michaelwatkins
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 p.23 #2 · Leica M10/ME discussion thread | |
freaklikeme wrote:
Whatever the case, if Sony decides to make a still-shooter oriented FF NEX, something tells me their main focus isn't going to be making sure it plays well with RF lenses.
Agreed. They will tune it for their lenses. But which lenses? Adapted Alpha mount? New E mount designed for full frame?
Ricoh may try, but that doesn't seem likely to me, since it would be an expensive proposition for a company that does not, to my knowledge, currently produce any M-mount lenses.
Maybe the technical challenge isn't as steep or as expensive as we tend to assume around here. Ricoh is after all the only other (current, I'm ignoring Epson) camera maker on the planet that has produced a digital camera specifically designed for the M mount, and the Mount A12 delivers spectacular results, even more so when considering how inexpensive it is ($649 USD plus a very cheap "body").
Not only did they produce a mount/sensor package that delivers, but they implemented focus peaking and in-camera vignette / shading correction. Turns out the package does so well on most lenses that few, it seems, find the need to use the in-camera correction. Sure, the unit benefits from being an APS-C crop - but at least that technology, like on the M9, is already present for future full frame models.
Ricoh therefore has the experience and has a lot of the technology needed for a full frame M camera already built, tested, and in the field. Is scaling the Mount A12 up to a Mount F18 or F24 (Full frame 18/24MP) that much more of a challenge?
Revisiting your comment about lenses, developing a Mount without having to also produce a line of full frame lenses means Ricoh can nip in and take market share away from Leica, and Sony and others, without having to design, produce, and stock a single lens. This could be an advantage if there is a large enough potential market for a full frame Mount unit.
My guess is that, even if we do see another FF mirrorless wonder, the M will be the camera of choice for good performance with RF lenses.
Despite the forgoing and how much sense, to me, the idea of Ricoh being the company best positioned to be a player in the digital M camera market, the pessimist in me believes that unless Ricoh is working on this now, and is willing to talk about it soon, such a development doesn't exist and likely never will.
As such I'd agree - Sony and other platforms upon which RF lenses are used will do what they do for their own mounts without considering the needs of RF glass users one bit. NEX got a boost from alt-glass users but can today probably live on without our support, especially now the E mount lens selection is firming up for the better. NEX probably was never designed with RF glass in mind anyway, it was just a happy accident that many alt-glass users could achieve good to great results on NEX depending on lens.
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