The first Leica T picture appeared and as you know it’s said to be made in partnership with Panasonic (More info at MirrorlessRumors). The camera will cost $3,000 and have an APS-C sensor and T-mount. So it’s not going to compete against the MFT or any other current mirrorless system. What’s still not 100% sure is if the Leica T is made by Panasonic or if Panasonic just makes the electronics and then ships them to Germany so that Leica can assemble them there.
What I am sure yet about is that Panasonic will not join such a system. This is all about selling a red logo on a camera 🙂
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The bodies are made in Germany according to the inteviews with Leica, never seen any other reliable info (but a few undocumented rumors).
As long as the final fitting is done in Germany, it’s made in Germany.
They can do like 80% of the building in Portugal, and it still deserve the label as long as it’s finished in Germany.
CMIIW
final fitting.. is that what they call “quality control” 😀
Tell that to the GM lawyers wrestling with the ignition switch scandal/nightmare.
So, this is my first comment on this site, but I wanted to thrown my two yen into the wind.
I can’t figure out why Leica would want to create an entirely new APS-C mount when they already have a number of Leica branded (if not built) lenses available for m4/3rds.
Now, I know some critics might argue that Leica tend towards uncompromising quality and so will overlook m4/3rds in favour of a larger sensor (as Zeiss did), but if that’s the case then I’m not sure why Leica were happy to cosy up to Pana/Oly for the 4/3rds SLRs or to rebrand Pana’s compacts at a premium price.
Purely my opinion, but it just seems like a weird a choice for Leica to eschew a lens mount and manufacturers they’re already associated with for an entirely new lens mount that’s entering the market directly head-to-head with at least two established systems (Sony E-mount and Fuji X-mount, not to mention m4/3rds, Samsung NX, Nikon 1, Canon M etc, etc…)
I can’t understand what they are doing with this camera. Why would anyone buy it over the other offerings on the market? What does it offer apart from the Red Dot?
Well, I can only imagine that there are some brand aficionados who are willing to pay extra for the red dot (the same people who buy Leica’s rebranded Pana compacts at a several hundred dollar premium). But the pricing is crazy – $3000 dollars for an APS-C CSC? You could buy an EM-1/GH4/GX7/XE-2/XT-1/A7r/whatever + a comprehensive set of lenses for that kind of money. Indeed, if you were willing to settle for second-hand gear, you could buy a ‘real’ Leica M9 for that kind of cash… I can only assume that the lenses and sensor Leica are able to offer with this sensor are utterly superlative for them to have this kind of confidence in an entirely new lens mount…
I can understand that it doesn’t appeal to you right away and that it might never will. But to say of a product not even released yet that it will never bring anything significant to the table but a fashionable name is a bit on the bold side.
Fair enough. But what I am considering is:
-if the rumours are, then it has no built in EVF
-there are plenty of APSC, non-evf, mirrorless cameras on the market
-the lenses for this camera are supposedly made in Japan
-Only Leica knows the percentage of German manufacture/ assembly of this camera, and I doubt Leica will tell!
-this camera doesn’t “look like a Leica”, so will lose some potential customers because of it.
These reasons are why I don’t see what this camera has to offer. Sure, I’m sure some will see some “Leica rendering”, or something special in the JPEGS. But $3K for a VF-less, mirrorless body? Tough sell.
Aside from the “does not look like a Leica” everything you mention applies to the X-Vario – which is a good camera and not for everybody. I can’t understand why that camera lacks an EVF … but the Sony RX1 also lacks an EVF. The only problem I see with built-in EVF is that the way they protrude to the rear is a bit ugly.
That said, I doubt this is the camera. Without a leather finish the possibility for Leica to offer expensive custom finishes is diminished 😉
To be frank, no sell at all for me, regardless of how stellar (or not) it will turn out to be. Unless I get an unexpected heritage or something…
I do agree that those rumors aren’t the most drooling.
Well Fujis are plastic toys, designed to look like Leica; touch them and you will see what I mean. Even Sonys feel better quality. M43 stuff is greatly compromised and stupidly priced. There may be a niche for a proper mirrorless after all.
I would also like to point out that Leoca have never hidden their relationship with Panasonic. This post implies that the Made in Germany label on this camera body is deceptive. Leica manufacture the M, S and X lines in Germany and have a brand new factory with additional capability. The lenses for this system however WILL be made in Japan by Panasonic to Leica specs and designs. The bodie will have entirely German. Leica make a lot of electronics already and this is X hardware, nothing Panasonic share at all.
Well, if that’s a picture of the camera… WTF! Why would someone buy that for the red dot when they could buy a Fuji X-Pro, XE-1 or Panasonic GX7 for a fraction of the price? Really, without a VF (either optical, electronic or hybrid), it isn’t really a Leica. I used to “get” what Leica was pushing, but they missed the boat on mirrorless and the utility of an evf, and Fuji (mainly) are eating their lunch….
If it were not for Fuji I would never have brought 2 Leica lenses, my next lens purchase will be a Leica and my next camera will probably be a Leica too. Will not be buying anything else from Fuji … so not sure who’s lunch Fuji is really eating but I thank them for their efforts anyway.
“Why would someone buy that for the red dot when they could buy a Fuji X-Pro, XE-1 or Panasonic GX7 for a fraction of the price?”
You answered your own question: for the red dot. None of the alternatives you mentioned has a red dot.
The camera industry does not get it. Do we need yet again another new camera mount? This is nonsense! Leica should (and could) have joined the m4/3 partnership. I hope that this “project” is doomed as soon as possible.
Why would they join that abomination and affront to photography called Micro Four Turds?!?!?!?!
Seriously they make cameras for PHOTOGRAPHERS> Oly and Pana make cameras for FAUXTOGRAPHERS. There is a difference you peasant.
haters gonna hate and will never do “lovely” Pictures
beside that, to 4:3 it make no sense to join 3:2-crux and Leica never will give up their 3:2 MYTHOS
And for those of us who speak English?
It is all about Selfies. I would look good making a selfie (off a mirror, naturally) with a red dot cam than any other. This is an indisputable fact. This differentiates the class (price wise). 😉
[Whether it is made in Timbuktu or Wetzlar does not matter. What matters is the finish. 🙂 ]
I can’t say anything yet about a product that still has not hit the shelves on stores, but I keep thinking that the last true Leica camera is the Monochrom. This looks more like a “I’d like but I can’t” afford a Leica, as all D-Luxes so far.
Not to mention the fact that an optional EVF (an expansive rebranded Olympus EVF?) is more than enough, to me, for not buying a camera (I let go RX1 for that reason).
Still long way to go for this Leica new kid mirrorless camera .
I’m more interested to know the sensor provided for this camera .
As aware this is more on consumer / prosumer camera so not my type of camera .
At least for now .
niche market is niche market… (and it’s not my place.)
anyway, I always enjoy to see their products and their performances. I’m waiting to see.
Looks cheap.. but is not.
I’m dissapointed that Panasonic may get involed in another mount. There is still a lot of work needs to be done in m43 with on-sensor pdaf being highest priority. Leica should have joined m43, it would have been a great success! From what I understand current m43 provides better IQ than Leica’s ff system. Wouldn’t it be great to have a choice of fully manual Leica m43 camera with fully manual lenses? It’s great for someone learning photography.
“From what I understand current m43 provides better IQ than Leica’s ff system”
If you are so bad at understanding, I am surprised you can write at all. Tell me the truth, you are a virus!
“From what I understand current m43 provides better IQ than Leica’s ff system.”
In what Universe? Seriously m4/3 better than FF? LMFAO!!!!!
hmm the leica M-E is not even twice the price and it is a leica m and full frame. doesn’t sound like a great deal here.
Everyone knows that owning a Leica camera means one is a superior photographer. This is a well known fact among Leica owners.
I don’t get it… The picture shows a Zeiss biogon 25mm lens attached. Aren’t those m-mount? That would be a lot more useful than t-mount…
Let’s face it. Leica makes collector’s items. Given their cult status they can afford to make almost anything – and it will sell.
Let’s hope this leads to Panasonic joining In the APS-C Sensor camera system.
Fuji is moving units and say what you want, but they’re biting into Leica’s sales by making a much cheaper rangefinder-type camera. The “Poor Mans Leica” has forced Leica to make a cheaper camera.
It makes sense. Panasonic and Fuji is making new sensors and I’d bet that all three companies will use that new sensor.
The next G/GX cameras should be APS-C. That would leave M43 with the GM/GH/GF series and they should end the GF series and create small lenses for the GM Series, which they’re already doing.
No matter how good the 43 sensor gets, APS-C will always be better and FF better than that. But APS-C bodies are getting smaller to the size of M43 bodies, so I feel APS-C is the best choice.
What’s the point of better if you can’t use the better?
You can blow up a milk bottle with dry ice. Dynamite also works but both get the job done.
Now better doesn’t mean much in this case. In a few years it will mean even less. Stop chasing numbers and marketing…
Better means better and the gap is not closing. M43 prices have not been cut. There is no reason today to buy M43 – at least for stills.
The advantage of m43 isn’t pure IQ, and it isn’t cost. It’s not going to be, and its not meant to be. The benefit is total system size/weight, particularly lenses. It is meant to be a new compromise between quality and size, just like 35mm was at first.
If you are concerned with portability and convenience, m43 makes sense. If you’re not, its probably not for you. No reason to complain about it unless you get upset by people having options.
Yes! I get upset with people having options! What a prime example of US education.
In fact, I am amused at nincompoops like you being flogged overpriced junk. All you need is a telephone, in fact.
Well it sounds like a lot of the better you’re talking about is in your head. When better is only better in your head, I don’t care about it. It’s meaningless. If you really think there’s “no reason” to buy M43 for stills then reality and you probably don’t get along very often…
I didn’t say the gap was closing. I said a big sensor is becoming more and more superfluous. We’re only going to get higher dynamic range sensors that also do better in low-light. Your ‘better’ becomes more and more meaningless to where it’s only something you can show someone with a graph, chart or zooming in to look at pixels–if that.
Ho Hum, here we go again with the anti M4/3rds trolls! This is a business decision, but I will never buy an APS-C camera from Panasonic or anyone else. Panasonic and Olympus have hit the sweet spot with M4/3rds.
Overpriced junk
Red Leica emblem handcrafted by German artisans!
This page is run by a BRIT yet spells rumours without the u…….clueless
Sorry Oggy, who’s clueless? The page is run by a German living in Spain. Maybe that’s what brings out the spelling police like you…
Wow – somebody like to play with his own penis eh Don?You Yanks need to LEARN how to use ENGLISH!
This page is run by a BRIT yet spells rumours without the u…….clueless