Digital back for M Leica

Digital back for M Leica

  • Yes I would be interested

    Votes: 318 87.8%

  • No, because of M8(.2)

    Votes: 15 4.1%

  • No, because of R-D1(s)

    Votes: 7 1.9%

  • No, because of too high price

    Votes: 22 6.1%
  • Total voters
    362
Says it all!

Says it all!

Ronald_H said:
...YES!!!

Have you seen the tread at Photo.net? A guy has made a FF (!) MF back work with Leica glass. Utterly impractical (yet), but it works.

I think the OP's solution will be APS-C, but for 900$ that would be a steal considering what we all spend on our Leica gear :D

I'd definitely, DEFINITELY buy one...
Click to expand...

Guess what, I also voted Yes!

Battery in one compartment, processor in the other, button on the modified back door to reset the sensor for the next shot (no film advance coupling necessary then), original design swing-up back door with the sensor o/t inside and the card slot flush at the outside. ISO setting with jumpers on the processor part (you remember those small jumper blocks to set character sets on those really old printers?), metering with a handheld meter, or the top-mounted MR meter, as with a true film camera.

The whole thing to be taken off in a minute, and leaving the camera ready for film shooting by replacing the original door.

If I could build it, this would be MY poll :D
 
Al Kaplan said:
...and the LCD screen is an extra priced option because real photographers don't chimp.
Click to expand...

There you go Ron, leave the LCD off, it's for pussies. I wouldn't even bother putting one in, it gets scratched, it fails, it needs replacement, etc.

Save the LCD investment for the Full Frame sensor, it will definitely increase sales with rangefinder folk :cool:

I'M SOOO HOPING THIS WILL FLY, I'M ALL FIRED UP FOR A DIGITAL BACK ON MY DOUBLE STROKE M3'S!
 
"I'M SOOO HOPING THIS WILL FLY, I'M ALL FIRED UP FOR A DIGITAL BACK ON MY DOUBLE STROKE M3'S!"

LOL. Fly with whom? I'm not aware of anyone currently seriously considering doing it. What an incredible thread! ;)
 
Fred Burton said:
...I'm not aware of anyone currently seriously considering doing it. What an incredible thread! ;)
Click to expand...

Read the OP Fred, the OP is one of a team that is researching it. And yes, we have seen more of these attempts.

Personally I do not hold the thread on photo.net to which was referred here, very high. So far, the poster on PN has only produced a number of shots with a Medium Format ditigal back, to which he has stuck some Leica glass. Not even that, he started out with an Industar mounted on it. That setup does not by far resemble a Leica camera. We have yet to hear from him how he captures the image, both hard- and software-wise.

This guy on the other hand seems on to something that will at least fit into an existing M body. And, lets not forget: he's a Dutchman! It was the Dutch that founded New York, Fred! :D
 
I voted yes, since if this really really happens, it would be the closest thing to what I want, which is to have digital as an option for an otherwise film camera.

I would not be interested if it's not full frame. Why? It just bothers me if it's not!

I don't have a Leica, but if this project materializes I would get one.

Oh, I don't care about a screen on the back or 10,000 teeny tiny buttons and such.
 
Yes
Full Frame
No Screen
I will take 2
OK , so like, i am totally ready :smile: And i hate the thought of selling my car to buy an M8 or sell some of this and some of that to buy an already outdated(no offense)R D1
Question : if there is no screen would there be a need for a swap on /off back ? Could most of it go to a winder type bottom ?
 
As a longtime Leica user I'd happily buy a well thought out digital back for a film Leica M camera. I'm currently considering adding a Nikon D60 or D90 or an Olympus 520 to my accumulation. JustPlainBill
 
Make it 12 or more MP and I buy it for twice the price.
 
What a great idea!!! A digital back without the LCD screen, I'd prolly splurge one one.

CLE-RF said:
There you go Ron, leave the LCD off, it's for pussies. I wouldn't even bother putting one in, it gets scratched, it fails, it needs replacement, etc.

Save the LCD investment for the Full Frame sensor, it will definitely increase sales with rangefinder folk :cool:

I'M SOOO HOPING THIS WILL FLY, I'M ALL FIRED UP FOR A DIGITAL BACK ON MY DOUBLE STROKE M3'S!
Click to expand...
 
Digital back for M Leica

I fully agree with Eleskin.
Something not bigger than a Leicavit or a motor, not much thicker than the hinged door with pressure plate, would be rather interesting... After all we already have the detachable base and the door... The space of the film-cartridge is also already there. I wouldn't really need LCD screen, only RAW would be more than enough.
It surelly would be a very good alternative to my Canon EOS, when I need/want to use a discrete digital camera: still much smaller, much better glass, much better handling feeling, much better everything! Also would be an interesting way of "modernizing" a lot of the equipment I already have and love to use. Of course, it would only interest me, if I could change in a moment back to film, I WANT TO KEEP ON SHOOTING FILM! I see it like changing magazines in my Hasselblad...
What can be wrong on having one more possibility with our equipment? After all, I have been changing backs and holders for many years now with lots of cameras. Why not also with Leica?
They have already done it with Leica R, or am I wrong?
Rui
 
With an interchageable back there's no reason why they couldn't offer a chice ~ LCD or no LCD. With no film to fog you could switch backs anytime you wanted. If Leica doesn't make one some other compay might think "Gee, there are a lot of M Leicas out there!"
 
Now here is something mr. Gandy should get Cosina interested in. An interchangeable back with a sensor, with connectors on both ends, to hook a battery (in the one compartment) and a processor/memory card unit (in the other compartment) up with.

To remove, just swing open the back door, pull both connectors loose, and remove both units. Then unhinge the back door and install the original door, film and spool. Back to film you are!

I'm still pretty sure there would be no need at all to add depth to the back door like this, and no Leicavit bottom part would be necessary either.

You'd end up with a 6MP classic Leica without LCD and with RAW only. ISO could be set with the jumpers you used to find on old printers. A frame counter on the rear with a small LCD screen would be all.

Anybody up for a trial run with this?
 
CLE-RF said:
Now here is something mr. Gandy should get Cosina interested in. An interchangeable back with a sensor, with connectors on both ends, to hook a battery (in the one compartment) and a processor/memory card unit (in the other compartment) up with.

To remove, just swing open the back door, pull both connectors loose, and remove both units. Then unhinge the back door and install the original door, film and spool. Back to film you are!

I'm still pretty sure there would be no need at all to add depth to the back door like this, and no Leicavit bottom part would be necessary either.

You'd end up with a 6MP classic Leica without LCD and with RAW only. ISO could be set with the jumpers you used to find on old printers. A frame counter on the rear with a small LCD screen would be all.

Anybody up for a trial run with this?
Click to expand...

Sorry. No. Jumpers for ISO :bang: No LCD :bang: 6 MP :bang:
 
900 $ - ha ha! The up and coming M9 will be something like 10,000 $ - or it will be yet a disappointment.
 
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