Digital back for M Leica

[Atom]

I wonder if custom frame line masks could be installed. Or perhaps a mask over the rangefinder window? I generally only shoot with 35, 50, 21mm lenses, so I imagine it wouldn't be too difficult dpending ont eh crop. I don't find the M8 or R-D1 frame lines to be extremely accurate anyhow (I own an R-D1 and have used the M8). I'm surely not opposed to an insertable digital unit for Leica M cameras. I was watching DrLeoB's progress for a while there. I even remember that e-film thingy. The more the merrier I say. It's not like it threatens film anymore than it is already.

 

[rocheung]

The most important is price and FF. 800 Mg pixels is fine.

 

[kbg32]

Price may be important, as well as full frame, but 8 megapixels isn't.

 

[dougiec29]

36x24 frame and a package no bigger than a leicavit are my criteria. I want my 28mm's to be 28mm field of view, and if I make my relatively small RF as large as modern DSLR's then the exercise is a little pointless. I know it's a high bar, but there are many in the same boat as me that will wait for the technology if it isn't there yet.

I understand if 1.3x is the first step, but Leica already did that...

Good luck if you take on this endeavor!

 

[benkelley]

I have an M8 and would absolutely be interested, to use it on my M3. The less crop the better, really... but I think a FF M back is a good 10 years off. A FF M9, maybe less, but a back–in 10 years I think we'll have it.

I wonder if it could have a small, monochrome LCD for selecting ISO and other options, which wouldn't display the picture but which could show an histogram. That would be very nice, indeed.

A digital Rolle TLRi would be nice, too, while you're at it. 😉

Ben

 

[serpia]

Interested? Yes, but I need to be intensely interested before I open the wallet.

 

[Frank Petronio]

I think $1000 would be better spent on a ground-up solution, something like the RD-1 with moderate improvements, or even better, a Sigma DP/Panasonic Micro 4/3s with an optical finder, faster glass, and less junk -- hardware and software -- hung onto it.

 

[snip]

I'm holding out for a film back I could slap on the new 5D MkII

I have one, it's called a 1V, it is for sale by the way..

//Jan

P.S it also fixes some of the problems with the 5D2 🙂

 

[snip]

I have an M8 and would absolutely be interested, to use it on my M3. The less crop the better, really... but I think a FF M back is a good 10 years off. A FF M9, maybe less, but a back–in 10 years I think we'll have it.

I wonder if it could have a small, monochrome LCD for selecting ISO and other options, which wouldn't display the picture but which could show an histogram. That would be very nice, indeed.

A digital Rolle TLRi would be nice, too, while you're at it. 😉

Ben

I've seen a digital Rollei in some strange Japanese shop, it was a miniature type "toy" though.

//Jan

 

[HenningW]

No, I'm not interested.

1) it would be clunky because of the additional thickness, etc.

2) it would probably be 1.5x crop because the likelihood of having access to the technology that makes the 1.3x of the M8 possible in unlikely to be available. FF is still out of the question, as far as I can see. The RD-1 had enough issues with DR in the corners with WA lenses.

Henning

 

[dovevadar]

I really want the nikon sensor in an mp body.. with leica's "perfect 50", it will be a god sent. If all Leicas could be built with removable backs in the future... If you need to shoot film, use the film back, and studio or holiday snaps with a digital back. And please come with the bundle kit because noone here can afford them.

Harddisk are selling for $200SGD for 1TB (used to be $1000SGD). Even canon and nikon are seeling their flagship dslr getting cheaper. But Leica seems to be heading the other direction - getting more expensive.

 

[Avotius]

From a practical point of view, if the system worked, delivered on the image side and managed to have decent battery life without compromising the size of the camera then 900 dollars sounds like a hell of a bargain. Yes I would buy that even if it had older technology. As for crop factors I think you would have more problems with the frame line mask then figuring out what size sensor to use. Anything less then a full frame sensor would require digging into your camera to replace the frame line mask and then you camera would not be able to shoot film right until you swapped it back.

 

[LeicaTom]

Has anybody seen anything recent about LeoB's project. Did he abandon it or still working on it?

All I can say is that I`m pretty sure he`s not doing anything anymore with Photography, he`s dropped off the face of the earth, we are not continuing the Leica research that was being planned for a book either.....I`ve decided that more than likely I also will not go ahead with the idea of a book either because of lack of interest, I think that`s where the Digital M back will be landing as well.

Tom

 

[Fred Burton]

Getting any kind of real funding for R&D on a project that would interest so few people as a real product would be unlikely. Of the people that own film M Leicas, far fewer shoot them regularly and probably only a relative few of those would actually want a digital back stuck on their M.

And a completely different product would have to be made for each camera model targeted, so you couldn't just build a universal module that would appeal to owners of other brands of old cameras.

 

[monkeypainter]

I've voted 'yes', but I would pay more for a FF sensor.

If ergonomics are OK and my m2 keeps it's size (more or less) I think a digital back is quite interesting.

My ideal specs:

*8-12 megapixels
*Full frame
*no need for screen nor buttons
*just an ISO-selector and a remaining-shots display.

 

[Paul T.]

I wouldn't be surprised if he got bought off to halt development (like his predecessor who got even closer to a working model, though I forget his name). The idea of an interchangeable digital back is just far too threatening to Leica, I think.

Are you talking about Hugh Finney? And do ANY of us know this for a fact? Has anyone had contact with Hugh? I'm as attracted to conspiracy theories as the next person and would love to know if this had a basis in fact...

 

[parsec1]

Just do it !

 

[Fred Burton]

Leica spent a bunch of money to overcame a lot of technical problems putting a sensor in an M size body with the M8. The problems of creating a back that could fit on a film M would be many magnitudes larger. Why would Leica pay to kill such an unlikely to succeed project. It seems to me that with all the publicity that the ( existing) micro 4/3 stuff is a much bigger threat to Leica than any undeveloped proof of concept. Perhaps they should have spread some cash around to kill THAT concept.

Conspiracy theories are more fun, though. 🙂

 

[parsec1]

Leica spent a bunch of money to overcame a lot of technical problems putting a sensor in an M size body with the M8. The problems of creating a back that could fit on a film M would be many magnitudes larger. Why would Leica pay to kill such an unlikely to succeed project. It seems to me that with all the publicity that the ( existing) micro 4/3 stuff is a much bigger threat to Leica than any undeveloped proof of concept. Perhaps they should have spread some cash around to kill THAT concept.

Conspiracy theories are more fun, though. 🙂

My Grandad told me 'They would never walk on the moon'. Never did believe him. I was probably reading too much Asimov or Arthur C at the time.
Mind you there are still millions out there who believe the moon landings was just another 'conspiracy therory'.

 

[CraigK]

I have one, it's called a 1V, it is for sale by the way..

//Jan

P.S it also fixes some of the problems with the 5D2 🙂

But can I also run 8mm movie film through it?