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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
12-13-2015, 01:59 AM
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Sounds like a straw man argument to me. You are hypothesising a possible variance in demand that even if true has no relevance since observable market behaviour does not support your hypothesis.
And, given I was born in a non-first world non-Western "culture", I completely reject your hypothesis anyway.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
12-11-2015, 03:05 PM
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I suspect even a high school student will disagree with your rather simplistic explanation of those events, but if your point was smartphone is the new opium, then I agree.
Apparently people in China has been known to sell a kidney for an iPhone.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
12-10-2015, 01:44 PM
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That's linear thinking, and history has proven time and again linear thinking doesn't work.
There is no reason to believe (or any evidence to support) that developing markets will suddenly have a desire for compact cameras and DSLRs - the traditional product segments of camera makers. They will use smartphones like the rest of us.
The issue with camera makers isn't that they need to expand to new markets. They are making products that people don't want or need.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
11-29-2015, 03:43 PM
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Why "jump ship"?
Why not keep your Pentax collection, buy the FF if it's nice (or don't buy - it's up to you).
It's okay to own multiple systems - there is no rule that says you have to be loyal to only one.
I still own my Pentax lenses (only sold two so far). I also have a nearly complete Nikon 1 lens collection (I think I own every lens bar 1 or 2 prime or zoom), a nearly complete Sony E mount collection (except for zooms - I don't like zooms - I am pretty sure I own all the primes), a nearly complete Sony FE collection (again, all the primes and some of the zooms), and a substantial Leica Summicron collection (all bar 2) plus other Leica lenses. I did get rid of Canon because I just don't like any of their bodies - they have lost me as a customer.
They are all complementary - different situations call for different systems and different lenses.
Life is too short to deny myself anything - and I am not getting younger.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-22-2015, 12:45 AM
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I could be really cynical and claim that Leica realise their core customer base is getting older and older and finding (like me) that rangefinders are becoming almost impossible to use due to poor eyesight.
The "traditional" market for SLRs has been shrinking, so whatever the thinking is about what buyers care about - that thinking isn't working. And that market isn't necessarily the same as Leica's market - who almost by definition are people who are not interested in SLRs.
I would say Leica see Sony as their competitor, and both the T and now the new SL are responses to prevent their user base from switching to Sony, or tempt those that have switched to come back.
Their strategy must be working, because they got me interested, and I thought I will never ever buy a Leica body again.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-21-2015, 02:40 PM
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No different from Leica. The M series cameras do quite a lot of correction to M series lenses (which is why it's important to code the lenses properly).
No lens is perfect - manufacturer supplied digital corrections are a perfectly valid way to improve quality.
By the way, I own all three FE lenses tested. I am not going to comment on the article (I generally don't trust Roger's articles and would prefer not to read or comment on them - I quickly glanced at the link osv posted just to see what lenses have been tested - I haven't read the article closely)
However, I will say this - I have been using all three lenses a lot recently (pretty much every weekend) and I am completely in love with them - even though they are quite large and bulky (the FE55 is starting to seem small in comparison to the other too). So much so I am putting my beloved Summicrons aside and have been shooting with these. This weekend I am going to Sculpture by the Sea and it will be the first time in several years I am not carrying my Summicrons.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-20-2015, 07:06 PM
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The pricing is actually quite good, lower than I expected.
Basically Leica sells in relatively low volumes - they have to amortise their R&D over a small production run which in itself will jack up the price.
There is also an element of them pricing at a level that they think the market will bear. They know their market is relatively price insensitive so they just need to price relative to their other products.
But then everyone does this - look at Sony - the series II bodies are noticeably more expensive but probably doesn't cost that much more to make. Sony has now established a market and reputation, they can start value based pricing. Gone are the days when Sony was so desperate to get influential people to buy and use their products, they sold the RX100 when it was first released to me at half price (I didn't complain - I wouldn't have bought it at full price - and now I am lusting after Mark IV).
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-20-2015, 05:12 PM
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Exactly. This is why the A7 series design is good (unfortunately, and extremely frustratingly so) the A7 series DOESN'T HAVE A TOUCHSCREEN.
Edit: finally had a chance to read your link to Preview hands on. You are right - it's rather big and unwieldy plus heavy. This alone may kill it for me. However, I will reserve final judgement until I have had a chance to test this out (with say a 50mm Summicron to see how usable it is in real life).
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-20-2015, 04:44 PM
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Looking more closely at the photos the biggest mistake is that the EVF takes too much space and reduces the real estate for the LCD screen. I would have preferred if Leica gave as much space to the LCD screen as possible and bump up the EVF like on the Sony A7 (which is a smarter design).
The LCD screen should also have been articulated, for people like me to prefer to shoot with LCD (very useful for video and unusual angles).
What I really like about this body is the 11fps up to 3 seconds (raw) and Dual SD cards. This suits my shooting style and preferences.
In summary, it's not perfect, but probably the best body for Leica lenses right now (I can't use the M because of my failing eyesight - can't use the rangefinder).
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-20-2015, 01:34 PM
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I was ready to pour scorn on this camera, but now that Leica has announced it with specs, I am actually reasonably impressed.
The specs are pretty decent - not groundbreaking but ticks all the boxes for me - certainly better than I expected from Leica.
Given I have a fairly large collection of Leica lenses (I own nearly all the Summicrons plus a smattering of others) this could be THE body for them.
Not sure I am that keen on the native lenses - not into zooms. And they kind of look big. So much for Leica's criticism of Sony - they have not done better themselves.
The other camera I have been considering has been the A7S Mark II. I think I would play with both before deciding.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
10-17-2015, 03:22 PM
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Not intending to reply to any post in particular, and certainly don't want to enter into a debate (especially since some of the posters in this thread are in my ignore list), however ...
I remember a discussion some time ago about what is the equivalent number of "pixels" that 35mm film has compared to a digital camera. At what resolution would one comfortably say they are surpassing the equivalent of carrying a film camera and taking photos under optimal conditions?
Apparently the amount of detail in 35mm film is approximately equivalent to about 4-5 megapixels taking the entire processing chain into account (I can't remember the source, but it's may be Kodak). Under ideal conditions, maybe 12 megapixels.
So a smartphone already gives more resolution than 35mm film. And a Leica body is more than adequate.
However, if we consider a Bayer sensor has lower colour resolution due to the need to have pixels that respond to different colours, then perhaps one should require a digital sensor to have a resolution of 3-4 times of the "5MP" arbitrary figure to compensate for the loss of colour detail. So that would mean 20MP. The Leica is still okay.
But let's say we go for the extreme and multiply 12MP by 4 to take into account the Bayer sensor - it's 48MP.
This explains why 50MP is probably a good goal to reach for a digital full frame camera, because at that point you can truly say you have a camera that surpasses film under all possible conditions.
Going back to the subject of the thread, the new RX1RII comes close at 42MP, so I would assert that the primary appeal of this camera is a no-compromise camera for street photographers and others who like to see the world from just one lens perspective. There is an innate logic in this that I appreciate - I often go out with just one lens (usually 35mm or 50mm) because there is a certain discipline and technique required that produces interesting and sometimes unexpected results.
Anyway, please continue. I'll just go back to shooting on my smartphone.
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Forum: Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands
09-25-2015, 12:58 PM
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Cool - I've been to the Sony Centre in Berlin - very interesting building. Apparently Sony used to own the entire building but not any more.
I used to buy something from every Sony Centre I visit. I think I bought a circular polarising filter in Berlin. With the tax refund and the strong currency at the time it ended up cheaper than buying it at home.
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