Leica and autofocus

[darkosaric]

Just today i found out that autofocus was invented by Leica. :eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofocus#History

Isn't it funny that Leica invented autofocus, and the produce only manual focus lenses ?

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Well, they do have autofocus lenses for the S-series digital cameras. But true, they have never implemented autofocus on cameras of their own manufacture (the Leica-labeled point-n-shoots both film and digital being obvious exceptions, because Leica did not build them themselves).

 

[miha]

They neglected AF as they did zoom lenses. No wonder they couldn't compete in the SLR market despite the superb R glass.

 

[snapguy]

No Leica

I would not buy a Leica with autofocus. I would not buy a Leica with a battery in it, either.

 

[GarageBoy]

Don't trust Portuguese electronics (R3/R4)
Leitz does have AF surveying equipment

 

[benjiboy]

Leitz use the same machine to calibrate the rangefinders on their cameras as the U.S. Military use on the laser rangefinders on their Abrams tanks.

 

[snapguy]

You would think

You would think Leitz and the US Army could each afford their own machine or do you mean the same type of machine?

 

[AgX]

Just today i found out that autofocus was invented by Leica.

I'm not even sure that such is true. Getting a patent granted does not mean that is ther first with some idea.
Others may have approached such aim with other patendable ideas.

Think of the renown Honeywell system.



Anyway, Leitz showed their prototypes in '76 an '78.
But Konika was on the market already in '77. (Based on Leitz patents??)

Others shortly followed.

Polaroid was on the market with a completely different system (acustic instead of optical) in '78.

 

[miha]

Don't trust Portuguese electronics (R3/R4)

My R3 and R4 cameras are so far reliable, unlike my Nikons from the past (F90, FA, and FG) that developed electronic problems.

 

[RattyMouse]

I thought Minolta was the first to get to autofocusing lenses.

 

[jochen]

Hello,
the R 3 is a slightly modified Minolta XE-1 and the R 4 is a modified XD-7, two (not more) persons were in charge of the R 4 development what means to make some electronic modifications in the circuits of the XD-7 to implement spot metering.

 

[miha]

It's my understanding that these Minolta cameras were developed in conjunction with Leica from the start.

 

[benjiboy]

You would think Leitz and the US Army could each afford their own machine or do you mean the same type of machine?

The same type of machine

 

[jochen]

Hello,
the last own developed Leica SLR before the R 3 came out, the Leicaflex SL series, was so expensive in production in such small numbers that Leitz had to sell two additional lenses besides the standard lens with every camera body to come out of the red figures. They could simply not afford the costs for developing an own new modern SLR, they were well behind the technical state of the art in those times. So came the cooperation with Minolta for SLR bodies, the CL and CLE and even some lenses (wide angle and zoom). They had neither the technology and know how nor the money to develop own zooms at that time. Whereas other manufacturers had experiences with SLR lenses since some years, Leitz had no need to use retrofocus constructions at their M's, so they had to begin completely from the beginning in the 60ies.

 

[Bill Burk]

Leitz use the same machine to calibrate the rangefinders on their cameras as the U.S. Military use on the laser rangefinders on their Abrams tanks.

I once made lens parts for the Abrams tanks rangefinders - so I recall being told that's what they were... to amazingly tight specifications...

I never developed machinist's skills, though my stepfather is quite a master toolmaker.

 

[Rhodes]

Don't trust Portuguese electronics (R3/R4)
Leitz does have AF surveying equipment

The must stupid thing I ever heard! Had for many years a R3 made in Portugal that never failed and sold it to a fellow APUGer to continue it's usefull life!

 

[Muihlinn]

Leica had quite a few autofocus enlargers, also Leica/Leitz not only makes cameras and lenses, but many others tools where an autofocus can be useful, like shooting range finders or topographical tools

 

[zeta3]

Today, those are different companies which share a common name and heritage but completely different boards, ownership, facilities etc.

What I want from autofocus lenses is the ability to manually focus and have the corresponding autofocus point light up when that is in foucs. Not just the centre point as Nikon do. I have AF sensor adapters but so far have only seen the Canon 7D do this. Anyone know others?

 

[GarageBoy]

There were entire batches of R4s (not R4 s) that died early on and needed to be repaired/replaced
Serial numbers past 1635xxx are reputed to be okay