Amateur Photographer Magazine

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......which you think we will see first - a full frame Leica M or Leica R. Do you think a full frame M will even be possible - and if so how big will it be?...........

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Damien,

After following the correspondence about sensor sizes and image quality in Mike Johnson's "OnlinePhotographer" blog I wonder if 'full frame' ought to be the question? Given that existing small sensors are producing a quality 1920s movie film couldn't reach and that sensor design is by no means static surely a new super wide lens or two is all Leica need if they stick with existing sensor sizes. Leica rangefinders have two valuable characteristics. They are very small and Leica lenses are excellent. I bought a IIIg with a 50mm Summicron in 1959 and still use them (now in conjunction with a scanner). Nothing else I've used since is any better, except when long lenses are needed, though some items certainly are a bit more convenient. So perhaps Leica's best bet would be to push on with steady improvements to the M8 using the existing size sensor.

I'd have thought Leica had missed the boat with large DSLRs anyway. For those who must use long lenses, bulk and weight may not matter but not everyone needs that sort of thing. Perhaps 4/3 really might be Leica's best way forward if they could engineer something which really is much better than a clone, not just a bit better and much more expensive.

Meanwhile for those who really need huge images even 'Full Frame' sensors may be on the small side.

I do hope Leica get it right.

Henry

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