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For the first time Leica is facing some competition because of the new Sony A7-A7r cameras (preorders here). And that’s actually good news for Leica lovers too. They have to innovate even faster than before to keep their exclusive market. That said Leica is also active on the consumer market. According to Photographicwanderings they will announce a new consumer camera next week on October 24. We don’t know yet what’s coming but the definitely most surprising news is the one posted by Globalpost.com. According to them Panasonic and Leica will work together on mirrorless interchangeable cameras. Does it mean Leica will join the Micro Four Thirds system?
32 Responses
All their M cams are consumer level cameras with manual focus.
If they had been really interested, one can not understand the “Mini M”. Ugly, useless and atrociously priced.
Digital Leica CL with no RF coupling? If that comes about, I would expect a price tag of at least 2X of the A7r with less than 24MP sensor.
Do they have a prayer to compete? No. 🙂
Let’s see how it develops.
In fact for a camera company it makes good sense to have two layers – FF 35 and m4/3. This could play in the hands of Panny and Leica, as much as in those of Olympus and Sony.
What I don’t see v. well is how the branding would work.
But certainly Leica is not only a Luxury good: it wants to be top electronics, so an alliance in Asia makes a lot of sense.
probably this:
http://www.43rumors.com/new-panasonic-mft-camera-patent/
if leica joins mft, it will be the prettiest and most expensive mft camera yet. and I’ll want one, but not afford it…
Maybe they will offer a rebranded GM-1 and get into the M43 game. A bit late and it will be even more over priced than Panasonic.
“Panasonic and Leica will work together …” me thinks that Leica will maybe produce some lens design, but most of the work and production will be done by Panasonic, otherwise the product would be too expensive to compete. But let’s see.
GX7 or GM1 rebadged? Would not be such a bad thing. But they’d better work on some lenses, not just license Panasonic its name. AF f/1.2 lenses?
A M4/3 Digilux 7 + 42,5/1.2 and a M4/3 Minilux 1 + 15/1.7…
M4/3 minilux with 20/1.7 would be awesome, but the question is whether it would cost less than RX1 …
If Leica is going M43 they are stepping in to a sinking ship. Would be a very bad choise. Nobody needs m43 with other small top products with big sensors like Fuji and Sony.
No one needs one, but a whole lot of people want one. MFts seems to be having some great lenses, a really nice variety of bodies and frankly it gives IQ that is very good. So what is not to like?
Sony is btw teaming up with Oly and Fuji with Panasonic so apparantly those two, which you mention, like somehting the mFT companies do….Will Leica join them? If so, I can understand them.
Sony needs glass, Oly knows glass. Oly needs sensors, Sony knows sensors.
yup 🙂 if these two could gang up against the gorilla Canon and its little friend Nikon they could really push the industry in a new direction that canon and nikon would have to follow
Sony’s problem isn’t the glass, it’s the sensors. They are building glass with lots of compromises because of ray angle problems which isn’t something that their optical designers could resolve. It’s rather unlikely that a company of the size of Sony would hire anyone but the best of the best for their research, esp. for a growing market segment. I doubt the partnership with Olympus will improve E-mount glass by any noticeable amount.
not everyone needs it ? really very few need FF gear either ? but at weddings I see some in the crowd with D4 and nice glass etc…and they are the guest !
not everyone needs a huge SUV but some soccer moms want them ? not everyone needs a Mini Cooper but some mid life crisis dads have them ?
fact is they have exceptional range of glass that is small and light
only folks who cant see the light always think its the gear !
Mini Cooper? I bought a Porsche buddy! Get your facts straight
Can you make an effort NOT to think you speak on behalf of everyone. Feel free to express your opinion about what you need and do not need but you do NOT know what everybody else wants or needs
Harold
If you remember the Digilux 3 was four thirds camera.
RIP leica.
there are fewer and fewer stupid people who would pay thousands of dollars for manual focus camera made by panasonic with red dot (made in china) glued on it
Nearly all manus focus Leicas cameras and lenses are made in Germany. The few that are not are made in Portugal, and a fee years ago were made in Canada. My 75 summilux lens for example, is from canada. Iam sure you will call me “stupid” for spending how much I spent for it 20 years ago andmaybe also por all the photos I sold and exhibited that I shot with it, which gained me far more than I spent on the lens. . I assume all comments about the stupid people using a real Leica M are made by people who a. cannot afford a Leica. b. really don’t need them and couldeasily stick to their cell phone’s camera when shooting their dog. The only fascinating question here, that could easily get one a nice research MA thesis in the social sciences, is what is it with these people so obsessed with “the stupidity of Leica users”.
If you knew more about the history between Leica and Panasonic then the ‘dumb people’ would make more sense to you.
He is not talking about your SUmmiux and M camera at all, he is referring to situations like the:
Panasonic LX3
Leica DLux-3
Exact same camera, exact same functionality, but one has a red dot and costs far more than the other.
That is stupid.
My hope is that Leica’s conservative sellers market will be break down by challenging and novel players. Leica should accept SONY’s challenge on the ground of full-frame market, and should not escape into M43. And I hope that more many companies coming into the full-frame competition. Current full-frame systems are too expensive.
I ve beeing valling for a m43 Panasonic rebrand for years.
GX1 please. A litle bit redesigned on the outside and a matching 9mm fast prime. 😛
All you intrepid commentators realize you’re not Leica’s target demographic, don’t you?
Leica’s customers are monarchs and their royal offspring, multi-billionaire Arab sheikhs and the like. Leica’s customers buy Leicas because they are Leicas. Leica customers have unlimited funds, and want Leica prices to maintain their lofty heights so that the rabble can’t clamber aboard and dilute Leica’s brand image. The cost of a Leica to a true Leica customer is pocket change, nothing more.
The A7/A7r, for all its technical merits, is irrelevant to Leica’s success. As is your enlightened commentary.
TLDR; Leica cameras aren’t for you.
Your analysis does not explain why reporters hump leicas into war zones, and the work of generations of very good photographers who could have chosen other systems, but didn’t. From a “great photo” perspective, what system has achieved more? Hassy, Nikon F, Rollei? Please… just as many great shots come from leicas as any of them.
I am far from a leica fanboy, yes their prices are ridiculous… but, if you look at the results, its hard to argue against the success of the system as a serious image making tool.
His comment us true in tidays world.
Yours was true 40yrs ago. The time Leica made its name and fame and tiday they are mostly milking the ruch and famous with a help of their loyal art photoraphers.
But that doesnt stop us from wanting to get milked from time to time…
Sheeple vs. People :-P:-)
We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear anything further!
http://lavidaleica.com/content/new-leica-camera-photoplus-expo
All other brands may crumble and disappear, but Leica will stay.
Because Leica is the only camera brand that does not work in an usual economy model of scale, nor it needs to. Leica is an idea of a top quality in a photographic instrument. They are more like jewellery makers, not camera makers, because they ned to succumb to compromises others must to achieve economy of scale.
As long as they make excellent optics as they do, and price them at the level of quality old-fashioned workmanship, they will have their loyal clients among the millions of rich who will pay anything to get their products.
“Leica will be around forever…”
Hahahaha.
Keep drinking that Kool Aid.
The rationale for going m4/3 is that they simply know that they can’t go ultrawide while staying mirrorless, as Sony and their own experience confirms.
Please avoid saying the usual platitudes.
a Lumix rebranded leica camera???
I want this one!
http://leicarumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Leica-Mirrorless-APS-C-camera-concept-1.jpg
It’s here!
http://lavidaleica.com/content/new-leica-d-lux-6-silver-edition