gary_ferguson1 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I'm thinking of putting some of my less used Leica M items on Ebay, but before pushing the button I wanted to check on the status on the digital Leica M. I'm afraid I now only use my M as a portable travel camera, with just a few, light lenses in the 35-90mm range. So unless there's an imminent release of a cropped frame M I'll probably sell the wider optics. I've searched, but can't find any clear or recent statements. Could someone summarise the current state of the digital M rumour mill? Honest, this is a genuine question, not a troll! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant_nio_ferreira Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Latest rumour is a digital M, crop factor 1.3 or 1.4, dedicated Tri-Elmar, (probably 21-28-35?)...but is an absolute secret... I'm waiting for such a camera for three years... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary_ferguson1 Posted February 2, 2006 Author Share Posted February 2, 2006 Thanks Antonio, are people expecting a back module or a new camera? And any speculation about when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_york1 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Crop factor of 1.33 and 10 megapixel. It will be introduced at photokina 2006 -- that is next fall. There was something about the new digital M have something to do with new sensor technology, as reported in a UK magazine. I read that in the Leica forum at Leica's homepage. It will also be introduced with some new wideangle lenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 At this point, it is supposed to be a complete new camera. I have also heard that SOMETHING might be shown at PMA. But nothing introduced/released until Photokina 2006. A friend also told me that Leica was questioning photographers on what they would think of a Leica Digital M that had a dedicated b/w sensor with a high pixel count. Rather than the average color sensor/MP combo of the day. I have no idea when this questioning happened, so it could have been old news from an older r&d cycle. But this is ALL just rumor. I know nothing more and I don't know how much I believe any of it. As always with Leica, I'm interested, but I'll believe it when I see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terence_mahoney Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 "A friend also told me that Leica was questioning photographers on what they would think of a Leica Digital M that had a dedicated b/w sensor with a high pixel count. Rather than the average color sensor/MP combo of the day. I have no idea when this questioning happened" Probably just after they read that Huw Finney is making one in his cellar workshop. Similar to when the Digital M went from im-possible to in-progress the moment Epson announced the RD-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake_tauber Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 They're going to have to do something. See this from today's NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/02/technology/circuits/02pogue.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtk Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Digital M? Why not Sony DSCR1 with real finder and the Minolta image stab that Sony just acquired? Better concept, viable manufacturer, less baggage (no leather bicycles, perfume, weird mgmt etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_ginex1 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Jake,Thanks for that post....interesting to see what's coming up next. Now if only I can pick up a decent non-mint DS M3 for under 600. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 <I>"Probably just after they read that Huw Finney is making one in his cellar workshop. Similar to when the Digital M went from im-possible to in-progress the moment Epson announced the RD-1."</I><P>A funny (and accurate) joke on Leica. However, I had heard that rumor before Huw's latest undertaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsmith Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Slightly OT/hijack, but does anyone have a notion of how Leica might handle the frameline selection and presentation with the M Digital? With the fov crop (or multiplier), this seems like a nightmare/morass. Thoughts? Has this been hashed out before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james_elwing Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Why would frame lines be a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eliot_rosen1 Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 "I've searched, but can't find any clear or recent statements." Not very hard apparently. Under older questions there is an entire category called "Leica in a digital world" that contains multiple threads on the digital M. Tokk about 10 seconds to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsmith Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Well, I guess I just don't know what they would be. What's the general thinking about what would be used? In other words, what lens will bring what frameline? Does a 50mm lens bring up a 66.5mm frameline? A 28 a 37.24 frameline? Or will the equivalents be used (21 for ~28, 25 for ~35, 40 for ~50, etc.)? Or is it simpler (and more consistent with what's come before) than I'm thinking? Someone, please, elucidate me... I don't see how a crop factor (any crop factor) is not an unmitigated disaster for those used to standard focal lengths (and their commensurate framelines). Quick now, who makes a -1.33x tele-inverter in M mount (please)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joshroot Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 You are over thinking this. Just like on the R-D1, the DM will likely pull up the correct framelines (taking into account the 1.3x) for a given lens. That is to say, a 21mm lens will bring up a 28mm (in 35mm "film" equiv) frameline. Why would it be set up any other way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Josh, you are under-thinking this. Here's the deal: both the 21mm and 28mm bring up the 28mm framelines. You see the difficulty. Were it not for that, things would be simpler. But the 21 and 28 are prime candidates for DM use. Seems like a manual frameline selector is in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 They could pair the 21 and 28 (28 and 37mm equivalent) together. However, the 28mm is forever linked to the 90mm. I wouldn't want the 90mm frame eliminated, I would want to use the 90AA with this camera. So now we are looking at a 21/28/90 frameline group. Clutter! Unless they eliminate the 90 frame and leave the 50/75 as the longest pair. Then you could use the 75 as a 100mm equivalent, if you have a 75 ASPH. I think a manual frame selector and a really clever frameline mask that can show one frame at a time would solve everything. Eight framelines, one at a time! That shouldn't be too demanding for Leica! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob F. Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Seven framelines, actually. That makes it a little less demanding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsmith Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 I agree manual selection will probably need to be the solution. I could see the frameline lever traveling from about 12:30 back to "noon," anti-clockwise, with some detents bringing up pairs, maybe every other one just singles, or something like that. Here's hoping whatever solution they come up with is elegant and repsects what M Analog users are familiar with (btw, I'm not anti-digital -- I shoot a Canon EOS 20D DSLR for color, telephoto and macro work -- just am having a little pent up spec. angst based on what's been revealed so far re: M Digital) . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph_wisniewski Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 Transparent "guest host" LCD with any size framelines that you want. A similar technology is used in Nikon D100, D70, D200 to add "on demand" gridlines and AF zone indicators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martins_livens Posted July 15, 2006 Share Posted July 15, 2006 frame problem if it exist can be solved with so called 6 bit code, you probably forgot it's digtal camera after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bernard_negrete Posted September 9, 2006 Share Posted September 9, 2006 we all are expecting so much from leica but I wonder if they are going to be able to deliver? I mean I know the lens are some of the best in the world but electronicly wise they have not been a break throught not even good compared to what Canon has done so far (where is visible Canon is way ahead of Leica on the digital game) I am so ager to swith to Leica becuse I think is going to be the same great cameras,but will they? I would not bet money on it,I mean I already know they are probaly going to make a good overpriced camera but is it going to compare to the D5 canon already makes with all the compablities of flashes and lens? or are we going to be their guini pigs? so they can learn out of our expenses? I can already see all this advertising,comments where they say it is the best ever then we spend the money like crazy then to find out that their format is not comparable or that the camera is not really what we expected. we should just wait and see,and see how really practical is,Is it going to be all that the Leicas 1 already offer and more or just a merely a try? good luke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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