Leica GM1 clone design by Seung-hun Han via Dicahub. Yep…just change the logo and charge $500 extra
–
Leica CEO Alfred Schopf said that Leica won’t be building on Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds format (Source: Leica Camera Forum). That said it’s 100% sure they will launch a new mirrorless system in collaboration with Panasonic (Panasonic will build the cameras).
To be honest, I still don’t believe Alfred is telling us the truth here…
42 Responses
That would be “nyet” not “niet”.
Schopf is a German from Swabia, it should be either “Nein” or “Nôi”
That depends on what language you are transliterating into.
Actually, in proper cyrillic, that would be Нет! 😉
what f00ked up logic is that??
“That said it’s 100% sure they will launch a new mirrorless system in collaboration with Panasonic (Panasonic will build the cameras).”
What implies that cameras to be built by Panasonic?
Read further up from Alfred Schopf, the cameras will be built in Germany. Only zoom lenses are to be built in collaboration.
Panasonic will build the cameras??
that mean panny build FF mirrorless for leica(FF sensor)
Either way not a great loss. IF Leica made original and not rebranded m4/3 bodies, that would be another story. If they did what they’ve done in 4/3, who cares?
BTW, they will loose much more by going it alone with a new APS-C mount and lenses.
To me, it would make more sense for them to rebrand the Fuji X series as Leica…..but hey, I’m not a multi-national camera company, so what would I know? Perhaps this could be part of the rumoured link up between Panasonic and Fuji?
Next Leica will be have an APS-c sensor, as X Vario serie, will not have an M mount, will be built in Leica factories (Germany: a new factory is almost ready, and I think Portugal too) while they’re going for third parties lenses (Panasonic?) made in Japan.
It was written on The.me.com some days ago. That site was the first to spot the X Vario camera months ago.
‘Niet’ means ‘not’ in Dutch.
If CEO Alfred Schopf is lying he should be fired.
If he is speaking the truth he also should be fired.
+1000, common Leica join the best format 🙂
Admin, why do you say Panasonic will build the cameras? That’s not in the excerpt from Leica Forum, and we don’t know about the original source. So far, it’s only sure they will build a mirrorless system, Panasonic’s involvement is unknown. And it would actually be pretty weird if Panasonic built new APS-C mount cameras for Leica that would compete with m43. A mirrorless FF system would be interesting, but that’s not gonna happen.
“A mirrorless FF system would be interesting, but that’s not gonna happen.”
But it already has, Leica builds them.
Leica and Sony
I find interesting that at Least Leica fights the FF35 madness by choosing a ‘cropped’ format for digital.
Perhaps it crossed their minds that it is no use to their image to get a slow dog with poor features on the field.
In fact an E-M1 is much closer to the original Leica concept than an A7, and I imagine they’s want blazing fast AF.
OTH if they go the proprietary way it will be no surprise, but they’ll have to fork out the lenses (with Panny?)
hhaha im your dreams
You’re his dreams???
I get the camera equivalence, em1 = old Leica concept. Although for compactness I think “old school Leica” would be even more compact, more à la pen, but performing better than pens.
What is missing, though, are the Leica lenses: small, actually tiny, but excellent, actually the best out there for the format.
m43 are very good, but usually not as good as 43 lenses. Which are very good, but not as small as m43 lenses. If you put together the two features (extremely small and excellent), then you really get the old style Leica concept.
Otherwise it is simply not Leica
Well, lying is such a cruel word, and may just can’t tell the truth. Regarding Leicas efforts in the 4/3 world, I highly doubt that they would start to make a camera for this system.
However, seeing that the new Sony A7(r) incorporates a 35mm sensor and pairs just perfectly with Leica glass, I’m starting to wonder, if Leica might be about to release a new version of their own mount. Maybe one that features electronic contacts and, please don’t hurt me for that, also has AF capabilities.
What? Leica make a camera for the masses, the thought of it would send dear old Alfred into an early grave. Why would Alfred want to make a Micro Four Thirds camera, that would probably be very popular and sell very well. No Alfred will get Panasonic to build the camera body and call it Leica and that will put mega bucks on the price,and that will make Alfred so happy, but he forgotten, once the body has been built, Panasonic will just have to change some of the spec a little, and sell it for half the price. Oh Alfred
maybe another Full Frame mirrorless camera by Panasonic+Leica (and less expensive than Lieca M…)
I think it’s quite obvious that Leica will be releasing a Leica X Vario with interchangeable lenses.
It makes no sense but that’s the way these brands work.
It is quite retarded that they partner with Panasonic and then completely ignore a system where Panasonic has a lot of expertise. The sensor size arguments are ridiculous. APS-C and 43 sensor sizes are too similar for such a move to make sense: http://petapixel.com/assets/uploads/2012/09/compare5.jpg
This actually makes sense. We’ve been saying for a long time that we want a full-frame mirrorless from Panasonic – well this is their opening to create one without diluting or confusing their own product line. Make it Leica-branded, high-end, and professional, and suddenly it looks pretty tempting compared to Sony’s offerings.
It is specifically mentioned that the camera will be APS-C.
“To be honest, I still don’t believe Alfred is telling us the truth here…”
Why?
Leica would prefer to build a MILC that uses Leica FF lenses.
Leica already builds a MILC that uses Leica FF lenses.
They should probably make a mirror-less system camera out of the S model medium format.
If it was only the size of a typical dSLR and gave high end image quality, that would be a blow to Hassleblad, Mamiya, Phase One, and Pentax.
Of course, doing that jointly with Panasonic would be a joke. Having to discount something US$5000 after a few months wouldn’t look quite right.
From Schopf’s interview:
…”to be honest, I’m not 100 percent sure where the D-SLR market is going to be in the future. The mirrorless cameras are coming on and on and on and I’m not entirely convinced that in ten years time we will have a D-SLR market”
When asked will there ever be a Leica compact system camera:
“We will have one, definitely. And it will, of course, be quite different to M system. We want to have autofocus with such a system and we may well have an APSC size sensor rather than a bigger one…….”
What is difficult to understand for the FF cretins?
These words are some days old, I don’t understand either why some people find it strange.
What surprises me is the fact that the new camera will not have an M mount: perhaps to let customers buy new and less expensive lenses.
Still, a new mount means a new range of lenses: Leica is a luxury brand (words from mr Schopf again), it milks people rebranding Panasonic p&s cameras and adding a coup on for a Lightroom download. Perhaps they can afford the new development of such new lenses?
If I had to buy that camera, I hope an M adapter will be available too: it could be a M8.2 reborn.
Given their last things, I’m not putting so much hope in this.
Hum, as a cameras collector i only know that Half Frame cameras from Leica history are the most expensive and rare items on the marked, do you really that they have only thought about FF!
Check : http://gmpphoto.blogspot.fr/2013/02/leicas-that-never-reached-market.html
Leica 72 and
LEICA: Leicaflex 18×24 …the mechanics are related to Olympus Pen F cameras…
Check : http://www.novacon.com.br/odditycameras/leicaflex18x24.htm
LEICAFLEX 18×24 with special Summicron 2/35mm (a unique design by Helmut Müller). The camera is completely different to all other Leica cameras. It is equipped with a Rotor shutter, the mechanics are related to Olympus Pen F cameras. According to the development order from April 1962 (attached with this lot), Leica started to built a half-frame SLR. In January 1967 the project was stopped, due to the slump of sales of half-frame cameras. (attached the original document from the development department of Leica regarding this decision). This is the only completely finished camera built by Willi Franke in 5 years of development. Unique and sensational collectors item, historically very important. Illustrated in “25 Jahre Leica Historica, Beiträge zur Geschichte der Leica” page 257 and McKeown’s “Price Guide to Antique & Classic Cameras” 12th Edition, page 608 – the camera and lens are in very good condition (c.1965)
Correct me if I am wrong but …Leicas are and have always been mirrorless (unless you had in mind the R series). Is he just announcing an “entry level” M-mount camera, with an evf, instead of a proper rangefinder?
No: visit Theme webpage, there you can find the whole story.
X Vario APSc sensor. No m mount. Cameras made in Germany. Lenses made in Japan. Mirrorless.
(Yes, Leica Ms are mirrorless, but a better definition is (mechanical) rangefinder. Therefore have no mirror inside. Thus mirrorless.
Thanks! But I confess that I don’t entirely get it. An M+ mount, that can take a/f lenses might make sense. But an entirely new mount, that cannot take M-mount lenses without an adaptor? If it proves a success, Leica would probably kill it, the way it killed the CL. And if it flops, it might kill Leica. Did they all of a sudden discover that they have too much spare capacity for their niche product (who is going to buy a 7000 Euro camera?) or do they have a death wish? Or do they know something great and wonderful, that we don’t know yet?
I don’t get it either: I wonder what kind of new mount they’re going to support, and how.
Perhaps a smaller scew mount similar to M.
Really, in my opinion the last original thing Leica made is the Monochrom. I wish they would present a new 8.2, with a sensor capable in low light, but I won’t hold my breath. And no, I won’t start buying a new range of lenses for a new camera! I’m not rich 🙂
Maybe they’ll partner with Sigma. Isn’t Sigma rumored to be coming out with a new mirrorless system? 🙂
So I guess its gonna be quirky APS-c competitor to Fuji X with a few slow lenses to keep the size down but claim ultimate IQ at 2x the fuji price.
Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, Pentax, Leica, and probably Sigma, have all shunned m43 and chose APS-C instead (and likely FF going forward). There’s still hope yet m43. Casio and General Electric may join “Kodak” to make m43 cameras. Daewoo and LG might also be interested. Leica makes the right choice.
I guess Leica wasn’t exactly buoyed by the success of their Four Thirds camera the Digilux 3
You mean the rehashed Panasonic L1?
How could anybody expect the strategy of rebranding to work at all?
leica make real cameras not small sensor point and shoot
Please, your puny 35mm is like a toy compared to my 6x6cm.
Who cares? I sure don’t, and am more than satisfied with the camera and lens choices I have in m43, and the great scope to play with a multitude of legacy lenses. Never could afford Leica, and never convinced of superior imagery (although I have owned a Leica legacy lens). Leica and Hasselblad are eventually going to go the way of Voigtlander, Rollei, Exacta, Zeiss etc.