I've been a lurker here for years and rarely post, but the M8 IR debacle only reinforces the point that you should NEVER buy the first edition of a such a new product. Always wait for the kinks to be worked out. I've been anxiously waiting for a digital M for years, BUT I'm patient enough to await the second, third or fourth editions, or an M9, whatever Leica calls it. Why be the guinea pig for them, especially at $5,000? Jeff Gluck ecartis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: >Leica Reflex Forum Digest >+------------------------+------------------------------------ >leicareflex Digest Wed, 22 Nov 2006 Volume: 03 Issue: 323 > >In This Issue: > [LRflex] The M8's impact on the R10 > [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > [LRflex] [Vario-Elmarit - My first shots > [LRflex] Re: [Vario-Elmarit - My first shots > [LRflex] Re: [Vario-Elmarit - My first shots > [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > [LRflex] IMG: Tundra Swan > [LRflex] Re: IMG: Tundra Swan > [LRflex] Re: IMG: Tundra Swan > [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > [LRflex] Unofficial Leica announcements re M8 reported > [LRflex] Leica Camera posting re M8 > [LRflex] Re: IMG: Tundra Swan > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 10:17:19 -0800 >From: David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] The M8's impact on the R10 > >Bill Abbott offered" > > > >>http://www.financial.de/newsroom/news_d/86103.html >> >>Let us all hope the current contretemps about M8 IR filtering gets =20 >>put to bed quickly with little or no technical. sales, or financial =20 >>impact. >> >> > > > >Hi Bill! > >Most interesting! Leica's loss is 1 million Euros lower, despite a 2 >million Euro increase in expenses. That part looks good! > >The M8's current IR debacle is important to "R" users in that if the >M8 is a financial success (it looked as if it would be a runaway >success prior to the IR problem raising its ugly head), the next >generation R10 is virtually assured. But if the M8 fails to sell well... > >Leica have talked about making a B&W only version of the M8. Here, >IR sensitivity would not be a problem and could be seen as an >asset. It makes me wonder if Leica could fix the problem in new >sensors with a different coating on the sensor's protective glass, >and then recall the existing stock for a switch of sensors. The >original sensors could then be used to create the b&w >version! True, the Bayer-pattern filters would still be in place, >but it may be possible to work around that, in firmware. > >If this is possible, it would be an expensive solution for Leica, but >nowhere near as expensive as simply throwing the sensors away! (This >brings to mind the "bad math" Pentium scandal, a few years ago!) > >If they can solve this problem, both from a technical and public >relations standpoint, I still think they can recover enough to make >the M8 a successful player in the game. But, I do not think people >will accept Leica's first solution... using an IR cutting filter one >each lens to compensate for a problem which simply should not be in a >$5000 camera. They will accept it, even less, if Leica expect them >to pay for the filters! > >So, Bill, thanks for posting this little tidbit! > >Cheers! >--- > >David Young, >Logan Lake, CANADA > >Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 10:27:52 -0800 >From: David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > >Colin wrote: > > > >>Well, if they're suggesting putting an IR filter on the front of the >>lens to solve the purple black plastic bag problem - I hope it's an >>IR-blocking IR filter ;-) >> >> > >Indeed, it will be! But there has to be a more elegant solution. (A >low pass IR filter, btw, looks just like a UV filter - in fact, if >they do it right, it will be a combination low-pass IR & UV filter. > >I fear that a low-pass IR filter (what we usually call IR filters are >high-pass filters) will not be received well by users. Especially if >Leica expect them to pay for it! Worse, even if Leica give each >buyer one, most M8 buyers have more than one lens, thus requiring a >filter for each. I can certainly see buyer resistance in that approach! > >There has probably been more M8 discussion, on the list, of late, >than 'R' series discussion. For this, I apologize to those who are >not interested in "M" cameras. But it's an event worth watching, for >as goes the M8, goes the R10! > >Cheers! > > > > >--- > >David Young, >Logan Lake, CANADA > >Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:07:28 -0500 >From: "a aa" <classwp@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > >An IR filter can be simply added in the form of a coating that will >prevent IR from being transmitted to the sensor. Perhaps a Mk 2 >version will have this ? > >On 22/11/06, David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > >>Colin wrote: >> >> >> >>>Well, if they're suggesting putting an IR filter on the front of the >>>lens to solve the purple black plastic bag problem - I hope it's an >>>IR-blocking IR filter ;-) >>> >>> >>Indeed, it will be! But there has to be a more elegant solution. (A >>low pass IR filter, btw, looks just like a UV filter - in fact, if >>they do it right, it will be a combination low-pass IR & UV filter. >> >>I fear that a low-pass IR filter (what we usually call IR filters are >>high-pass filters) will not be received well by users. Especially if >>Leica expect them to pay for it! Worse, even if Leica give each >>buyer one, most M8 buyers have more than one lens, thus requiring a >>filter for each. I can certainly see buyer resistance in that approach! >> >>There has probably been more M8 discussion, on the list, of late, >>than 'R' series discussion. For this, I apologize to those who are >>not interested in "M" cameras. But it's an event worth watching, for >>as goes the M8, goes the R10! >> >>Cheers! >> >> >> >> >>--- >> >>David Young, >>Logan Lake, CANADA >> >>Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >>Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt >> >> >> >> >>------ >>Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: >> http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm >>Archives are at: >> //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/ >> >> >> > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:19:46 +0100 >From: Philippe Amard <phamard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] [Vario-Elmarit - My first shots > >Hi list, >I turned a senior last week and was offered a new camera by family and >friends. >(David was in the know, I wasn't :-D ). >One more camera to carry around? >Yes, but digital this time! >No DMR, no R10, ... >a Lumix. :-[ >A Lumix, with a Leica zoom lense 8-) . > >My first impression of the Pana camera is NOT negative AT ALL, even >though I know feel my age when perusing the booklet and running through >the menus - some will know the feeling I'm sure ;-) > >I haven't had time to discover much, but the camera feel is friendly >enough to invite a Leica fan to go further, much further. > >What I like best? the lense of course. >My second best? the on/off switch, located as on the R3. Remember how >easy to operate it was? >Plenty more of course, but I don't want to bore you, yet. > >Just for you to have an opinion I've posted two pixes (should I say >bunches of pixels?) at this address. ><http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/62475-1/Lumix-Thanks.jpg> >N°1 is a crop of n°2. >I'm not pretending either is any good, far from it. But for anyone >willing to see what the Vario-Elmarit can do, this is a starting point. > >Comments, suggestions, advice and questions more welcome than ever. > >Yours >Phileicangemix > > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:36:13 -0800 >From: David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: [Vario-Elmarit - My first shots > >Philippe Amard offered: > > > >>Just for you to have an opinion I've posted two pixes (should I say >>bunches of pixels?) at this address. >><http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/62475-1/Lumix-Thanks.jpg> >>N=B01 is a crop of n=B02. >>I'm not pretending either is any good, far from it. But for anyone >>willing to see what the Vario-Elmarit can do, this is a starting point. >> >> > >Hi Philippe! > >You Europeans age fast! Over on this side of the=20 >pond, one is not a 'senior' until age 55, at the=20 >earliest, and usually not until 60 or 65. > >Your shot is very nice... good colour. Hard to=20 >tell much more due to the nature of the=20 >shot. However, judging from your earlier works,=20 >you'll do fine with the PanaLeica! > >Have fun with your new toy! > > >--- > >David Young, >Logan Lake, CANADA > >Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:45:46 +0100 >From: Philippe Amard <phamard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: [Vario-Elmarit - My first shots > > >David Young wrote: > > > >>Philippe Amard offered: >> >> >> >> >> >>>Just for you to have an opinion I've posted two pixes (should I say >>>bunches of pixels?) at this address. >>><http://gallery.leica-users.org/d/62475-1/Lumix-Thanks.jpg> >>>N=B01 is a crop of n=B02. >>>I'm not pretending either is any good, far from it. But for anyone >>>willing to see what the Vario-Elmarit can do, this is a starting point. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>Hi Philippe! >> >>You Europeans age fast! Over on this side of the=20 >>pond, one is not a 'senior' until age 55, at the=20 >>earliest, and usually not until 60 or 65. >> >>Your shot is very nice... good colour. Hard to=20 >>tell much more due to the nature of the=20 >>shot. However, judging from your earlier works,=20 >>you'll do fine with the PanaLeica! >> >>Have fun with your new toy! >> >> >>--- >> >>David Young, >>Logan Lake, CANADA >> >>Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >>Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt >> >> >> >> >>------ >>Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: >> http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm >>Archives are at: >> //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/ >> >> >> >> >> > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:45:22 -0800 >From: David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > >"a aa" wrote: > > > >>An IR filter can be simply added in the form of a coating that will >>prevent IR from being transmitted to the sensor. Perhaps a Mk 2 >>version will have this ? >> >> > > >Of course it can, and I don't know why they didn't do this at the >start! Perhaps they felt it would enhance the reproduction of >reds... and failed to see the other consequences. I don't know. > >I just hope that they can figure out a way to adapt the present >cameras, so that the current owners will not suffer "buyers remorse", >which could cost them dearly. > >I know that all shipments of M8's have been halted, at present, while >Leica work on the problem. But they need to come up with an >acceptable solution (filters are not an acceptable solution) and quickly! > >Cheers! >--- > >David Young, >Logan Lake, CANADA > >Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt > > > > > >------------------------------ > >From: Douglas Herr <telyt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] IMG: Tundra Swan >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:31:05 -0800 > >technically not great, but a wonderful bird to have in the area: > ><http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/tusw00.jpg> > >R8/DMR, 560 f/5.6, ISO 400, heavily cropped. > >Doug Herr >Birdman of Sacramento >http://www.wildlightphoto.com > > >------------------------------ > >From: Douglas Herr <telyt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: IMG: Tundra Swan >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:46:16 -0800 > > >On Nov 22, 2006, at 5:31 PM, Douglas Herr wrote: > > > >>technically not great, but a wonderful bird to have in the area: >> >><http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/tusw00.jpg> >> >>R8/DMR, 560 f/5.6, ISO 400, heavily cropped. >> >>Doug Herr >>Birdman of Sacramento >>http://www.wildlightphoto.com >> >> >> > >oops, that's the 560mm f/6.8, not f/5.6 > >Doug Herr >Birdman of Sacramento >http://www.wildlightphoto.com > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:19:48 -0800 >From: David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: IMG: Tundra Swan > >At 22/11/2006, you wrote: > > >>technically not great, but a wonderful bird to have in the area: >> >><http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/tusw00.jpg> >> >>R8/DMR, 560 f/5.6, ISO 400, heavily cropped. >> >> > >Hi Doug! > >And, pray tell, what is technically wrong with it? > >OK - heavily cropped and possibly not suitable for huge >enlargement. But it's tarp as a shack, and aesthetically, as good as >you're likely to get for a bird in flight! > >For web use, absolutely superb! > >Cheers! > > > >--- > >David Young, >Logan Lake, CANADA > >Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt > > > > > >------------------------------ > >From: "Dr. Puritz" <drpuritz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:37:00 -0500 > >David: Just a quick question: Given the financial progress that Leica has >made, did you get any idea about the success of the DMR? Is the DMR still >being made in quantity? One might envision the M8( once the problems are >solved ) as being a bigger seller then the DMR. > >Any idea when the planned R 10 will be "available"? > >Elliot > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 19:34:08 -0800 >From: David Young <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > >At 22/11/2006, you wrote: > > >>David: Just a quick question: Given the financial progress that Leica has >>made, did you get any idea about the success of the DMR? Is the DMR still >>being made in quantity? One might envision the M8( once the problems are >>solved ) as being a bigger seller then the DMR. >> >>Any idea when the planned R 10 will be "available"? >> >>Elliot >> >> > > >Hi Elliot! > >To answer your questions: > >The DMR is selling steadily, if more slowly than Leica would like. > >It is no longer being made in quantity. In fact, it is not being >made, at all! This is because Imacon both designed and built the DMR >for Leica under contract. Leica figured out the number they'd likely >need and had Imacon built them all at once. Thus, "no longer being >made" does NOT equate to "being discontinued". It was simply more >economical to make them that way. (I know, it's hard to think of the >DMR as "economical", but the price would be worse, were they being >made in small batches!) > >Imacon continue to develop the firmware for the DMR and should Leica >sell out of them before the mythical R10 is produced, they'll have >Imacon build another batch. This I have, straight from the horse's >mouth - as it were. > >As for the M8, I suspect it is already a bigger seller than the >DMR! However, whether it will be much bigger will depend on how >fast, and how well, Leica solve their IR related colour shift problem. > >The mythical R10 is now in the early planning stages. What form it >will take - a mini-DMR with upgradeable sensors (my choice!) or a >fixed sensor camera like the current Canon's or Nikons, or something >else entirely - is likely not yet even known within Leica itself. As >I said, they are only at the EARLY planning stages. Which is why our >little survey was so important to them! > >The R-10 is expected be introduced at the next Photokina... end of >September, 2008, with availability some time after that. Whether >this actually happens, or not, will depend on whether the M8 is a >successful as they hope! And that will depend on how well, and how >fast, they solve their current M8 woes. > >Having met the new management, I have every reason to believe that >they will get it right and, after a short hiccup, will be very >successful with the M8. That, in turn, will assure the R10 to follow! > >Cheers! > > > >--- > >David Young, >Logan Lake, CANADA > >Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:37:23 -0800 >From: Ted Grant <tedgrant@xxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > >David I have to ask one question about this IR stuff? > >Where does one find this happening and under what light conditions?. Sorry 2 >questions > >ted >Ted Grant Photography Limited >1817 Feltham Road >Victoria BC V8N 2A4 >250-477-2156 >----- Original Message ----- >From: "David Young" <telyt@xxxxxxxxx> >To: <leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 7:34 PM >Subject: [LRflex] Re: Comparison of M8 Photos in Infra-Red. > > > > >>At 22/11/2006, you wrote: >> >> >>>David: Just a quick question: Given the financial progress that Leica >>>has >>>made, did you get any idea about the success of the DMR? Is the DMR still >>>being made in quantity? One might envision the M8( once the problems are >>>solved ) as being a bigger seller then the DMR. >>> >>>Any idea when the planned R 10 will be "available"? >>> >>>Elliot >>> >>> >>Hi Elliot! >> >>To answer your questions: >> >>The DMR is selling steadily, if more slowly than Leica would like. >> >>It is no longer being made in quantity. In fact, it is not being >>made, at all! This is because Imacon both designed and built the DMR >>for Leica under contract. Leica figured out the number they'd likely >>need and had Imacon built them all at once. Thus, "no longer being >>made" does NOT equate to "being discontinued". It was simply more >>economical to make them that way. (I know, it's hard to think of the >>DMR as "economical", but the price would be worse, were they being >>made in small batches!) >> >>Imacon continue to develop the firmware for the DMR and should Leica >>sell out of them before the mythical R10 is produced, they'll have >>Imacon build another batch. This I have, straight from the horse's >>mouth - as it were. >> >>As for the M8, I suspect it is already a bigger seller than the >>DMR! However, whether it will be much bigger will depend on how >>fast, and how well, Leica solve their IR related colour shift problem. >> >>The mythical R10 is now in the early planning stages. What form it >>will take - a mini-DMR with upgradeable sensors (my choice!) or a >>fixed sensor camera like the current Canon's or Nikons, or something >>else entirely - is likely not yet even known within Leica itself. As >>I said, they are only at the EARLY planning stages. Which is why our >>little survey was so important to them! >> >>The R-10 is expected be introduced at the next Photokina... end of >>September, 2008, with availability some time after that. Whether >>this actually happens, or not, will depend on whether the M8 is a >>successful as they hope! And that will depend on how well, and how >>fast, they solve their current M8 woes. >> >>Having met the new management, I have every reason to believe that >>they will get it right and, after a short hiccup, will be very >>successful with the M8. That, in turn, will assure the R10 to follow! >> >>Cheers! >> >> >> >>--- >> >>David Young, >>Logan Lake, CANADA >> >>Wildlife Photographs: http://www.telyt.com/ >>Personal Web-pages: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt >> >> >> >> >>------ >>Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: >> http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm >>Archives are at: >> //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/ >> >> >>-- >>No virus found in this incoming message. >>Checked by AVG Free Edition. >>Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.12/545 - Release Date: >>21/11/2006 >> >> >> >> > > >------------------------------ > >From: William Abbott <wbabbott3@xxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Unofficial Leica announcements re M8 reported >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:41:45 -0800 > >Hi all- > >Again, via Google Alerts, please see: > >http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php? >p=423795#post423795 > >for unofficial Leica announcements re M8. > >As ever, > >Bill > >------------------------------ > >From: William Abbott <wbabbott3@xxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Leica Camera posting re M8 >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:45:00 -0800 > >Hi all, > >Please see > >http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/10045-new-info-my- >dealer.html > >for more on M8. > >As ever, > >Bill > >------------------------------ > >From: Douglas Herr <telyt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject: [LRflex] Re: IMG: Tundra Swan >Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:01:39 -0800 > >On Nov 22, 2006, at 6:19 PM, David Young wrote: > > > >>At 22/11/2006, you wrote: >> >> >>>technically not great, but a wonderful bird to have in the area: >>> >>><http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/tusw00.jpg> >>> >>>R8/DMR, 560 f/5.6, ISO 400, heavily cropped. >>> >>> >>Hi Doug! >> >>And, pray tell, what is technically wrong with it? >> >>OK - heavily cropped and possibly not suitable for huge >>enlargement. But it's tarp as a shack, and aesthetically, as good as >>you're likely to get for a bird in flight! >> >>For web use, absolutely superb! >> >>Cheers! >> >> >> > >Thanks David. It is, as I initially wrote, heavily cropped, not >downsized much for the web! > >Doug Herr >Birdman of Sacramento >http://www.wildlightphoto.com > > >------------------------------ > >End of leicareflex Digest V3 #323 >********************************* >********************* >Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: > http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm >Archives are at: > //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/ > > ------ Unsubscribe or change to/from Digest Mode at: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm Archives are at: //www.freelists.org/archives/leicareflex/