Re: [Leica] Minolta made R9

[Andre Jean Quintal <megamax@abacom.com>]

At 20:32 -0400 15/08/99, Dan Post wrote:
. . .
> Leica's forte, it seems, is in the excellent optics,
>and a fine tradition of mechanics. IF this could be coupled with the
>electronic and design expertise of another firm, even Minolta, it might
>prove interesting. ...

	--> I'm under the impression the Japanese manufacturers
	are keeping very close control of the autofocus and related
	patents as they are sources of a lot of jobs in Japan.
	I could be way off but that seems to fit the situation
	and general pattern.
	I sure wish I'd find an article that documents the Contax 645
	autofocus with regard to the patents involved.

	--> If and when Leica comes out with a next generation SLR,
	you can be sure I'll try my best to understand how they
	went about to circumvent Japanese autofocus patents.
	Like Nikon AFS  (microwave cavity resonance collimator),
	Leica's way to get into autofocus is either going to have
	something to do with existing patents or be some pretty
	wild "third degree" technology because, it seems, the
	wise Japanese ( not cynical here) have pretty much cornered
	the potential patents and reverse engineering pathways
	to an autofocus system. I just can't wait to see what Leica's
	AutoFocus system is going to be related to, technology wise.

	--> I'm also impressed with the advanced metering technologies
	of some autofocus SLR units. Color dependent metering,
	multi-sensor strategies, predictive autofocus, 3D light
	sensing technologies are more than just gizmos, if I understand
	anything or how they work "in there". The intellectual and
	organizational effort to generate such cameras must cost
	freak out amounts of monies only powerful conglomerates
	can entertain. There's national pride, somewhere, too.

	--> One question has to be: is the high performance SLR
	world-market saturated and going into a replacement market
	mode ? How many years from now will the world market
	be able to support a C$5K camera and make such a worthy
	business pursuit ? Difficult questions, "up there".

	--> though we are discussing film based cameras, it's wise
	to consider what the digital markets hold, in their shadow,
	and how much is enough to get enoough people to BUY these,
	and at what price. This may be part of Leica's problem.
	The solution will be interesting.

	Andre Jean Quintal