Spotted a Panasonic camera,digital of course! fitted with Zoom Summicron!i think 17~39 or similar...Ticket on side of camera said "Leica" but printed sort of modern 'squarish' typo,not script. I guess Leica abandoning the other Digital camera by Fuji? Store was closed so will find out more to-morrow.The camera sort of boxy "M" look.

-- jason gold (leeu72@hotmail.com), April 07, 2002

Answers

Jason,

Yes, Panasonic and Leica now have 2 digital cameras out. Go to www.leica-camera.com for Leica's version. There is also a Panasonic video camera with a Leica lens now.

-- chris a williams (LeicaChris@worldnet.att.net), April 07, 2002.

Thats the lens that's also used on Contax, Panasonic, and a host of others. I think the actual maker is Canon, like the other "great name" lens on the higher end digital PS's.

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), April 07, 2002.

Jason: I've been chanting "Vario-Summicron" as a mantra ever since Panasonic revealed their version 6 months ago - has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

I think it's a 7-21mm - equivalent to the view of a 33-100mm lens for a 35mm. If they ever make a .65x adapter (to get the wide end down to 21 equivalent) I could get interested....

Go to Leica's site and view/download the brochure - there's a photoessay on London Buses shot with this lens.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 07, 2002.

a Zummicron?

-- mike (thearea19@aol.com), April 07, 2002.

As others have mentioned, the word is that Leica has nothing to do with that lens (which is the same as those used on many better quality digital cameras wearing different names)except sticking their name on it. To me, that makes it nearly the equivalent of a counterfiet lens, not much different than the Russian copies except it has Leica's approval. Since that's the only part of the camera that is supposed to be associated with Leica, why would would Leica enthusiast be interested in this camera more than any other digital camera?

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), April 08, 2002.