Leica MP-D

[sepiareverb]

Out on my walk today with an MP, and thoughts drifted into my mind of what would be the perfect digital body for me- an MP-D.

1. Same body size as the film MP.

2. A full frame sensor that has lower ISO performance. Ideally 32-1600, 64-1600 would be ok by me. (yeah I know, not enough room in there, keep reading)

3. Same manual shutter as the MP, and no motor to cock it. The same wind-on lever would work just fine for me. With a lower ISO sensor the top speed of 1/1000 is acceptable. No motor should free up some space to keep the body depth the same as the MP, and increase battery life.

4. No screen on the back. In it's place a dial not unlike the dial on the back of the M7: the center could be used to set WB the outer ring could be used to set ISO, like Exp Comp. is set on the M7. No screen should help open up some more room in there to keep a standard depth body.

5. Tripod socket in the same place as the film MP (this way the Rapidgrip would fit).

6. Same speed knob, and a window on top to count down remaining shots.

7. Removable bottomplate- under there, a switch to choose format: DNG / DNG & JPG / JPG, the SD card slot and the battery. I'd go for the same digital M battery if it could fit- with no motor and no screen it would last longer. A MP-D battery shaped & lettered like a Leitz reloadable film cassette might be a nice retro touch.

8. Readout in the VF much as in the M7: dims itself in low light. Displays? The standard light balance triangles and dot, and readout to warn of low battery, no SD card etc. as the M7 gives shutter speeds.

9. No ports, you'd take the card out to get to the images.

A lower tech digital body. Likely no market, but this is the camera I'd make a la carte if I could. Same options in the VF magnification as in the a la carte range too would be great. Ah to dream.

 

[rover]

Low tech digital body, not a crazy idea. I often think that what they are doing to cameras today is just too much. Really, digital capture. Sure, it is a no brainer given the way they are melding technologies. But really? Haven't needed it, ever, I wouldn't miss it. I would miss chimping at a histogram. That is a useful tool, but I don't think there is much else that is essential to photography, if even that, which you have left out.

 

[sepiareverb]

Yeah, the histogram does come in handy from time to time, but for me bracketing could likely cover questions in exposure easily. The photographers digital camera!

 

[usayit]

First thought that came to mind when I read the first post... R-D1 (I do miss mine)

3 - check
4 - check (flip the LCJ inward)
6 - kinda (still an analog dial)

 

[MCTuomey]

lovely concept - thanks for sharing the dream

simpler digital? dslr-wise, i think that pentax with the K-5 and K-7 is moving that way: compact size, simplified controls, orientation to manual and auto focus lenses, great VF, lower cost.

 

[axiom]

I'd like some silicon film cassettes that fit the MP body

 

[sepiareverb]

I'd like some silicon film cassettes that fit the MP body

Years ago there was a company called (e)film that had designs of this very thing- never happened for some reason. I wonder if these coming thin film display screens have any kind technology that could be co-opted into film cassette replacements that are sensors. For 35mm, but the Rollei, for the Pentax 67, the Fuji 690s too...

Those K Pentaxes don't seem so different than a D3000- I'm wanting K1000 simlpe.

 

[robklurfield]

I'll take one. I like every one of your suggestions. It'll never happen.

Out on my walk today with an MP, and thoughts drifted into my mind of what would be the perfect digital body for me- an MP-D.

1. Same body size as the film MP.

2. A full frame sensor that has lower ISO performance. Ideally 32-1600, 64-1600 would be ok by me. (yeah I know, not enough room in there, keep reading)

3. Same manual shutter as the MP, and no motor to cock it. The same wind-on lever would work just fine for me. With a lower ISO sensor the top speed of 1/1000 is acceptable. No motor should free up some space to keep the body depth the same as the MP, and increase battery life.

4. No screen on the back. In it's place a dial not unlike the dial on the back of the M7: the center could be used to set WB the outer ring could be used to set ISO, like Exp Comp. is set on the M7. No screen should help open up some more room in there to keep a standard depth body.

5. Tripod socket in the same place as the film MP (this way the Rapidgrip would fit).

6. Same speed knob, and a window on top to count down remaining shots.

7. Removable bottomplate- under there, a switch to choose format: DNG / DNG & JPG / JPG, the SD card slot and the battery. I'd go for the same digital M battery if it could fit- with no motor and no screen it would last longer. A MP-D battery shaped & lettered like a Leitz reloadable film cassette might be a nice retro touch.

8. Readout in the VF much as in the M7: dims itself in low light. Displays? The standard light balance triangles and dot, and readout to warn of low battery, no SD card etc. as the M7 gives shutter speeds.

9. No ports, you'd take the card out to get to the images.

A lower tech digital body. Likely no market, but this is the camera I'd make a la carte if I could. Same options in the VF magnification as in the a la carte range too would be great. Ah to dream.

 

[nobbylon]

I just wish they would produce something that I don't keep reading tales of woe about. Everytime I start thinking about an M8 or M9 I hear something else!
I asked a seller this week about an M8 and if there was any issues and his reply was none at all, wish I could say the same for my M9.
M9 price seems to be taking a bit of a dive now as well on the s/h market. I've seen M9's with less than 500 clicks struggling to make €4000-4200.
If they made what you suggest, priced it right, I'd have one but only after the first run! I'd like histogram too.
I would love an M9 just to be able to use my lenses more often. I bid €3500 on a newish one today and nobody else is bidding but of course a €2k hit is a big pill for anyone to swallow. They just don't seem to be attracting buyers s/h.

 

[sepiareverb]

I certainly don't have problems with the M9- but just as the MP betters the M7 for what I do and how I do it the MP-D would better the M9.

My M9 has been flawless- even shooting in very cold weather, the wet and extreme humidity. I'm saving for a second body now in fact. But if an MP-D came along I'd buy two in a flash- even if I had to borrow all of it.

 

[filmfan]

Someone said "digital capture" haha.
Great idea.

 

[Steve_F]

I'm joining this thread a little late. I had a similar idea for my ex-FM3A. I shoot all my stuff in raw on digital. Put in a sensor, fixed as a DNG , NEF and leave the ISO adjuster where it is. Nothing else. I'll just take the card out when I'm done and that's it.

Steve.

 

[menos]

Out on my walk today with an MP, and thoughts drifted into my mind of what would be the perfect digital body for me- an MP-D.
…Ah to dream.

You know what?

I looooove that idea!

I would demand exactly the same camera, you described with only one change:

- sensor optimized for ISO 400 − 6400

That camera would be all, I wanted.

I bought a black MP yesterday and love it already.
I very much loved my M6 before (will keep it), so I am fine with the shutter speed dial and all - always loved the sleek, compact body of the M6, compared to my M8.2, which is (because of digital) my mainly used camera.

 

[jaapv]

Interesting - but did you ever look at the cutaway drawing of a film M? The shutter/wind mechanism is so big that there is place left for three transistors and no battery - so it would be double the size of an M9....

 

[Livesteamer]

I also thought the traditional shutter would not work because it might put dust on the sensor. Now, take the Leica shutter and put titanium curtains in it from a Nikon F and you would have one tough shutter. Joe

 

[c.poulton]

Out on my walk today with an MP, and thoughts drifted into my mind of what would be the perfect digital body for me- an MP-D.

Funny, I had exactly the same thought this morning on the way to work, but you beat me to it!😉

I really don't like the slightly obese, middle aged spread size of the M8/9, if Leica could fit an essential only set of electronics into an MP body.....

Keep the shutter as is - fully mechanical (would this work with digital?) all the battery has to do then is power the sensor and memory card.

Pipe dream I know, but it put a smile on my face this morning thinking about it...🙂

 

[jaapv]

Given the film feed and take-up chambers would be unused with a digital variant you must have meant vacuum tubes / valves. Transistors are M4 era technology, IC's are now the size of a small postage stamp.

Even then -maybe you could fit in a small battery. But still, did you see mark Norton's M8 anatomy thread - the larger body of the M8 is filled to the brim - even with the miniature shutter assembly. The thing would be the size of a 5d at least.
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/21331-anatomy-leica-m8.html

 

[JuJu]

Funny when I saw this thread since I was on my daydreaming mode and sketching out my LCD-less M10 idea. MP-D sounds a lot cooler so I changed the imprint on the top plate 😀 Hope Mr. sepiareverb won't mind. I will post more sketches as the project moves along and hopefully some 3D renderings (like the CL-D idea I came up a while ago) if I have spare time on this.

 

[damien.murphy]

Would love to see a camera like this. I would add one thing though - a high dynamic range sensor. Fuji implemented such a sensor in their S5 dslr (and S3, I think), and feel this would eliminate much of the need for a histogram.

 

[monochromeimages]

Even if it needed to use the M8/M9 shutter the basic concept of a screen-less digital with manual shutter cocking is something I have thought about a lot. I would buy one for certain. The RD1 is nearly there but I'd love to see Leica do it.