Canon's version of Leica M9

What chance that Canon would ever produce this? A top quality digital rangefinder camera with interchangeable lenses. Absolutely silent in operation, no shutter lag (but no autofocussing either), and small. Preferably a bit cheaper than the Leica.

Many of us have asked that, I even asked the local Canon rep a year ago and he said he was sure there is a large market for such a camera.

Canon got out of the rangefinder market way back in like 1968...I doubt they'll re-enter, especially in an age of autofocus. Hard to sell a manual focus camera to the mass market, which is Canon's intended market. It's much more likely for Canon to enter the same category as the GF1, E-P1, etc., just because they have AF, and then either have an EVF or accessory VF.

The rangefinder focusing system is also complicated, so that's another strike against making a "true" rangefinder.

toxic if it happens I think that's what it will be, not a rangefinder at all but a small camera with a larger sensor is what I was thinking, much like the 4/3rds cameras but hopefully a step beyond what's happening already. I've imagined a M9 sized camera with a large sensor, a very serious camera that is like a point and shoot on steroids that gets the same image quality as say the 7d or 5DII, it may have a built in zoom with macro adjust like the G11, kind of a cross between the two styles.

If I was to travel the world, something that would not lug me down, if I was a photojournalist, a full quality back up camera and one less conspicious for some venues, a camera that both the serious and casual photographer could really get excited about.

On the other hand, you could say that Canon are already close with the S90. How about a super-S90 with FF sensor? With a small selection of ultra-high quality easily mountable/demountable lenses.

The new Sony NEX-5 is interesting, and adding the regular zoom lenses makes it huge, but then it does have an APS-C sensor.

http://www.dpreview.co​m/previews/sonynex5/

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX​5/NEX5A.HTM

Seems like it might be best to just stick with a pancake lens if you want a small size.

I wonder if Canon has an answer coming?

Dennis

They've got to be, it's the only new marketing gimmic in cameras right now beyond getting everyone into shooting movies.

My guess is they won't build it. Why, it would likely decimate their G series and entry level slr product lines. Who would want a G camer when for a couple hundred dollars more you could have near-perfection?

In college we had a marketing exec visit the class and he told the story about a new cookie Nabisco was marketing. It was called something like the ice cream cookie and they were going to capitalize on the jingle, "You scream and I scream, we all scream for ice cream!" They did a regional test of the cookie and it flew off the grocery shelves. So big was the demand, they couldn't keep them stocked. The bigger problem was they weren't selling any of their other cookies, even Oreos if you can imagine.

Nope, I don't think Canon wants to risk that from happening, unless they're willing to change the product line.

peterbj7 wrote in post #10186086
On the other hand, you could say that Canon are already close with the S90. How about a super-S90 with FF sensor? With a small selection of ultra-high quality easily mountable/demountable lenses.

The S90 has a tiny sensor and a fixed lens. Adding a large sensor and an interchangeable lens mount makes it an entirely different camera. The M9 is about as small as you can make a camera with a 24x36mm sensor, though I guess you could knock off a centimeter of height if you don't include a viewfinder.

I doubt Canon will start producing rangefinders again.

denncald wrote in post #10186120
The new Sony NEX-5 is interesting, and adding the regular zoom lenses makes it huge, but then it does have an APS-C sensor.

http://www.dpreview.co​m/previews/sonynex5/

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/NEX​5/NEX5A.HTM

Seems like it might be best to just stick with a pancake lens if you want a small size.

I wonder if Canon has an answer coming?

Dennis

I'll get a nex5 until canon comes up with an answer.

I've sworn I'll never buy another Sony product again but then they come out with things like that! What stills camera company did Sony buy?

peterbj7 wrote in post #10195921
What stills camera company did Sony buy?

Minolta

I'd rather buy the real deal and get the Leica.

$9k?