10), tells me that Leica may produce some (but definitely not all) of the finest glass in the world but the gloss is in jeopardy if their PR machine doesn't shape up.

Leica: Good glass, long grass, bad gloss.

Bob.

_________________
OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.