[LRFlex] Further speculation on the R-10D
- From: David Young <dnr@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2004 08:31:26 -0800
Neil wrote:
I think you've hit the nail on the head w/r/t the digi-back concept. I'm
sure they'll sell some of those beasts, but I can see a lot of problems
with the approach. The cost of a digi-back that can properly interface
w/an R8/9 vs. a self-contained digi-body makes me wonder why they persist
in that direction.
I think I know the answer to that.
Their approach is predicated on three facts. [1] They know they need to
get into the digital area, or perish. This means learning the technology...
and fast! [2] They have an unsold inventory of R9's that number into the
thousands. [3] Germany has a law on it's books that says whenever a
municipality or other government body needs a product, they must by German
made, if it is available, regardless of cost! Only if no suitable German
built product is available, may they consider EU products, and only if no
EU made product is available will they be able to consider non-EU (read
Japanese with regard to cameras) products.
This means that every police force, municipal plumbing inspector etc., who
needs a digital camera will be required to buy a Leica R9/DMR/lens
combo! Overkill? For most of 'em, yes. But an effective strategy for
Leica, for there is no German built alternative. This is the main reason
that Leica are building it in Germany, rather than Portugal!
This should, fairly quickly, eat up the unsold backlog of film bodies;
while gaining Leica lots of money and expertise, rather quickly. Had they
not gone that route, there might never have been another R series camera,
digi or not! but if the strategy works, they'll be in a good position
(technologically and financially) to build the R-10D.
I know that Leica have publicly said that their design, though magnificent,
was a marketing mistake. The Japanese, Leica's largest market, have small
hands and do not find the R8/9 comfortable. This has cost them a LOT of
money in lost sales, and Leica have already said their next body design
will be smaller.
However, for a next step, the R8/9 is already designed and tooled. It
would be far more reasonable to make their first digi-body on that
framework. After all, it's already highly evolved for digital
use. Placing the shutter winding motor where the film take-up spool goes,
and cramming much of the electronics into the film cannister spot would
make the extra space on the bottom much smaller - perhaps almost
non-existent. And BINGO! A digi-body faster than you can say "Robert's your
father's brother!"
Perhaps, in the R-11D, we'll see a smaller body design. :)
What do we owners/users really want? I want a digital body that can use my
Leica R lenses.
Agreed. At this moment, the Canon 20D w/Leica to EOS adapter is the best
bet, but it has no automation. For me, with the 400/f6.8 which has no
automation anyway, it's perfect!
Add to that I actually like the functionality of the Leica/Panasonic/Lumix
better than the Nikon (but not the performance), and that I prefer the
size and feel of my R5 to an R8/9 because it's closer to the ergonomics of
my Olympus OM cameras.
Remember, however, that beautiful, bright viewfinder is mostly from that
heavy, big prism. Smaller cameras, with smaller prisms will always have
dimmer finders. That's one reason why the F5 is as big (or bigger) than
the R8/9. None of the rest of the R series (nor the OM's, nor Canons, nor
smaller Nikons come close!)
I know that Henning Wulff's assessment of his Canon 20D (which started this
whole thread) is that the viewfinder is 'somewhat dim', but he 'can live
with it'. Having played with it, side by side with the R8, I can tell you,
he is right. There is no comparison!
Last summer, I had the chance to swap cameras for a few minutes with a
young lad who had a Canon Digi-Rebel. When he looked through the R8, he
happily exclaimed "It's like looking through a picture window!" Indeed,
his finder was rather dim - more like the R3, and definitely dimmer than
the R5/6 that I sold for the R8.
I'm not grinding you here... I liked the size of my R5 & R6 better than the
R8, too. But I would have a hard time going back. The
performance/enjoyment level in the R8 is just too high!
I'd probably by the R-10D. :)
If Panasonic comes out with a digital body that accepts R lenses, there
would be no chance that I'd buy the Leica digi-back + R8/9. I think they
missed the mark on this one.
Still so sure of that? ;-)
----------
David Young, | égalité, liberté,
Victoria, CANADA | fraternité et Beaujolais.
Personal Web-site at:
http://www.horizon.bc.ca/~dnr
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