"Leica" lens on the new Panasonic digital?

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Saw this today and it raised my eyebrow a bit.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0203/02030501stevepanadmclc5.asp

We know Leica has re-badged other manufacturers lenses before for the R series cameras(Minolts, Sigma, Zeiss), but this seems different to me. Their main involvement with the new Panasonic digital cameras is suposed to be adding their special lens technology to the mix-its the only thing that had me slightly interested in these cameras. If they are in fact just putting their name on a Canon or some other manufactured lens that is in turn going on a Panasonic, that seems bogus to me.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), March 10, 2002

Answers

People interested in Digilux 1, try the Leica site customer forum, if you haven't yet. Interesting claims on taking badge engineering to new heights.

-- sait (akkirman@clear.net.nz), March 10, 2002.

From what I've read and hear from Leica. Leica has entered into an agreement with Panasonic to co-produce a digital camera. The reason that Leica gave was that Panasonic has a vast amount of Digital knowledge and expertise. Now how many times have I heard people in this group say they wish Leica would put a CCD chip in an M6. Now that they've done it, people still are not happy. What gives?

-- Glenn Travis (leicaddict@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002.

Now how many times have I heard people in this group say they wish Leica would put a CCD chip in an M6. Now that they've done it, people still are not happy. What gives?

Say what?!? When did they do that? I thought they had just stuck a Leica label on a piece of glass and put that on a standard, piece-of-sh*t Panasonic product . . . (In case you can't tell, I've had bad experiences with Panasonic.)

-- Mike Dixon (mike@mikedixonphotography.com), March 10, 2002.


My point was that this "joint venture" does not appear to be much of a joint venture, but instead a marketing plan that has nothing to do with a real "Vario Summicron" Leitz made lens. Now where exactly is that M6 with the CCD?

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), March 10, 2002.

Well, if you get a CCD which can mirror the qualities of film, then please shoot me. I haven't seen anything I shot digital match the pop and crinkle of my 8 by 10's :D So stick to film and keep the Digilux as a fancy toy for the connoisseurs.

-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002.


Leica went into partnership with Panasonic the same way that Carl Zeiss went with Sony. Leica have been making the Dicomar lens for Panasonics top of the range Camcorder for quite a while, so this is partnership is nothing new. Question is, is the construction the same? Eg. the Zeiss lenses on the Sony digital cameras are very flimsy .... tut tut...

-- karl yik (karl.yik@dk.com), March 11, 2002.

For all we know, this "Vario-Summicron" lens could also be the same lens as those found on the Canon G1/G2, Sony S70/75/85, Casio QV4000, etc. Their specs are the same, AFAIK.

-- Andrew (chaconne@my-deja.com), March 11, 2002.

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