[Leica] Leica modifying M-mount for digital M?

[grduprey at aol.com (grduprey@aol.com)]

Allen,
 
How do you save more than one focal length and aperture in the d200? I have 
one in and thought you had to change it for each lens.  Sorry for the OT 
question to the group.
 
Gene
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Allen Graves <allen.graves@charter.net>
To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org>
Sent: Sun, 4 Jun 2006 17:02:53 -0500
Subject: RE: [Leica] Leica modifying M-mount for digital M?


Funny. When I use manual lenses on my D200, I just enter the focal length 
and max f-stop. From then on, I can just select that lens from a list.2 
different 50's 2 different 35's, etc. Nothing spent on lens conversion. 
Takes a few seconds.Focal length and max f-stop data available for EXIF 
data. This could also trigger appropriate frame lines, if an SLR needed 
them.<grin> 
 
 If this sort of cheesy "conversion" is required for each lens and doesn't 
give a lot more functionality than max f-stop and focal length, then Leica 
will have succeeded in driving one more nail into their coffin-even if the 
M8 is a fine camera. Even by Leica standards, 125 Euros is a lot for 6 dots 
of white (or black) paint. Jeffery could rebuild the entire New Orleans 
Levee system for the cost of converting his 50's. 
 
Allen 
 
>To add to the speculation: 
>http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24359 
> 
>This site (in French) seems to have good information. Run it >through 
>AltaVista translator (aka Babelfish) if you don't read >French. 
>http://www.summilux.net/m_system/objectifs_6_bits.html 
> 
>It looks like a 6-bit system that is read optically, rather than 
>>electronic contacts. 
> 
>A reasonable conclusion from all this is that the new coding will be >used 
>to tell the camera exactly what focal length is mounted, and >what the 
>maximum f-stop is. This information could be used for EXIF >data, for 
>metering, to compute the working f-stop by comparing the >light read from 
>the lens to the light read from an external sensor. >It could also be used 
>for vignetting compensation, color balance, >and things like that. 
> 
>It could also bring up framelines generated via an illuminated LCD. >This 
>could be quite an exciting development, something I've wondered >about for 
>years. It would be like having the wonderful, clean M2 >viewfinder again, 
>but with individual 28 and 75mm frames also >available. It could shift and 
>expand or shrink based on focusing >distance. This would give us more 
>accurate framing than the current >system, which only shifts. The frame 
>selector could work using the >original lens flange, plus one bit in the 
>coding to tell the CPU >whether to bring up the large or small frameline of 
>the original >pair. Or just use the coding for exact focal length if 
>available, >bring up the traditional pair if no coding. 
> 
>None of this precludes the use of old or non-chipped lenses. It >just means 
>you'd have less information in EXIF data, and you might >have to adjust 
>vignetting or color balance a bit more manually in >Photoshop, Raw 
>converter, etc. And for the framelines, you'd have >to have a manual 
>override for unconverted lenses. 
> 
>My own thought is that Leica would be incredibly stupid if they made >their 
>existing lens base unusable without conversion. And I don't >think they 
>(and their new CEO) are that stupid. Especially with an >R-D1 on the 
>market, and the distinct possibility that Zeiss might >follow suit. They 
>can't afford to lose sales to the existing base >of M and LTM users, 
>because that base will be the majority of their >sales. 
> 
>So Leica, if you're listening, PLEASE allow viewfinder frames to be >set 
>manually, if the coding is used to bring up an LCD-based >frameline. 
>Backward lens compatibility is a MUST. 
> 
>Supposedly Leica will make an official announcement next week. 
> 
>Now, anyone want to take bets on how long it will be before a 
>>do-it-yourself lens upgrade method gets posted on the Web? >Something 
>involving a rat-tailed file, a micrometer, and nail polish >stolen from 
>your Goth-girl daughter or girlfriend . . . Kyle >Cassidy, take note! :-) 
> 
>--Peter 
> 
> 
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