There will be no new “mini SL” or CM camera announced this month in Wetzlar, according to sources last weekend in France. The rumour of such a camera, teased as the C-M or CM, appears to have been vastly exaggerated.
As I mentioned in the original article on Macfilos, I seriously doubted that such a radical design could have gone under the radar until just a few weeks before launch. Normally, rumours start much earlier and by this time would have been supported by leaked images and more concrete detail.
Future
While no one can say for certain, I’m quietly confident that any smaller full-frame digital camera is well into the future. For one thing, without reasonably sized lenses to support the announcement, the main interest in such a camera would be from users of M lenses. SL lenses would all be too big and would negate any advantage of a smaller, lighter body. And, such a smaller but competent full-frame camera would kill the SL as far as its role in handling M glass is concerned.
As for the Wetzlar event this month, it is to celebrate the extension to the Leitz Park and will also mark the opening of the Ernst Leitz hotel. I’m booked in there in early October for the LHSA meeting and am looking forward to it.
I would not be surprised if there were a new camera announcement of some sort, although it is more than likely to be a rebranded Panasonic, possibly a Leica version of the new one-inch-sensor TZ200 zoom, sitting slightly below the D-Lux in the lineup. This would give Leica a stab at the market dominated by Sony with the RX100 and the newly announced 24-200mm version, the Mk VI. A new version of the Panasonic LX100, on which the D-Lux is based, seems just as far away as ever. It could, however, come later in the year around Photokina time. If so, the revised D-Lux will follow swiftly. I think the M10-based MD is also on the cards for later in the year but it is unlikely to be announced this month.
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Maybe a new X coming???
I want an SL with the T sensor in please. Great body and can then use the excellent T lenses at 24 MP.
I’d buy two immediately.
The future model I’m most interested in is the M10 Monochrom.
I agree that’s the big one. But I’m told that it is a long time away. The M10-D and M10-P will come first, with the M10-D tipped for the next few months. I could be wrong (and I might even be wrong on this "mini SL") but all we can do is wait and see.
Given the day that is in it, I’m still betting on a Zenit/Putin/World Cup model. The launch of a re-branded Panasonic Lumix model would be interesting from a business perspective as it is about 4 years since the last such model.
I’ll be glad too to see the opening of the hotel in Wetzlar as, like yourself, I am booked in there for the LHSA event next October.
William
This a great pity, but I had thought so yesterday when there was rumour circulating about a new C-Lux on the Leica Rumours site.
I still think the smaller form full frame mirrorless is something that Leica could make decent revenue from, judging by the number of people who discuss the use of M Glass on the front of a Sony full frame mirrorless systems. Oddly as you are experimenting with at the moment.
Opportunity missed I suspect – although I cannot fathom out why they would introduce a new C-Lux either, as a new X would be a more preferrable prospect – but hey we cannot have everything.
And I was going to add the suggesed CM to my next camera list.. ho hum.
Dave