Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/02/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have actually tried to homebrew M backs with VERY poor results from MF 4MB Sensors mounted on M back doors as tethered units.... On Feb 16, 2009, at 10:41 PM, Geoff Hopkinson wrote: > Larry, I think your design concept is safe from any patent > infringement! > OK, put down that 6th triple espresso and back away from the > keyboard slowly > ;-) > We have a saying over here commonly used in a friendly way... Don't > give up > your day job ;-) ;-) > > 2009/2/17 Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> > >> >> On Feb 16, 2009, at 10:00 PM, Geoff wrote: >> >> The 'CL of digital' seems to have popular support on the internet >> forums. >>> It >>> certainly sounds like Leica are hinting in that direction. I >>> don't see >>> what >>> you could remove from the M8 design to make it much simpler >>> though. If >>> that >>> is so, you need a much cheaper to manufacture body with an M >>> mount. If >>> that >>> means an EVF I think it would lose its rangefinder essence. >>> >> >> >> Not necessarily. The CL cost much less than the M series Leicas to >> produce. >> They sold retail for about 1/3 the price. I bought one new in 1970 >> for less >> than $400 USD. While I have no definitive knowledge, I suspect >> that the bulk >> of of the cost of the M8 comes from the mechanical and optical >> parts. With a >> digital CL using the mass marketed mini 4/3 components, it could >> sell for >> considerably less than the M8 yet still use an optical RF system. >> It all >> depends on whether Leica is making enough money from selling a >> small number >> of expensive M8s or wants to broaden its base by selling many more >> cheaper >> digital CLs. Remember that Leica killed the CL because it was >> selling too >> many of them and felt that it was cannibalizing sales of the M >> cameras. >> Perhaps Konica Minolta still has the tooling tucked away in some >> warehouse. >> >> Alternatively Leica, or another supplier, could retrofit existing >> M cameras >> for digital photography by making a 4/3 digital sensor module to >> replace the >> inspection door in the back and incorporate digital electronics in a >> somewhat enlarged base plate. Everything else is already there, >> the shutter, >> the range finder and the view finder. You would have to advance >> the "film" >> normally to cock the shutter. In addition to extending the useful >> life of a >> generation of film cameras, the original back door could be >> replaced to use >> film if desired. >> >> Leica, you can have my suggestion without a fee. I'll even let you >> have a >> couple of M3s to modify digitally, as long as I can get them back. >> >> Larry Z >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > > -- > Cheers > Geoff > 'Licence to Chill' > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information