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Leica teases 'Mini M' for 11th June release

May 23, 2013 at 16:32:57 GMT

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Leica has placed a teaser on its Facebook page for a new 'Mini M' camera to be launched on June 11th, that apparently will slot into its range between the M rangefinder and the X2 fixed-lens compact. It's given no other details, and we don't yet know what's coming, but we think it could make sense for the company to produce a full-time live view version of the M Typ 240, using the same sensor but with the expensive rangefinder assembly removed. This would result in a 24MP full frame mirrorless camera that would be able to use almost any manual focus SLR or rangefinder lens ever made, without a field-of-view crop.

What kind of camera would you like Leica to make? Let us know in the comments below.

Leica's new banner on its Facebook page, teasing a 'Mini M' on the 11th of June

via popphoto.com

Leica M Typ 240

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Leica X2

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Comments

Total comments: 307

I know what this mystery is and I didn't have read a single word.

It's another butt-ugly camera by Leica, the camera makers who bring the "Old Navy Retail Store" feel to photography.

1 upvote

I happen to think Leica make the most beautiful cameras, but I have yet to buy one new.

Certainly not used to hearing Leica cameras being ugly, but I respect your opinion.

0 upvotes

This should put the price of the RX1 in perspective.

11 upvotes

How about an affordable one whose iq isn't blown away by others?

12 upvotes

Except with a good Leica M lens the M9 is hard to beat for image quality below ISO 1000 (shooting raw of course).

Now of course you can mount that same M lens on a Sony mirrorless and go for higher ISOs.

Remember when $3000 DSLR bodies did awful image quality above ISO 200 even with an excellent lens--not even close to ISO 400/800 35mm colour film? I do. And that wasn't 25 years ago.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

Please let it be a reboot of the Digilux 2. With a Micro Four Thirds sensor.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicadigilux2

2 upvotes

It isn't probably that far away:
http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/big-rumor-panasonic-revives-the-l1-and-makes-a-hell-of-a-mft-camera-out-of-it/

0 upvotes

peterwr:

Fine Digilux 2 took its design inspiration from the Leica M body, but it's not like it took M mount lenses.

How about instead the Epson R-D1? An inexpensivish APSC M mount range finder?

0 upvotes

peterwr just so we're straight here: there is no such thing as a micro 4/3 sensor. The sensor is 4/3. The *mount* is micro 4/3.

1 upvote

I have no idea whether to give any credence to the rumors of a full frame Sony NEX camera in 2014, but if there is any truth to it, then an affordable LV-only Lecia M mount camera might be a way of heading off competition from a FF Nex body that could (possibly) be used with Leica M lenses via adapter.

3 upvotes

But would a full-frame NEX camera be able to use the current NEX lenses? Any know if their imaging circle would encompass a full-frame? Or would we need special lenses so we have to continue on the DX vs. FX thing that Nikon has now?

1 upvote

Good news for dentists

11 upvotes

Dentists...

How do you call people who failed the medical school? Dentists... per Seinfeld...

How do you call dentists with Leicas? [?...]

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 12 minutes after posting

3 upvotes

Hermes. Obviously Leica is no longer a camera company but a luxury brand. Maybe they can even partner with Porsche.

2 upvotes

My guess is that it's going to be a re branded Panny. The new GX2 is coming out at that time. It'll have built in viewfinder, micro four thirds sensor, and in body image stabilization. Supposed to harken back to the Panny L1. Look for Leica to rebrand that one with the red dot and a few firmware tweeks.

4 upvotes

Leica has placed it above the X2, which it tags as "micro M", so I doubt it will have a sensor smaller than the X2's "APS-C".

My guess/hope is using the same sensor format as the X2, but with interchangeable lenses (and some AF lenses). Would Leica dare share E mount or other NEX technology with Sony? Can it be priced low enough to avoid the fate of the Hasselblad Luna?

2 upvotes

My guess is a re-branded Lumix G-series.

1 upvote

Considering its placement, between Micro M (X2) and the Leica M (Typ 240), it will likely cost over 3000€...too expensive!

0 upvotes

I'll be dissapointed if it's 1.6x or 1.5x crop. Hopefully it's either full frame or 1.33x crop like the M8... So maybe an M8.3 kind of camera but in the size and form factor of a digital Leica CL, this would be pretty awesome. I don't think Live View only makes sense though because there are no autofocus lenses. It would still need the rangefinder in my opinion. If Leica wants to make new auto focus M lenses that could be interesting but I don't see that happening either.

I'm willing to bet it will cost $5,000 no matter what it is if it's made in Germany and a real Leica. Maybe they will surprise us and make it closer to $4,000.

1 upvote

If, in fact, this is to be Leica's first rangefinder less digital M then hallelujah! I suspect they may be scared by what Sony may or may not have in the works with a FF mirror less body. it will be interesting to see what happens!

1 upvote

Mini M? Isn't that that the M-E?

0 upvotes

No that one's the same size. But the fact that neither that or the Monochrome is listed in this 'M' line-up says a lot about the chances of it being a M-Mount or even interchangeable at all.

0 upvotes

Indeed that rangefinder is a BIG part of the cost in a M. If this min M let s hope that :
It will be equipped with latest 2.3 million EVF and not an outdated one
It will allow user to use other ratios ( 5:4 , 4:3) than the very oblong 3:2 ratio
It will offer a better LCD or OLED ( better for outside) than the M

3 upvotes

Of course! That's why a Bessa costs US$700 and the cheapest Leica US$5K - a costly rangefinder.

8 upvotes

A big part of the cost is that red dot...

3 upvotes

Anything can be done cheap Carlos, that doesn't make Harold's remark any less true. Regardless of the red dot premium, for the actual cost of the body they spend a whole lot on the rangefinder system. Along the lines of a fullframe sensor or more i believe.

0 upvotes

Harold66:

If a range finder system is such big part of the cost, how come one could get a German made Leica M film body in the year 2001/2 for about 2000usd? Even taking into account that the Euro has gained nearly 40 percent against the US dollar that 2002 price should be a lot higher if the range finding mechanism is really that expensive.

0 upvotes

People. What he's saying is that LEICA's rangefinder is a big part of the body cost. NOT rangefinders in general. They are kind of anal about precision you know. It doesn't matter if you agree how much they put in it, it doesn't matter that hey don't HAVE to, but they do. That is all there is to it. What is up with the denial.

1 upvote

M Jesper:

And unless the price of the rangefinder system has gone up radically since 2002, the rangefinder is not a big part of the cost of a 7000usd camera body.

0 upvotes

Sure, rangefinders are excluded from inflation, everybody knows that.

0 upvotes

Yup, one that doesn't cost three times as much as a pseudo equivalent camera from anyone else.

2 upvotes

>What kind of camera would you like Leica to make?
Um, maybe affordable one? ;)

15 upvotes

Why? We have other options that are affordable.

2 upvotes

It's always nice to have more choice.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 307


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