Re: [Leica] Any Photokina New Products Rumors?

[Jlaird@aol.com]

In a message dated 05/15/2000 7:21:27 AM Central Daylight Time, 
howard.390@osu.edu writes:

> Well, we can assume that a low-mag body wouldn't be used with anything
>  longer than a 50mm lens, so my suggestion would be to pair the 50mm
>  frameline with a 21mm or 24mm frameline, rather than the 75mm one.  So, a
>  low mag body would give you:
>  
>    24/50
>    28
>    35
>  
>  ...in the three positions.  As far as I know, if you mount the existing 
21mm
>  and 24mm lenses on an M-body, they bring up the 50mm frameline, right?
>  Would avoid re-machining of existing lenses.  Hmm, you could even ditch the
>  50mm frameline and just go with 24/28/35, sort of a wide-angle M2 VF.
>  
>  (Mmm.  Sweet ;)
>  
>  M.
>  

On the other hand, pardon my humble opinion, but why not go the other 
way...build an M(7 or whatever) with the viewfinder of an M3 and and 
accessory viewfinder for the 21, 24, 28 and 35mm ala (gasp) Nikon SP. Use the 
inherent focusing accuracy of the rangefinder for the 'long' lenses, have a 
near life-size viewfinder for viewing and focusing ease, and the accessory 
viewfinder for the wider lenses where focusing accuracy is not as important. 
And maybe throw in not (god forbid) AF, but matrix-type metering (certainly 
attainable in the M body with today's technology) for those quick grab shots 
where one hasn't the time to use careful metering techniques. Seems like the 
dream Leica to me...but how to squeeze in the accessory finder without 
fouling up the wonderful Leica finder, body size and contours, etc....hmm, 
somebody must know how! Well, it's just my humble idea.

Jim (the Lurker) Laird