Digital Germany: Act IV "The Leica-Sinar-Jenoptik-Rollei Connection

[kipling]

Sinar was bought out by Jenoptik...who also have a partnership with, or own,

(I'm not sure) Franke & Heidecke (Rollei) and have announced a new MF digital

camera<a

href="http://www.sinar.ch/microsite_photokina_20...r_site01_e.html">here</a>.

The Sinar M, the other MF digital capable camera from Sinar, uses Zeiss AF

Lenses...who also make lenses for the Rollei 6008 AF...Jenoptik partnered up

with Leica on the M8...and they (Jenoptik - formerly known as Zeiss Jena) also

announced new lenses (I can no longer find the link, it seems to be down) for a

new digital MF Camera which will (is supposed to) be introduced at Photokina by

Rollei (not Sinar)...i think...which until now have used Zeiss and Schneider

Lenses. Now Jenoptik have sold their 51% of Sinar <a

href="http://www.sinar.ch/site/index__gast-e-106...s-rand-912.html">here</a> to

Leica AG, who up until now have made 35mm cameras and lenses, not MF or Large

Format Lenses, as far as I know...and wasn't Leica just sold by Hermès

International SCA to Leica Camera AG?<p>

So if I understand correctly, Leica Camera AG bought themselves and Sinar AG,

the wonderful company that brought us the Sinar M, an unbelievable flop, with

1/60th flash sync and $10,000 Zeiss AF Lenses, who have announced a new digital

MF cam with their former owner Jenoptik, who announced new (digital) lenses for

a yet to be announced Rollei camera who have absolutely nothing to do with

Leica, BUT who are cooperating with Jenoptik who cooperate with Leica (M8) and

just sold Sinar to Leica. <p>

Something fishy is going on here...is it possible that

Jenoptik-Leica-Rollei-Franke & Heidecke-Sinar are about to announce a new comedy

series on NBC called "Achtung! Ve don't know vat ze hell ve are doing!"?

[ellis_vener_photography]

Oh Kipling,

This is one of the very very few internet postings that have ever made me laugh out loud.

great set up and punch line.

 

Thanks!

 

E.

[kipling]

Oh, my links are not working. This is the new Sinar <a href="http://www.sinar.ch/microsite_photokina_2006/sinar_site01_e.html">click here</a>

[nels]

Looks like Leica is moving up market. Too many dentists in their current customer base. They only want cosmetic surgeons to the rich and famous using the brand.

[kipling]

And the new �ber-connection can be found...<a href="http://www.sinar.ch">here</a>...on the right under "News".

[35mmdelux]

HA< HA< HA! you just made the $25 subscription worth the money. great comedy ..Thks

[g_lindzey]

Maybe it is a shell game where they are essentially passing debt around hoping the creditors never figure out that none of them can pay it off.

[terry_rory]

Shhh! Don't laugh too loud or you will wake Eliot.

[peteradownunder]

The Sinar M is a great idea - pretty much drop deaded by the fact that they only take Sinar backs. I liek the fact that a MF digi back can be changed to fit pretty much any MF camera make - I hope that Rollei and Sinar allow for non sinar backs - this would be goo for competition.

[andrew robertson]

Wow, that Sinar looks like an ergonomic nightmare.