Leica R digital camera?

<p>I have numerous Leica R lenses and still wonder when Leica will release a digital version of the R camera. Has anybody heard anything new about the likelihood of it being released?</p>

<p>Leica will not release an R replacement. The design of the lens mount precludes making accurate auto-focus lenses (according to Leica) - and it's clear that the next Leica 35mm size SLR will need that feature to be competitive. However, I would not rule out the release of an SLR based on a 35mm format sensor and the technology developed for the S2. The new camera would probably have the ability to use R lenses with an adapter.</p>

The R line was discontinued some time ago. The only digital thing there is about is the famous digital back, which probably can be found used. I cannot recall the tecnical specs, but it was a compromise measure that didn't quite deliver. I think it was meant for the R9 only.

 

You can always buy another dSLR (a Canon or Nikon) and use your Leica glass with adapters. It probably would have to be a high-end body. Of course, you would have to deal with the cropped sensor and no AF, but then, if you shoot with a Leica R you already focus manually.

 

Best of luck!

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<p> the cropped sensor</p>

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<p>If you use a full frame body such as a Canon 5D, you can use your R lenses (manual aperture only) quite well. I gave up using R lenses on the 5D mkII after a while as I am a photographer rather than a true equipment fiend. I traded my R glass for good Canon EF equivalents as they work so much quicker than the R lenses via the R-EOS adapters.</p>

<p>The R digital back was/is very good but only 10MP, and not in the same league at high ISOs as Canon and Nikon equivalents. Getting a bit long in the tooth nowadays, but it produced sweet files.</p>

<p>Whatever the "R solution" that we were promised in 2008 or 2009 was supposed to be (not a DSLR as was stated repeatedly), it certainly hasn't materialized to date and I personally no longer care if it ever will as my R lenses have been sold or modified to fit my Nikons. The S2 shows that Leica is certainly capable of producing a DSLR and AF lenses - but most likely they can't produce an FF (35mm) version at a "reasonable" price point.</p>

<p>The CEO stated that Leica cannot afford 2 SLR lines at a conference recently (I cannot remember which one but Google may help - it was where he raised the possibility of a CSC camera). He went on to say that he doubted even Canon or Nikon could sustain two SLR systems and that Leica was happy with the M series (he compared this to a Porsche 911) and the S series.</p>

<p>I meant to add that it will be interesting to see if the Leica CSC will be able to mount R system lenses. I suspect that it will be capable of mounting R and M lenses but this is just a guess. AP speculated that it would cost about GBP 2500 - so probably about $3000 US.<br>

http://www.petapixel.com/2011/06/22/leica-to-announce-new-compact-system-camera-at-photokina-2012/</p>

<p>From an article in the link above:</p>

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<p>Kaufmann confirmed that Leica has now ditched plans to launch a digital version of its R-system of SLRs, saying that it would not have made sense commercially in light of the S-system launch in 2009.</p>

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<p>Which begs the question why the S-system was developed in the first place then and not a digital R system that in my opinion would have had a much larger customer base. To the best of my knowledge, Leica always stated that a possible "R solution" would not involve a SLR.</p>

<p>Church in Tsingdao, Elmarit R19 on Canon 5D mark II<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/14567154-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1480" height="950" /></p>

<p>White Horse temple in Luoyang<br>

Emarit R19 on Canon 5D mark II<br>

<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/14567132-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1480" height="701" /></p>

<p>Hillcrest Mall in Toronto<br>

Vario Elmar 28-70 , Canon 5D mark ii<img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10565749-lg.jpg" alt="" width="1480" height="987" /></p>

<p>I routinely use Leica-R lenses, from the 28mm Elmarit to the 250mm Telyt, on my Olympus E-1 and E-510, by means of adapters. In fact, I have never owned an R body, but bought the lenses specifically for these bodies. Despite the cropped sensors, this combination has filled my digital needs quite well, and at reasonable cost.<br>

Jim N.</p><div></div>

<p>The R lenses work beautifully and easily (quick on-off adapters) on the Canon and Olympus dslrs. For Nikon as I recall you have to change the actual mount, a reversible alteration but not temporary. In terms of full frame, Leica will never equal the 5D Mk II at $2499. The S2 was developed to compete in the professional digital medium format market, against Hasselblad and Phase One, with a smaller more easily handled camera capable of making extremely large files. The lenses by all reports are the finest they've ever made. For once, too, their prices -- though insane-looking to us -- are in line with the competition's. Unfortunately Hasselblad has owned this market for a long, long time and I don't think, in the US anyway, Leica has made much headway. In any case a digital R system would offer exactly nothing new to the marketplace: Nikon, Canon, SONY were already making and marketing full frame dslrs with vastly more experience in the engineering and the marketing than Leica could hope to have, at prices that Leica, with its emphasis on quality and flawless manufacturing couldn't possibly compete with. There exists a relatively small group of R users-owners who would have been pleased, but the rest of the universe not so much. It makes no sense whatsoever.</p>

<p>That said, Doug Herr, who is a member of this site I believe, uses the R8 with digital back and mostly the famed <em>Leica 280mm</em> f/4 APO-Telyt-R lens, often with the 1.4x APO-Extender. His work -- he's a wildlife and landscape photographer mainly, working out of California -- is outstanding. Check out his website for more info (he used to post camera/lens/exposure data for each pic but I'm not sure he does anymore): http://wildlightphoto.com/</p>

<p>'For Nikon as I recall you have to change the actual mount, a reversible alteration but not temporary.'</p>

<p>Pretty cool, and also an option for Pentax, Sony, etc.:</p>

<p>http://www.leitax.com/</p>

 

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<p><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=23754">Robin Smith</a><a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub10plus.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Jan 05, 2012; 02:06 p.m.</p>

 

<p>the cropped sensor<br>

If you use a full frame body such as a Canon 5D, you can use your R lenses (manual aperture only) quite well. I gave up using R lenses on the 5D mkII after a while as I am a photographer rather than a true equipment fiend. I traded my R glass for good Canon EF equivalents as they work so much quicker than the R lenses via the R-EOS adapters.</p>

 

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<p>I also. Except some late APO items, most of R lenses are quite old designs and not better than Canon EF primes. R lenses also are very heavy, and need to open for focus and stop for shooting. Also Canon metering does not so accurately in stop down to small apertures. </p>

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<p>Good news: I spoke with a male at Leica's office in New Jersey this morning and he confirmed that Leica Germany <em>is</em> still developing a DSLR camera that will be compatible with all of my numerous Leica R lenses. He hopes that Solms' spokepersons will announce an update at Photokina in September so as to please me and all other R lens owners!</p>

<p>Wow. I find that really surprising. </p>

<p>I will be shocked if it is anything but an APS-C EVIL that can take R (and probably also M) lenses by adapters. I cannot see Leica spend the money to produce a dedicated DSLR body for a line of discontinued lenses. </p>