Thread: Leica Announces the X2 Compact and M-Monochrom Rangefinder

Originally Posted by Luke

they could have at least put a red dot on it (the Oly viewfinder)

That would have increased the price from $795 to $995. So I'm glad they didn't!

Originally Posted by Armanius

WHISKEY - TANGO - FOXTROT!!! $8000 for the new 50 Cron??? That's $5700 - $5800 more than the old version!

What's going to happen to the 50 Lux currently priced at $4000? It'll have to be $10000.

Meaning that the M10 will be at least $12000 - 13000! That's even more crazy than things already are ...

I cannot comprehend a 50mm f/2 lens that is worth $7k more than the Zeiss ZM 50/2 Planar, a lens which is as close to perfection as I have ever used.

No kidding!! I keep thinking it's got to be a typo!!

And it's more like $7200 more than the Zeiss!!

So, I can buy an E-M5, XPro1, D800, plus all of the interesting lenses for those systems, plus maybe a X100 for compact carry (make that 2, one limited/black, one silver), plus a new computer to process stuff, and then maybe a vacation for two to Antarctica.... or, I can go with a M9M with the new 50/2?

I knew it!! The $8000 price tag on the new 50 Cron was a mistake after all.






DPR has the official price -- and it's only $7195!

Gotta say this looks really cool though - Hermes edition



Kits ranging from $25,000 - 50,000.

Originally Posted by Amin Sabet

$15k including the new 50mm lens .

There's no reason Olympus can't put out an OM-D Monochrom for $999. Just take out the CFA, substitute some glass with the right refractive index, and voila. No? Maybe someone who knows more can set me straight. Anybody seen Brian around?

It's just like making a bacon and tomato sandwich- leave off the lettuce...

Easiest way- leave the color dye out of the mosaic filter.

Last year, I called Kodak's Sensor group and asked them what it would take to do a Monochrome version of the KAF-18500. They had wanted to do a Monochrome Leica from the introduction of the M8. "If any camera maker was going to do a monochrome camera, it should be Leica". Is what the engineer stated. Looks like they got their wish.

Once upon a time, most CCD's offered by Kodak were available in Monochrome, full-spectrum (visible+Infrared like in mine) and Color. The firmware needed to know which version of the sensor was installed. Separate fabrication runs, ie skipping steps, was required. Test and verification procedures are probably the most time consuming of it.

I'm happy to see this camera is out. My Monochrome Digital is getting fairly old. 20 years. One of the engineers at Kodak remembered me from 20 years ago calling to have the IR camera made.

Price- my 1.6MPixel DCS200ir was $12,400 for the body and an extra $2,000 for the external battery and 80MByte Hitchiker external SCSI drive. Then i bought all ED lenses, about $20,000 for the kit. 20 years ago.

Oh- and for a Monochrome Leica M9- forget about the new aspheric, apo Summicron. Get a 5cm f1.5 Summarit. One of the best lenses for monochrome that you will ever find. All in the Histograms. for Digital- No Clipping.

The Summicron - that's nuts for an f2 lens, but....

The Pentax Ultra-Achromatic 85/4.5 was $1400 in ~1970.

"What cost $1400 in 1970 would cost $7771.88 in 2010. "

Anybody want to trade a new Summicron for my Pentax 85/4.5?

All Calcium Fluorite optics, no skimping.

You know, I could remount the glass in a Canon 85/2 and use it on the Leica...

Until then, i use it on the EP2.

Originally Posted by Brian

It's just like making a bacon and tomato sandwich- leave off the lettuce...

Brian, it looks like these guys will remove the lettuce from some cameras, but they also take off the microlenses. Is that a problem?