What would be your ideal combination of Leica M film body features?

[splitimageview]

If you were going to design your ideal M body by using features that exist in previous models, what would that combination be? (Assume that all combinations are possible; for example, a 28mm frameline with a 0.91x viewfinder.)

Your ideal M body would choose from:

size: M2/3/4/6/7 or M5
self timer: yes or no
film rewinding: crank or knob
rewind: lever or button
film wind lever: solid or two piece with plastic tip
framelines: choose a combination from 28, 35, 50, 75, 90, 135
viewfinder magnification: choose from 0.58, 0.72, .85, .91
meter: yes or no
meter type: digital (diode) or analog (needle)
AE: yes or no
DX code reader (if metered): yes or no
frameline preview: yes or no
frame counter: auto or manual
shutter dial design:

• overhang (M5 style)
• larger M6 TTL
• small M2-3-4-6 style
• M7 style continuous rotation

shutter dial rotation: counter clockwise (fast speeds to slow speeds) or clockwise (fast to slow, M7/M6 TTL style)
shutter speeds visible in viewfinder: yes or no
take up spool: tulip or removable
strap lugs: vertical, horizontal, or both

Lastly, what feature would you want to add, that doesn't already exist in prior models?

 

[shawn]

Here is mine but I'm sure it won't be popular....

M3 body style but with horizontal lugs.
Crank rewind, solid winder.
Meter, either needle(s) or LCD equivalent (not just two lights as that is harder to see how far you are off before you are on)
Option for AE
Auto frame counter
Overhang shutter dial, speed visible in viewfinder

And for features that don't exist in previous models...
Multiple magnification viewfinder. Maybe .5 or .58 and 1.0
Framelines for 21, 25,28,35,50,75, 90,135 (and really pie in the sky.. only one at a time and they correct for parallax as well as frame sizing.. maybe using something like a transparent E-ink display for frame lines... which also doesn't exist)

 

[Bill Blackwell]

 

[Deleted member 65559]

View attachment 4823212View attachment 4823213

That's pretty much it right there! add a black paint version and a Leicavit & I'd be done!

 

[splitimageview]

View attachment 4823212

What mag and framelines, @Bill Blackwell ?

 

[Cyriljay]

Double exposure Mode !!! My most favourite photography mode I really missed in M cameras!!

 

[Deleted member 65559]

"If wishes were horses". A button rewind, black paint M2-R (tulip), Leicavit. .72 magnification. 35/50/90 framelines & oh look!..... a black paint SBLOO & SBOOI included. Something like the attached photo..but in the meantime i can live with this M4

 

[muser53]

I'm perfectly happy with my M7 (also have M3,4P & 6) as the aperture priority metering is about all the automation
I have ever needed. Aesthetically a black paint version ( I really like the look of a brassed M) would be nice. When it
finally needs a CLA perhaps I'll go with 35-50/75-90 frame lines only.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

What mag and framelines, @Bill Blackwell ?

.72 of course. ... 🙄

 

[splitimageview]

.72 of course. ... 🙄

M6 frames?

 

[Bill Blackwell]

M6 frames?

Yes - with the MP condenser, of course. ...

 

[das]

Basically, this would be my ideal Leica RF.

- M7 or MP Style Body with a healthy RF effective baselength.
- Shutter speed in viewfinder.
- The best features of the Konica Hexar RF (1/4000 top speed, AE-L, auto load/advance/rewind etc.)
- TTL flash
- Spot / Center meter switch.
- A button to switch between manual lever advance and auto advance.
- Rotating viewfinder ala the Canon VI between a 0.92x (M3) view (50/90/135) and 0.60x (28/35/50).
- DX Coding and manual ASA selection from ASA 6-12800.
- Data back to imprint exposure settings between frames or all on the last frame.

 

[shawn]

- Data back to imprint exposure settings between frames or all on the last frame.

I was going to put that but figured I'd get thrown out. 😉 It would have to estimate aperture the same way the digitals do with an external light meter.

I love that feature on the 645N.

 

[Pál_K]

My choice is an M5 with a metering spot on the curtain like the M6. No meter on a moving stick inside the camera.

(At this point I tried to insert multi-quotes from davidde1000 and shawn, but got constantly thwarted by the forum software which somehow, when you trim the text inside one quoted post, then attaches that quoted post to the one above. This happens a lot. It’s exasperating. The software is horrible.)

The Nikon F6 also lets you imprint exposure information between frames. Only a few other cameras can imprint exposure information between the frames; some don’t need a special back. The F4 has the MF-23 which does that, plus adds other features such as trap focus and an intervalometer.

 

[WJJ3]

My ideal M body is the one recently completed for me to incorporate all the features I wanted:

M4 body with M3 levers, in black paint, and sporting an MP 0.58x finder. I had the 75mm frame corners masked for a clean 50mm frameline view, and new style M6 light shields installed. Those still shooting M4s have probably experienced the light leaks most of these cameras have now.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

My ideal M body is the one recently completed for me to incorporate all the features I wanted:

M4 body with M3 levers, in black paint, and sporting an MP 0.58x finder. I had the 75mm frame corners masked for a clean 50mm frameline view.

IMG_0188

IMG_0189

Very nice M4 'dream edition'

 

[WJJ3]

Very nice M4 'dream edition'

Thank you sir, it took a few years, but it all came together.

 

[splitimageview]

(At this point I tried to insert multi-quotes from davidde1000 and shawn, but got constantly thwarted by the forum software which somehow, when you trim the text inside one quoted post, then attaches that quoted post to one above. This happens a lot. It’s exasperating. The software is horrible.)

I've not seen that behavior and have used Xenforo for years. What browser? Message me if you like. 🙂

 

[wlewisiii]

A Canon P with an M mount & TTL meter like the M7 😱 😎

 

[Gordon Moat]

If only Leica a la Carte was still going, I would go for an M7 with M4 frame lines.