Latest Digital M news

[wblanchard]

Not sure how many of you read Leica World magazine, but according to Hans Peter Cohn of Leica, they plan to show the digital Leica M either at the PMA in February 2006 or at the photokina in September.

Doesn't look like it will be here for the 50th celebration. Gives us more time to save money towards it.

[Tim]

Can't help the feeling that by that time it'll be a little late. By 2006 we will probably have a second version Epson, or Cosina, or ZI digital rangefinder. And if the Epson is anything to go by in terms of passing on development costs of a digital rangefinder amortised over small production runs, what will the Leica cost?
Sure, it will sell. But if the estimated USD 8k is right, how many?

One thing's for sure, the next 12-18 months will be veeeerrrry interesting.........

tim

[wblanchard]

Tim, when the Lieca Digital M comes out, I will have money saved to get a nice MP or M7 camera instead. I actually think Leica is smart and letting Epson get out there first and feel out the market with their product. They can see what people piss and moan about the camera and what it's lacking...and hopefully put something 10x better out. I know the article said EVERY M lens, even the new ones...will work with both film and the digital M.

This should be an interesting year.

[RML]

Originally Posted by wblanchard

....I actually think Leica is smart and letting Epson get out there first and feel out the market with their product. They can see what people piss and moan about the camera and what it's lacking...and hopefully put something 10x better out....

From what I've read there isn't much wrong with the R-D1. People's main niggles seem to be the price, the cam's availability and the 1.5x crop factor. Quality and performance wise it's no slacker, and the even the auto white balance seems to be very good.

I think Leica will have a really hard time coming up with a far superior camera, especially at a competing price. And if not at a competing price, how much will people be willing to shell out extra for just the name of the beast?

I fear it will all be too little, too late....