Z (is real)
Senior Member
Without getting too much into the silly debate about Leica itself...
The digital future of the compact rangefinder camera should absolutely be even better than its quite illustrious past. Many of the compromises in the design can be eliminated or mitigated in a digital camera or via application of electronic technology. E.g. adding "live view" off the sensor opens up much simpler macro and telephoto photography opportunities.
I'll go so far as to say SLR technology is no longer the optimal solution it was in film. A digital camera without the reflex system built from the ground up will very likely become the reigning solution across most of photography. Unfortunately the current entrants (micro-4/3rds, NEX, etc.) are more engineered for the mass market, not professionals and enthusiasts. It remains to be seen if any company will really try to field a new professional level mirrorless solution to compete with systems such as the Leica M, Nikon F, or Canon EOS. The answer has more to do with economic viability than technical feasibility.
The trick in moving the digital M-series forward is to not lose the strengths of the compact rangefinder in the proposition. E.g. an M without an optical rangefinder makes little sense to me. People ask for autofocus, but this is way down on my list and very difficult to implement in a way that works well. With a line of new AF enabled electronic lenses, it could be done. An optional electronic rangefinder coupling for new lenses could be a win. (Better accuracy, less adjustment, etc. Certainly a ground up reengineering of the compact rangefinder would electronically couple the lenses. This also allows increasing the viable range of focal lengths as it frees the system from mechanical constraints of accuracy and range of motion.) The rangefinder can get a lot more sophisticated in terms of framing accuracy and parallax correction if the frame lines are overlaid electronically via an LCD. Two or three levels of automatic magnifcation in the rangefidner could be used to extend the applicable focal range, etc.
Lots of possibilities, each with potential to make the system more wonderful or to detract from its soul. I trust Leica will likely proceed with a measured pace and ensure every new M lives up to certain quality expectations.
-Z-
The digital future of the compact rangefinder camera should absolutely be even better than its quite illustrious past. Many of the compromises in the design can be eliminated or mitigated in a digital camera or via application of electronic technology. E.g. adding "live view" off the sensor opens up much simpler macro and telephoto photography opportunities.
I'll go so far as to say SLR technology is no longer the optimal solution it was in film. A digital camera without the reflex system built from the ground up will very likely become the reigning solution across most of photography. Unfortunately the current entrants (micro-4/3rds, NEX, etc.) are more engineered for the mass market, not professionals and enthusiasts. It remains to be seen if any company will really try to field a new professional level mirrorless solution to compete with systems such as the Leica M, Nikon F, or Canon EOS. The answer has more to do with economic viability than technical feasibility.
The trick in moving the digital M-series forward is to not lose the strengths of the compact rangefinder in the proposition. E.g. an M without an optical rangefinder makes little sense to me. People ask for autofocus, but this is way down on my list and very difficult to implement in a way that works well. With a line of new AF enabled electronic lenses, it could be done. An optional electronic rangefinder coupling for new lenses could be a win. (Better accuracy, less adjustment, etc. Certainly a ground up reengineering of the compact rangefinder would electronically couple the lenses. This also allows increasing the viable range of focal lengths as it frees the system from mechanical constraints of accuracy and range of motion.) The rangefinder can get a lot more sophisticated in terms of framing accuracy and parallax correction if the frame lines are overlaid electronically via an LCD. Two or three levels of automatic magnifcation in the rangefidner could be used to extend the applicable focal range, etc.
Lots of possibilities, each with potential to make the system more wonderful or to detract from its soul. I trust Leica will likely proceed with a measured pace and ensure every new M lives up to certain quality expectations.
-Z-
