A few months ago Mr. Stefan Daniel (Director Product Management at Leica Camera AG) had an interview with Leica Blog (Via Megapixel) said that optical viewfinder will get less and less important. This of course led us all to believe that the time may be close for Leica to launch a mirrorless camera with electronic viewfinder. But according to our (very good) Leica sources there will be NO camera like that at Photokina. Plans for EVF cameras have been pushed forward to 2013. Too bad, really hoped Leica would be the first camera maker to launch a Full Frame camera with Electronic Viewfinder. That camera could have been a lot cheaper than the Leica M series also because they would get rid of the expensive and spacious rangefinder mechanism.
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Reminder: These are the hot points from Mr. Stefan Daniel interview with Megapixel:
1) “The experience with the very successful Leica X1 leads us to the opinion that a Leica with an interchangeable lens should have at least an APS-sized sensor.“
2) “I think that the quality of the 1.4MP finders is already very good, and sometimes even more accurate than an optical finder, think of white balance or exposure. Over time, as technology is improving, optical finders will get less and less important. The X100 finder is a very nice concept and well executed.“
3) “Offering additional functions such as video and live view would extend the usability of the M camera significantly. CMOS is a prerequisite for it, therefore it will be the technology of the future.“
18 Responses
When they launched the M8 (digital), they lost a chunk of their fanbase/supporters. If they do away with the mechanical RF, all hell is going to get break out. A huge loss of their loyal customers and the potential buyers of an all EVF camera comparing and complaining about the cost differences with the competition and buying Sony, Ricoh/Pentax, Olympus/Panasonic cameras.
Why would they want to commit suicide like that?? They would and should listen to their own supporters/buyers/users first and foremost and not alienate them to expand their market.
I don’t think EVF in a M-series camera is something they evaluate at the moment. They were supposed to launch a new mirrorless system at Photokina though, but Leica announced that it is delayed just a couple of weeks ago. I’d expect them to use an EVF in that system, but you never know with Leica. They might annouce it next year though, depending on the delay.
the rangefinder is at the end of a very very long line. modern Af has almost disposed of all the benefits of the rangefinder.except in very very low light is the rangefinder maybe more beneficial in focusing.
the problem is Leica didnt listen to a thing called modernity in the 60’s, and they paid dearly for it when everyone esle moved ahead into the future. if leica doesnt think about the next 50 years, just like they didnt think about it then in the 60’s, there may likely be no leica come 2050.
Less expensive..? Tsss. Stop dreaming.
It’s the red dot mechanism that is expensive on these cameras, that holds true for a mirrorless camera….
What the advantage of EVF in Leica ? simply NONE, lenses are manuel and RF works well, there is no zoom. With EVF you can’t see what happens around the frame, EVF is not what you see when it’s happens, there is delay. But there is advantage in low light, you can have real time histogram, electronic level, focus peaking.
Leica is all about tradition, good all man made thing, when you release a product when it’s perfectly done, and not because under market pressure, when word “customer” doesn’t mean “beta tester” 😉
And the EVF Leica exists, it’s the Nex 7 with Leica M adapter 🙂
I don’t see the value of an evf either with an m mount body either. Maybe something like OVF part of the Fuji, with more information, but a straight EVF would seem a step down IMO. And are you sure that the current optical RF system is more expensive than an evf?
“That camera could have been a lot cheaper than the Leica M series also because they would get rid of the expensive and spacious rangefinder mechanism.”
That is very funny…
A good EVF would totally expand the camera’s capabilities; even the die-hard rangefinder lovers will eventually move to it just the way people abandoned the revered cloth shutter and, of course, film. A LOT of people are waiting for a full-frame EVF mirrorless, Leica or not; first to market will totally score, and a99 will set the pace. I want Leica to win this race, because Leica understands how photographers think and feel and work, and knows how to put together a package that works without getting in the way.
I feel very strongly that they should at least show some prototypes or proofs of concepts at Photokina.
I assume that, ironically, Leica’s feeling a little overwhelmed and not really wanting to deal with the demand of a popular camera. Or, perhaps, wishful thinking, they were going to put out an APS, and are switching to FF?
Leica is BORING.
They define “what’s important for the world” as the same as the most they can imagine…, which AIN’T MUCH THESE DAYS.
When was the last time they did something imaginative? The M1? That was a while ago.
rangefinder – rangefinder mechanism = not a rangefinder
True, but it’s not impossible to combine a rangefinder mechanism in a OVF with a EVF and let the user switch between them. I wouldn’t expect that in the M-series though. At least not for a couple of generations.
If Leica introduces an EVF, it will be different from the sacred M. It may even take R lenses. Cheaper? Certainly not.
evf + focus peaking + 100% zoom + full frame + r-mount adaptor = dreams do come true.
Who care about Leica…
I’m sure none on this site can afford one anyway.