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Author Topic: Leica teasing a "mini M"  (Read 16906 times)

BJL

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Leica teasing a "mini M"
« on: May 23, 2013, 01:08:39 pm »

Leica is teasing a "mini M" at its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LeicaCamera placing it between the M and the X2 which its describes as "Micro M". The only likely options I can think of are:
a) interchangeable lenses and AF, in the smaller 24x16mm format of the X2.
b) same 36x24mm format as the M, but with a fixed lens like the X2.

I am hoping for (a), though clearly it involves the bigger investment of some new Leica lenses to do it right.
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Chairman Bill

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2013, 01:21:09 pm »

Maybe a Leica challenge to the Fuji X range?

Chairman Bill

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2013, 02:01:06 pm »

It would be good if it came with a mini-price too

Rob C

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2013, 03:07:26 pm »

It would be good if it came with a mini-price too


That would even be its saving grace.

Rob C

eronald

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2013, 05:03:31 pm »


That would even be its saving grace.

Rob C

Don't count on it - the basic idea of the luxury industry is that averages sales prices must keep climbing.

Edmund
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Rob C

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2013, 05:29:58 pm »

Don't count on it - the basic idea of the luxury industry is that averages sales prices must keep climbing.

Edmund


Maybe we need a digital Minox spy camera!  I would still enjoy sliding it in and out... now that would be a luxury!

;-)

Rob C

LKaven

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2013, 12:44:54 am »

Worth remembering this little gem, which seems to be the clear point of reference for the mini-M:

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm

Paulo Bizarro

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2013, 04:48:09 am »

I think it will be option b) with fixed lens.

A X2 with optical viewfinder a la Fuji X100, smaller than the M?

hasselbladfan

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2013, 01:28:39 pm »

A small CL camera with a 40mm would be great.
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Telecaster

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2013, 05:14:54 pm »

Worth remembering this little gem, which seems to be the clear point of reference for the mini-M:

http://www.cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm

The CL is a great little camera indeed, and the Leitz 40mm f/2 is an overlooked gem. The meter in my CL no longer works so I use a Voigtlander hotshoe jobbie instead. The whole thing fits in an interior jacket pocket...perfect for travel. A digi version w/ 40mm (or equiv) lens...I might just go for that.

-Dave-
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Roberts J

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2013, 04:46:54 pm »

How about option
c) same 36x24 (FF) format interchangable lens camera with electronic viewfinder (FF mirrorless camera), but without optical viewfinder and rangefinder mechanism? AF may be yes, may be no, may be possible in future.

That's prediction of dpreview.com - http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/05/23/leaca-teases-mini-m-for-11th-june-release

And this is most reasonable option from my point of view, too.
« Last Edit: May 25, 2013, 04:52:30 pm by Roberts J »
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BJL

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2013, 05:37:16 pm »

c) same 36x24 (FF) format interchangable lens camera with electronic viewfinder (FF mirrorless camera), but without optical viewfinder and rangefinder mechanism? AF may be yes, may be no, may be possible in future.
Agreed: I did not think of that one, but I am happy to add it to the speculation menu!
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Roberts J

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #12 on: May 29, 2013, 12:02:27 am »

Leica changed teaser photo on Monday. Now it looks like option b)
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LKaven

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2013, 05:39:55 am »

I might have expected that Leica would refer to every camera as having "M" DNA, even inflating their compact camera to M status.  A "nano-M", my foot.

LKaven

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2013, 06:04:33 pm »

The latest intelligence on this camera, also posted at DPR:
http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/first-image-of-the-leica-m-mini/

Get out your smelling salts for the projected price: $3100  Now who would buy this, he asked?  It's an APS-C sensor at the price of a FF sensor.  The lens has max f/6.4 aperture at 70mm.  It just seems that Leica wants to take their "M" dna and go laughing all the way to the bank.  I'd buy the Fuji over this thing without a moment's pause.  Does Leica, like Hasselblad, think that every outsourced camera they create that bears their marque is instantly an art treasure?  At least the Luna/Sony accepts your choice of lenses, including M mount lenses.

Summary:
The Leica Mini M is an APS-C sensor camera with fixed zoom lens! These are the specs:
- Leica Elmar 28-70mm f/3.5-6.4 (FF equivalent)
- 16,1 Megapixel APS-C sensor.
- external electronic viewfinder can be used
- Full Aluminum body
- FullHD recording
- Bundled with Photoshop Lightroom.

TMARK

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #15 on: May 30, 2013, 11:47:05 am »

The box is open a bit.  It looks like it has a finder window.  Its not the "leaked" photo of the point and shoot.

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BJL

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #16 on: May 30, 2013, 01:19:04 pm »

The box is open a bit.  It looks like it has a finder window.
Where do you see that? On the Leica Camera Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LeicaCamera, all I see in the open box is a "crescent moon" sliver from the left edge of the lens.
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TMARK

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #17 on: May 30, 2013, 02:49:37 pm »

Where do you see that? On the Leica Camera Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LeicaCamera, all I see in the open box is a "crescent moon" sliver from the left edge of the lens.

Looked again.  I'm not so sure now, but it looks like there is a distinct change in contrast where a finder window would be, as if its glass in that spot.  I HOPE so, because the zoom mirrorless with the slow lens is just too disapointing.
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bcooter

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #18 on: May 31, 2013, 02:34:37 pm »

Looked again.  I'm not so sure now, but it looks like there is a distinct change in contrast where a finder window would be, as if its glass in that spot.  I HOPE so, because the zoom mirrorless with the slow lens is just too disapointing.



Leica brings out emotion, good and bad.

The people that love them and can afford them will buy them, regardless of anything said, any review. 

The people that think an electronic camera is some kind of blasphemy, or feel a Red Dot isn't worth the money won't.

I personally cannot walk by a Leica counter and not want to buy almost everything.  The S, The R, most M, I dig em.

The problem is they don't do most of what I need, but damn, it's so hard not to buy.

Can you easily tether an S?  If not, that's just nuts considering the price, the size of the camera.

I don't know anyone that can shoot a commercial project without the client's wanting to see every image. 

Why didn't Leica make some type of  real Digital R?  When you think Leica you think 35mm and I believe had the R had autofocus, they would have sold boatloads of them, or at least a lot more than they did.

I think the R is the most beautiful 35mm camera I've seen.

As I mentioned I just bought a 4/3's gh3 and a box of lenses.  It's not a beautiful camera, but it is a camera that does just about everything.

For the GH I bought the M to Pana adapter and couldn't wait to see it with Leica lenses and honestly they're not really disappointing, but not over the moon better, or as good as the 4/3's 2.8 zooms. 

Finally with the 90 I could actually see the framing and focus, and it works great on the 4:3's platform,  but there is ca, and it's not as pretty or consisently sharp as the Panasonic 2.8 zooms with o.s..

BTW:  I've compared the gh3 to my last year's 1ds3's and I can see virtually no difference in quality at comparable iso, image quality, which really surprised me as I expect a sensor 1/2 the size to have a more limited result.

Maybe I'm reading into it because it's new, but I must admit so far I'm surprised with this small format.

But back to Leica.

I think they've put themselves into a rock and a hard place.  Like Porsche that wouldn't introduce any car except rear engine, without feeling the heat of traditionalists.

Then they finally broke loose offered an SUV and it became their best seller.

I have a friend that's a celeb that loves everything Leica, carries it around the world and comes back with about 50% in focus.

His partner takes a 5d something and comes back with 80% in focus.

Leica should ask him if he wants an interchangeable lens camera with autofocus that is a full frame leica, not a mini, nano whatever.

Anyway.

In regards to what Leica charges, I've never understood that complaint. 

They charge what they can get and I'm all for charging what you can get.   

I mean what photographic brand name draws the high end attention of Leica?

When we have all of our cameras on set and working, nobody, client's, talent, crew notices the dslrs.  The only thing clients mention is the Red 1 but everybody looks over at my old M8 and picks it up and looks through it.

I don't know what they expect to see, but probably something special.

Leica just draws people in.

You take a Fuji x1pro, toss it over your shoulder and everybody will ask, is that a leica?


IMO

BC
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BJL

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Re: Leica teasing a "mini M"
« Reply #19 on: June 07, 2013, 03:23:56 pm »

The latest intelligence on this camera, also posted at DPR:
http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/first-image-of-the-leica-m-mini/

Get out your smelling salts for the projected price: $3100  Now who would buy this, he asked?  It's an APS-C sensor at the price of a FF sensor.  The lens has max f/6.4 aperture at 70mm. ...

Summary:
The Leica Mini M is an APS-C sensor camera with fixed zoom lens! These are the specs:
- Leica Elmar 28-70mm f/3.5-6.4 (FF equivalent)
- 16,1 Megapixel APS-C sensor.
- external electronic viewfinder can be used
- Full Aluminum body
- FullHD recording
- Bundled with Photoshop Lightroom.

Indeed the latest updates at https://www.facebook.com/LeicaCamera and http://leicarumors.com/ make it look like this, which I also did not anticipate, so I will call option (d) --- as in the letter grade I would give it.
« Last Edit: June 07, 2013, 03:46:05 pm by BJL »
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