We already know that Kodak financial results are getting worse and worse. In an meeting with Wall Street analysts on Feb. 3, Kodak CEO Antonio Perez told that Kodak will likely sell its CMOS image sensor business, which is based in Rochester. Is that another good reason why Leica is shopping for a non-Kodak sensor for their fullframe mirrorless system? Anyway, that news makes the Sony-Leica sensor partnership rumor even more credible…
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Kodak’s CMOS sensors are already discontinued. Leica, Hasselblad and Pentax for their 645D use CCD sensors manufactured by Kodak.
Wow, a Sony 24mp/32mp Cmos with a slight touch of Nikon in the Leica M10 would be an absolute revolution, it would be the new era of the rangefinder.
This is definitely happening.
Sans Kodak, the only logical alternative is Sony. Actually, Sigma would be a more logical choice with its Foveon acting as the dark horse of the entire industry–except Sigma doesn’t design/manufacture a single FF sensor (too bad for you Sigma).
Going by the the rumors of Sony’s next FF release, the A9xx, I guesstimate the release of Leica’s “M10” to be around 2012-2013 timeframe.
The bigger question I have; is a comparison between the current Kodak sensor and Sony sensor; what are the major differences, if any? Does anyone see a possible downside to quality? Or is this all good news?
http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/Camera-Sensor/Compare-sensors/%28appareil1%29/604|0/%28appareil2%29/640|0/%28onglet%29/0/%28brand%29/Sony/%28brand2%29/Leica it is a good news for leica IMHO, Tehnology in new Sony APS-C Exmor is even better.New FF from Sony must be good.
Kodak shut down their CMOS business a 2 years ago (sept 2009):
They’ve been focusing on CCD sensors exclusively since. Unfortunately, CCD technology is far outdated compared to modern CMOS sensors. They’ve recently restarted the CMOS business in name only so that they can sell it off.
The company has dropped 95% in profits last year and they are expected to lose money this year. Their entire business in now focused on the photo printer business that is dominated by the HP juggernaught. Kodak is in trouble.
http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.com/2011/02/kodak-to-sell-cmos-sensor-business.html
Quote from Kodak Employee on Image Sensors World:
“I am a current employee of the Image Sensor department Mr. Perez is referring to in this article and can confidently say that we are NOT in the CMOS business. We make CCD imagers, not CMOS. In Sept of 2009 we bowed out of the CMOS business after 5 long years never once making a profit. I find it comical that our dept manager just told us all on Monday that we are getting back into the CMOS business, and now 4 days later…..we are being sold?”
HA! I have a hard time believing a “Leica and Zeiss fullframe lenses+Sony” camera will be affordable for the enthusiast or average shooter.