Re: A Leica M camera with an EVF is expected by the end of 2025
retrofocus wrote: Steve Spencer wrote: raizans wrote:
Leica will not lose the monopoly on rangefinders if they make an EVF-M.
Of course they won't lose that monopoly, but will they shrink the market for that product for which they have the monopoly? I think they will. Right now the market for those who want a Leica M is not very big, but that market will it seems to me get smaller if they make this rumored camera and especially so if they make it with an M mount. Leica will in effect be saying to this market, many of you would be better off with an EVF based camera. It will cause some who are not considering making the shift from a rangefinder to an EVF based camera to consider making that switch and some will do so. When they do so, the market for which Leica has a monopoly will shrink and that is a risk and a potential loss for Leica.
I beg to differ in this opinion. An additional new EVF-M line will be seen as addition to the monopoly-based Leica rangefinder M market. The ones who prefer EVF won't be attracted by a rangefinder M with OVF for various reasons (eye issues, preference of EVF over OVF). And the ones who are vested in rangefinder M cameras will either ignore the EVF-M or think about adding one to their existing rangefinder camera(s). I don't think there is any loss for Leica - in fact it might attract also new customers who prefer smaller M lenses - which some stated here as being the main advantage of the rangefinder M system which I would also agree with - but currently there is no other MLC where M lenses work 100% and without adapter with a compact size FF camera body. In the current Leica world someone with EVF preference is either forced to go with single-lens Q series or bulkier SL series plus using adapter for M lenses. Both IMO far from ideal - so I am convinced the EVF-M will fill a niche for Leica which actually brings more money.
Instead as I said earlier I can see some Leica Q users venturing to EVF-M to make use of interchangeable lens mount for M lenses if not too interested in AF capabilities of the Q. Likely this will be a small group of users. As well as SL users - many of them vested into the L lens environment, so I don't think many here will venture back to EVF-M with M lenses and only manual focus. It would be a very different story for a potential EVF-L camera with L-mount instead of M-mount - here Leica certainly would create significant in-house competition with the SL series.
We just disagree about the rangefinder market. You think adding a small EVF M mount camera won't hurt that market. I think it will, which will in turn hurt Leica as that market is where Leica is resoundingly successful. I could easily be wrong. I claim no expertise, but I think shrinking that rangefinder market is the risk that Leica faces with making a small EVF M mount camera.
Feb 13, 2025 at 07:41 AM
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