DPReview Enthusiast Camera Recommendation

[Mike Farley]

There have long been rumours, frequently denied, that Leica would introduce a more modern interchangeable lens camera. If it is really APS-C and Panasonic is partnering Leica in this exercise, that would suggest a completely new model as Panasonic currently only makes m4/3.

For a long time, Leica was struggling to keep up with demand for its M bodies and lenses, but that situation has changed recently with the move to a new manufacturing facility. This would suggest that Leica now has the capacity to introduce new models. Roll on 24 April.

[Mike Farley]

Looks like leica are joining in the fun -

http://petapixel.com/2014/03/06/leica-s ... ore-131064

I wonder if this will be a genuine new camera or another shoddy rebadging, ideally it'll be the former!

And here it is. Hooray, a completely new camera. Hewn from a piece of solid aluminium, the camera itself looks gorgeous and is probably the sort of thing which Hasselblad should have done with its misjudged Lunar models in order to appeal to a well heeled demographic. Relying mainly on touch controls, there must be some appeal in the new Leica T to the Apple generation, although how well this translates into usability when used as a camera as opposed to a gadget remains to be seen.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/04/24 ... =title_0_1

[davidc]

The aesthetics are a marmite topic I guess, it doesn't personally do anything for me (looks just like sony/samsung models of recent years) but the decision to go with the screen and not a built in EVF surprises me, considering Leica's apparent heritage. I mean, they spend all that effort making a pretty camera without a viewfinder then when you add the viewfinder to actually make it useable, it turns the camera pig ugly. Not convinced yet, let's see what independent reviewers make of it. Ideally not Leica shills though

[Mike Farley]

The aesthetics are a marmite topic I guess, it doesn't personally do anything for me (looks just like sony/samsung models of recent years) but the decision to go with the screen and not a built in EVF surprises me, considering Leica's apparent heritage. I mean, they spend all that effort making a pretty camera without a viewfinder then when you add the viewfinder to actually make it useable, it turns the camera pig ugly. Not convinced yet, let's see what independent reviewers make of it. Ideally not Leica shills though

This might be a first. We almost agree about something.

Even if we could afford one, I doubt if you and I are really the target market. To me, it looks like something the smart set will buy because it is a LEICA. The company tried this trick when the M9 first came out, placing adverts in publications such as the Financial Times in order to persuade those with money that it was a fashion accessory. Requiring proper photographic skills to get the best from it, it was definitely the wrong camera for that job, but more recent Leica offerings in the X series have have filled that role instead and none of those come with a viewfinder as standard. I see the T series as an extension of that line of thinking in interchangeable lens form.

Personally, I do not have too many issues with cameras which do not have viewfinders. But then, I am so short-sighted I can hold the camera quite close to my nose and peer over my glasses at the rear screen. OK, I do not have the benefit of holding the camera steady against my face, but I do enjoy having a large screen to look at close to. I must admit that when I wrote my earlier post I had not seen the optional EVF. Agreed, it does nothing for the aesthetics.

I have no doubt that the camera will be capable of good image quality, but it will not necessarily be a photographer's tool for the reasons already mentioned. One thing which it does lack is image stabilisation, which Leica said it did not include as it made the lenses too bulky. Hmmm, wouldn't or couldn't? After all, IS can also be built in to the sensor without requiring much additional space, although it is not quite so effective at longer focal lengths. Poor image quality due to camera shake might yet turn out to be the achilles heel for inexperienced users.

As you say, let's see what the reviews have to say, but not those from Leica fan boys.

[Mike Farley]

This chap is one of the biggest Leica fan boys out there, so no prizes for guessing what he thinks of the T.

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2014/04/2 ... teve-huff/

[Mike Farley]

I have just seem this preview by Michael Reichmann on Luminous Landscape. Although a long time Leica user, he is not someone who will overlook what he regards as faults when reviewing a camera and he includes a {short} list of critical funtions which the camera lacks. One of these is exposure/exposure lock, although it could be added via a firmware upgrade, and another is the previously mentioned optical image stabilisation. As someone who has actually used a beta version of the camera, he has confirmed my initial view that this is not a camera primarily intended for the serious photographer. This is his closing statement:

"In its target market – affluent amateurs who want simplicity of operation combined with great image quality, prestigious look, feel, and branding, the Leica T satisfies - to a T."

That said, for those who want the look and feel conferred by Leica glass for their images, the T is a more "affordable" option than the M series. Doubtless Leica will be delighted to sell to that market segment as well.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/revie ... _use.shtml

Although Reichmann was using a pre=production model, unusually Leica has allowed him to publish image samples. He also has a list of issues which he would like to see fixed for production versions which he has fed back to Leica.

Prior to launch, it was known that the lenses were manufactured for Leica in Japan and the assumption was that the company concerned was Panasonic. This turns out not to be the case and neither is it Cosina, which makes Zeiss lenses. No doubt the company concerned will become apparent over the course of time. Reichmann goes to some length to point out that although Leica does not make the lenses itself, they are as good as anything else the company produces at a lower cost than if they had been made in Germany.

[davidc]

It's funny how Steve Huff hated the pictures when they were leaked but now it's actually really like that he loves it.

His review is nauseating to read and reminds me of wartime propaganda. It's quite clear why he's a Leica fanboy

- "for the craftmaship, the quality, the simple operation, the pride of owning a real hand-made and solid camera as well as the results"

Note how "results" come last and as we all know, a good photographer will get good results with pretty much anything. Nah, to me it all reads disingenuous OTT nonsense.

Thanks for introducing me to someone who is certain to wind me up the more of his stuff I read

[Mike Farley]

to someone who is certain to wind me up the more of his stuff I read

No worries, Dave. The world needs more people who will wind you up.

At least he is not as bad as Ken Rockwell, who has managed to recommend the Leica T even though it is obvious he has never seen one. At least Steve Huff had a sample in his hands for a few days.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/t/index.htm#rex

[davidc]

I'm not a colossal fan of Ken Rockwell either it must be said

[Mike Farley]

I'm not a colossal fan of Ken Rockwell either it must be said

Somehow, I did not think that you would be.

I have never understood the appeal of Ken Rockwell, other than to laugh with derision at his idiocies, and fail to see how he survives if he really does depend solely on income from his website. Certainly I would never buy through one of his links. Someone at work first told me about him a few years ago and reckoned he was brilliant. After quickly realising that he was a less than insightful reviewer, I thought that he had to make up for it by being a good photographer. But he is not that either. Strange, but it takes all sorts, I suppose.