[LRflex] Re: Modular cameras

Neil,



Neil Gould wrote:

Rollei may well have had this concept in mind with the development of the
2000/3003 series. However, can Leica overlook the complete failure of that
model in the market place? When I purchased my Rollei 6008i kit, it was in
hopes that a digital back with a full-frame sensor would eventually come
to market. I've given up all hope of that coming to pass, and use the
camera strictly for film. Given Leica's evolutionary approach, I would
expect that any new R will work with older R lenses, whether or not new
lenses offer AF, image stabilization, or whatever.
Rollei did have a strange and early digital back in the works for the 3003, it was supposed to record images on floppy discs.
The Rollei (Sinar) digital back for the 6008 (although I think it's only for the 6008AF) did eventually appear, as did the Hy 6 camera - a real bank account breaker. I think your last point is a must for Leica. In-body IS would be the best option. The Contax SLR offering in-body AF more or less died at birth, so unless Leica have thought of something better in this direction, we must expect new, AF lenses. 
Another reason to be skeptical of the modular approach is that one can't
just change the sensor without changing the firmware, software, and
possibly some controls. A practical way to offer modularity was
demonstrated with the DMR, yet I don't hear as much call around here for a
DMR-2 as there is for an R-10.
Changing firmare and software is no great problem, as upgrades have already shown - even an attractive option if Leica would deliver the upgrade on a 1 or 2 GB storage card as a little extra for their customers. 
Since digital cameras are not as dependent on complex precision mechanical
systems as film cameras, I think it will be hard to justify high pricing
once the digital subsystems mature. We can already see that happening in
the marketplace, and I'd expect that trend to have an impact on the
viability of an expensive R-10.
Unfortunately, people expect a Leica to be expensive, it's all part of their charisma and, strangely enough, a selling point. The thought of a 'cheap' Leica is anathema for many (ridiculous really) and would have a negative effect on the Leica image. 
Further, there is an inverse relationship
between capability and cost such that a $5,000US digital camera is not 5x
better than a $1,000US camera. There is also an inverse relationship
between durability and technical obsolescence. Why make a camera body that
can last 50 years if it can be manufactured cheaply and is obsolete in
less than 5?
Leica's dilemma in a nutshell - exactly the reverse of what happened to VW with the introduction of the Phaeton top-bracket limousine - a wonderful and very luxurious car, but who the hell wants to drive a limousine with a VW badge on the front? The answer came very quickly - nobody. 

Cheers
Douglas

Best,

Neil







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