[boren]

Ricoh announced that they're going to release interchangeable mount-modules in 2011, but they haven't provided any details about which mount will be available first.







http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fdc.watch.impress.co.jp%2Fdocs%2Fnews%2F20100923_395847.html







http://photoscala.de/Artikel/photokina-2010-Fundstuecke



So which lens mount should Ricoh start with? Nikon F and Canon EF are the most popular, but there aren't many lenses which would make sense on the small GXR body. Pentax K makes more sense, especially since Pentax already makes tiny pancake lenses which would fit the GXR perfectly, such as the 21/40/70 DA Limiteds. It would probably be easier to reverse engineer the protocols without bumping into compatibility issues (at least Sigma's track record hints that K mount is less problematic to reverse engineer than F/EF/A mounts).



Other candidates? MicroFourThirds and E-mount. Now that Sony is willing to [url="http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&message=36430892&changemode=1"]release[/url] the specifications and protocols of E-mount, it seems like the an excellent choice.



Then there's Leica M-mount, but without AF it's going to be far less attractive to the typical GXR user.

[wim]

There is actually no need to reverse engineer. Unfortunately many companies do not seem to be prepared to pay any licensing fees <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />.



Kind regards, Wim

[genotypewriter]

heh... looks like they cut out a plunger <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Home-brewed tilt-shift anyone? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



[quote name='boren' timestamp='1285591110' post='3284']

Now that Sony is willing to [url="http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1042&message=36430892&changemode=1"]release[/url] the specifications and protocols of E-mount, it seems like the an excellent choice.



Then there's Leica M-mount, but without AF it's going to be far less attractive to the typical GXR user.

[/quote]

I don't think Sony had body manufacturers in mind when they said they want to support third parties to develop for the E-mount <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Also Sony never said they're going to give the spec to third parties for free, did they? Unless the license costs cheaper than getting the license for another mount, there's not much in it for Ricoh to do this. They could however build several of these modules for different mounts. I just hope they don't go for something odd like the C-mount or the T-mount because that would be a bit of a disaster.



Also I think the people who will get Leica M lenses aren't typical GXR users but Leica users. If anyone's got the cash to burn like for M lenses, I doubt they'd bother with Ricoh when there are other alternatives like mFT and now Nex. Ricoh could still get on top of it all if they put a FF sensor in there... now then even I'd get one (as long as they don't price it like the M9) <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />



GTW

[Guest]

[quote name='genotypewriter' timestamp='1285727694' post='3339']





heh... looks like they cut out a plunger <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Home-brewed tilt-shift anyone? <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />





I don't think Sony had body manufacturers in mind when they said they want to support third parties to develop for the E-mount <img src='http://forum.photozone.de/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Also Sony never said they're going to give the spec to third parties for free, did they? put a FF sensor in there... now then even I'd get one (as long as they don't price it like the M9)



GTW

[/quote]





yes they did



http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/20100923_395846.html (Japanese)



1. Sony want to have other camera maker release interchangeable lenses for NEX, so it will release E-mount engineering specs to them.



2. Sony also want better E-mount adapter for NEX, in this case they will also release the engineering specs.



3. At present, Sony is planning to release the specs FREE OF CHARGE.



4. Sony won't regulate manufacturers that will make digital cameras with that specs.



5. Sony will release mechanical part and signals that controlling E-mount lenses in the specs, but will not release the algorithm that will make use of that signal.



6. At present, Sony hasn't decided the details of the information that will be released.