Rumor: A new Leica M design

Harry Lime said:
If they make it AF it's no longer a rangefinder.

Think Contax G series. A fullsize point and shoot with interchangeable lenses.
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I made that comment flippantly, although, assuming a rangefinder mechanism could be made a bit more sturdily than it is today, I don't see why you couldn't build an AF rangefinder. Just make the AF sensor so it covers the size of the rf patch with any given lens, use a dedicated AF ON button like Nikon has, and then the rangefinder patch in AF mode would serve as focus confirmation.

Realistically, I think the most likely upgrade would be to the shutter unit, to provide faster speeds and an improved flash sync. I don't personally think that Leica has any interest in building anything smaller and/or cheaper, or they probably would have done so long before now. Remember, this is the company who, according to some people, discontinued the CL because it was their best selling camera.
 
Something I'm thinking of (in general, not only for Leica)
* spot metering
* less to none dependency on batteries
* 1/500s flash sync, self timer (some already have)
* As others said, 21-50 large viewfinder with eventual magnifier for longer lenses
* one frameline at a time, or two quite distant from one another (21/35, 25/50, 28/85)
* robust body and weatherproof sealed
* from EV -3 ( f/1.0 - 8s) to EV 25 (f/32 - 1/8000s).. well.. at least from -1 to 20 !
* integrated silencer for utmost quietness and safer reportage
* body size and cost as low as possible
 
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You guys haven't heard? It is actually going to me a medium format camera to directly compete with Mamiya and Fuji. It will have the same rugged and sold style of Leicas, unlike the plastic body and feel of Mamiya's. Along with the body they are also developing some new lenses. My sources tell me there will be a 35mm f2.8, a 50mm f2.0, and a 24mm f4.0 The camera can function without a battery, but uses one for a meter. Press release will be sometime in March and production in fall 2010.

Suddenly, I see tall elves and notice I am flying. #$@%@#!!!!! I was only dreaming!
 
I can't see it happening. Now that they are firmly into digital with the Ms, S2, and X-1, it doesn't make sense for them to try to improve upon the M7 & MP, which I suspect are still pretty good sellers. Just like Nikon's F6...great film camera and the last in their long F line now that they are 99.9% into digital.
 
That sounds almost like my M2! :D

tonyj said:
- Rangefinder configuration of course.

- Continued ability to use most of the existing Leitz M and LTM lenses.

- Non reliance on a battery to operate, even if there may be some features that do need a battery to operate (like the M6 'classic' for instance). A dead battery would be bypassed for most useages with a full description (included at no extra charge) on how the 'sunny sixteen' rule works, - for our younger colleagues.

- A well designed camera case with the ability to fully remove the top portion - and supplied as a standard piece of equipment.

- Ability to double expose without resorting to trickery.

- Viewfinder diopter adjustment for spectacle wearers.

- Self timer as standard.

- Size to be approximately the same as the III series of cameras. The III series can now become the IV series, as the M's have now been tainted with the digital models.

and so on .... as I dream of my new IVf or IVg camera ........ :p
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The Leica M5 (that i own and love very much) was the first and unique change in the classic M design, due to TTL meter. In the 1984, the TTL meter in the M6 have restored the classic M design, in the 1998 appeared the TTL Flash system (M6TTL). Why change the M design, now? For Aufofocus? For super speed motor? For very fast metal vertical shutter? I don't understood the need of this claim, really.
Ciao.
Vincenzo
 
tonyj said:
- Rangefinder configuration of course.

- Continued ability to use most of the existing Leitz M and LTM lenses.

- Non reliance on batteries, even if there may be some features that do need a battery to operate (like the M6 'classic' for instance). A dead battery would be bypassed for most useages with a full description (included at no extra charge) on how the 'sunny sixteen' rule works, - for our younger colleagues.

- A well designed camera case with the ability to fully remove the top portion - and supplied as a standard piece of equipment.

- Ability to double expose without resorting to trickery.

- Viewfinder diopter adjustment for spectacle wearers.

- Self timer as standard.

- Size to be approximately the same as the III series of cameras. The III series can now become the IV series, as the M's have now been tainted with the digital models.

and so on .... as I dream of my new IVf or IVg camera ........ :p
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januaryman said:
That sounds almost like my M2! :D
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Exactly!

"Almost" is right on. Just a couple of tweaks here and there and we're off to the races.

Nothing too much is new. Just maintain the quality but keep it simple.

Graft the M6 'Classic' exposure meter onto the SS M3 (or M2 etc.), add the ability to create multiple exposures. The diopter adjustment for the viewfinder is a must (...and is hardly rocket science) and we're almost there.

I do like the bottle opener and built in phone ideas, but they can wait until the 'IVh' comes out next year.:)
 
The only thing Id want extra in an m is 1/8000 shutter speed. the shapes pretty perfect as it is.
Actually an AE camera with a quiet motordrive built in would be pretty cool though winding on a Leica is rather satisfying
Oooh a DOF preview buttton(no idea how that could work though lol)
 
Vincenzo Maielli said:
The Leica M5 (that i own and love very much) was the first and unique change in the classic M design, due to TTL meter. In the 1984, the TTL meter in the M6 have restored the classic M design, in the 1998 appeared the TTL Flash system (M6TTL). Why change the M design, now? For Aufofocus? For super speed motor? For very fast metal vertical shutter? I don't understood the need of this claim, really.
Ciao.
Vincenzo
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Presumably, a new model would be motivated by a need to make some money. Leica doesn't really need to change very much to get away with calling the result a new model.

So, here's the question: What could Leica do that would convince current owners to buy a new $5000 camera?
 
Is there a reason why a digital back can't be made to replace the back door of most M bodies? If that digital back were made by Leica, there is a large ready market of M2, M3, M4, M6, and M7 users out there. I am one of them. The price would be a huge consideration, of course.
 
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