Who will be the next camera company to release a monochrome digi?

[seanbonner]

Seriously, now that everyone knows there's at least some interest in it, someone is going to figure there's a market opening for a sub-$8K b/w digital camera - who will it be?

[coelacanth]

Fuji with their new sensor dedicated to B/W, of course with their b/w film modes and ISO setting is "push" and "pull" from the film's native sensitivity?

Or

Sigma with Foveon sensor with all three layers dedicated to B/W to have crazy smooth gradient and dynamic range?

[buzzardkid]

Olympus maybe because they are on a retro streak at the moment.

But Sug's suggestions are really good too!

[lynnb]

I thought Ricoh would be a company prepared to have a go with a bw M-module for the GXR..

[DRabbit]

Originally Posted by lynnb

I thought Ricoh would be a company prepared to have a go with a bw M-module for the GXR..

I like this idea

[rbelyell]

yeah, i'm on that ricoh train too. their module system is the perfect vehicle for this. they put that out in m mount and a 16mp m mount module and the hell with leica!
tony

[jbot]

I'm not sure that a product release shows that there's consumer interest. I think we might need to wait until the product is officially released to see who buys it.

But I'm going to go with Nikon. Maybe we'll see a Nikon DBW.

Just kidding, I have no idea.

[driver]

A monochromatic Sigma DP3 would be a dream come true for me - alas, it just won't happen. I wouldn't be surprised though that Ricoh (a truly innovative company) offers a GXR module with a naked sensor

[TXForester]

Maybe Olympus could do it with their Pen, so some the R&D cost could be cut out by using an existing body.

[rxmd]

My guess is "none of the above". It's a niche thing and a desparate way for Leica to scratch some more high ISO performance out of that aging sensor of theirs.

[Eric T]

No one. Only Leica can afford to be this silly.

[willie_901]

No one.

There's only enough magic pixie dust for one company.

[pharyngula]

I am hoping also that Ricoh goes this route with a B&W M-module.

[nemjo]

Why on earth should anyone do?
I mean for general purpose.
I could imagine specific fields where it has it's benefits, if try hard enough.
But leaving that extreme specific things alone - why?
Only reason if price much lower than comparable color?






BTW: is it sure that analogue color filtering is better than doing it in post?

nemjo

[btgc]

Just let marketing people convince buyers monochrome-only without screen is better for photography than high ISO, many megapixels and 22x zoom - and people will buy 24mm BW-only compacts without screen with limited internal memory accumulating about 40 picture files and no socket for additional card.

Not this is bad itself but masses depend on what marketing depts feed to them.

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by btgc

Just let marketing people convince buyers monochrome-only without screen is better for photography than high ISO, many megapixels and 22x zoom - and people will buy 24mm BW-only compacts without screen with limited internal memory accumulating about 40 picture files and no socket for additional card.

Not this is bad itself but masses depend on what marketing depts feed to them.

Niches depend on it even more than "masses". If you want to distinguish yourself from the "masses", you'd be surprised how susceptible you start to be to marketing of all sorts.

[Jack Conrad]

One day soon we will all be able to augment our own
eyesight to b/w only. I can't wait. I'm so tired of those flashy reds.
And especially all those Martha Stuarty pastels. Blech!

[emiguevara]

nemjo, that's a really very bad B&W conversion... I do not see the point you are trying to make.

To the question, I think that monochrome will remain a niche product, in spite of its advantages and qualities. I don't see any company besides PhaseOne and Leica committing to it. Maybe also Pentax could give it a try with a monochrome 645D. But that is considering real cameras.
A cheap B&W-only digital Holga plastic camera could sell millions.

[semordnilap]

Could be Ricoh. It will always be a niche product, but that doesn't mean it won't be successful in its way.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by lynnb

I thought Ricoh would be a company prepared to have a go with a bw M-module for the GXR..

My guess too.

[elmer3.5]

Hope canon releases a rangefinder, can´t see why they don´t...perhpas it would kill thy´re dslr´s

Anyway i think this monochrom leica will be a great experience, it thrill´s me the fact you cannot switch from colour to bw.

[nemjo]

Originally Posted by emiguevara

nemjo, that's a really very bad B&W conversion... I do not see the point you are trying to make.

To the question, I think that monochrome will remain a niche product, in spite of its advantages and qualities. I don't see any company besides PhaseOne and Leica committing to it. Maybe also Pentax could give it a try with a monochrome 645D. But that is considering real cameras.
A cheap B&W-only digital Holga plastic camera could sell millions.

It must be so, because you wrote...
But at least you are seeing half of the point I am trying to make.
A dedicated B&W camera should be cheap(er).
It's a joke to produce something with less possibility, by less cost and sell more expensive.
I'm pretty sure that B&W sensor or bayered or the new fuji pattern equally need the skill in post-processing to get the desired result.
But at the end: a B&W-only is less in possibilities and at most equal in quality.
Well, the emperor is naked...

nemjo

[gilpen123]

Oly and Fuji are in the best position to do this IMO. Both are brave enough to venture into the retro styling and they have topnotch R&D. The Pen and the OM are great designs, the Fuji RF retro style are also tops. Maybe Nikon will follow but I would think Canon may not be interested as of now. The F6 is still in production and Canon stopped their film slr long time ago.

[gilpen123]

RD2-M? The sleeping beauty may just wake up.

[Alberti]

I really like the idea of a monochrome system, use a light yellow filter if needed or something like that.
I am even more than willing to buy the second body. I advocated the BW body myself.
But the price-point is ridiculous. A shame. Makes me think about a monopoly.

I hope the game is spoilt quickly.
Otherwise we know what the price of the M10 is going to be: up it with another 2 grand.

So where is the competition now? For this price boutique shops can enter.

It is not that a multichrome cannot be converted to BW - yes, but I miss something, not in the processing, but in the mindset when taking the picture. Otherwise I am prejudiced that colour is nicer . . \
And the quality is bound to be better.
I really am pissed off.