There's an inherent problem with the digital M body and existing Leica lenses: the lens backs are extremely close to the sensor, making the light angle to the sensor very shallow. The IR problem is because there simply isn't enough room between sensor and lens back for an IR filter thick enough to be effective. Apparently, Leica felt they couldn't afford to spend more time trying to solve the IR and other problems, like high ISO shooting and white balance. (The M8 has been out now for over two years, and still no IR fix.)
The holy grail of digital photography is a Leica body worthy of the Leica lenses. The M8 is not that body. If Leica could develop an M body with a full-frame sensor, without the M8 issues, it will have the perfect digital camera: elegant, discreet, unrivalled optics. A full-frame sensor in an M body is even more problematic than the current 1.33 crop sensor, and time is running out. Unfortunately for Leica, Panasonic has nullified the rangefinder advantage, with the G1. (Fortunately for Leica, the two have a close partnership.)
If Leica could come out with an M9 full-frame now, even at $10,000, it would fly off the shelves...really! But it's at least two years away, and that's too late.
Meanwhile, in lieu of innovation, Leica can only offer cachet. The little white number above is for the photographic equivalent of the rich lady who buys a Valentino dress because she can: "Yes, Dahling, you have one, but it's not exactly...you."
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
There's an inherent problem with the digital M body and existing Leica lenses: the lens backs are extremely close to the sensor, making the light angle to the sensor very shallow. The IR problem is because there simply isn't enough room between sensor and lens back for an IR filter thick enough to be effective. Apparently, Leica felt they couldn't afford to spend more time trying to solve the IR and other problems, like high ISO shooting and white balance. (The M8 has been out now for over two years, and still no IR fix.)
The holy grail of digital photography is a Leica body worthy of the Leica lenses. The M8 is not that body. If Leica could develop an M body with a full-frame sensor, without the M8 issues, it will have the perfect digital camera: elegant, discreet, unrivalled optics. A full-frame sensor in an M body is even more problematic than the current 1.33 crop sensor, and time is running out. Unfortunately for Leica, Panasonic has nullified the rangefinder advantage, with the G1. (Fortunately for Leica, the two have a close partnership.)
If Leica could come out with an M9 full-frame now, even at $10,000, it would fly off the shelves...really! But it's at least two years away, and that's too late.
Meanwhile, in lieu of innovation, Leica can only offer cachet. The little white number above is for the photographic equivalent of the rich lady who buys a Valentino dress because she can: "Yes, Dahling, you have one, but it's not exactly...you."