Full-frame digital non-Leica M

[Roger Hicks]

After railing against photo fantasies, here's one to play with.

Someone -- doesn't matter who -- 'promises' a FF, M-mount RF camera in 2019, or 2017, or 2015, at $3500 in 2012 dollars.

Are you willing to wait 7 years... or 5... or 3... or do you want to take pictures NOW, with an admittedly expensive M9?

Cheers,

R.

 

[hipsterdufus]

I'd just keep on shooting film.

 

[sjones]

Yep, keep shooting film; I enjoy the process too much. Plus, the feel of my Leica iiif is close to perfect.

I'm also thinking of picking up a TLR, and possibly a Leica M2. After this, there's really not much I'm eying in terms of camera.

This said, I think it would be good for photography overall to have an affordable ($1,500---it's all relative) full frame digital rangefinder available.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'd just keep on shooting film.

Dear Eric,

Sound logic!

Cheers,

R.

 

[Jbig]

I remember in the 1970s not being able to afford an M4 so I used a Nikon F. Today I'm using a D700 because I can't afford an M9.
Is there a message in this for me?

 

[thegman]

Will stick with film, Leica, M mount, or "full frame" have no magic for me. I quote full frame, as it is a psychological term really, as it's nowhere hear "full" for a MF, or LF person.

I'm also moving a lot more into medium format now, so the 135 size frame is start to feel a little alien compared to 6x6.

Even if I were a millionaire, I probably would not buy an M9, maybe an MM, but it's not really about money, it's about gear that I want, and an M9 just is not in that list.

 

[Mcary]

I don't know about the M mount - but it looks like Sony, Fuji are serious about non SLR type digital cameras. APS-C is now common and I guess we'll begin seeing some FF sensor models (beyond Leica).

The digital camera design cycle is about 18 months, so the wait may be short. M mount, maybe with an adapter. I don't know who makes Fuji's lenses (I think you likely know). Sony has some sort of partnership with Zeiss.

I think it would have been an advantage for Leica to have partnered with Sony or Fuji early on (there was talk of a deal with Canon for a time). Leica would own this market now had they done this (my opinion).

My guess as to who makes Fuji's lenses,,,would be Fuji/Fujinon given their long history of making lens for everything from commercial video cameras to medium format all the way down to a 35mm F-2 LTM lens.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Will stick with film, Leica, M mount, or "full frame" have no magic for me. I quote full frame, as it is a psychological term really, as it's nowhere hear "full" for a MF, or LF person.

I'm also moving a lot more into medium format now, so the 135 size frame is start to feel a little alien compared to 6x6.

Even if I were a millionaire, I probably would not buy an M9, maybe an MM, but it's not really about money, it's about gear that I want, and an M9 just is not in that list.

Not really, if (as many Leica owners do) you have a lot of old full frame lenses. Sure, you can use other terms, but as everyone knows what you mean, why bother?

If you like 645 (which is what 6x6 is, unless you print square), it's a lot better than 35mm. Personally, I much prefer Linhof 56x72; Frances likes 6x9cm; and our biggest camera is 12x15 inches. But ever larger formats is a pointless game: someone can always go bigger.

Cheers,

R.

 

[kxl]

IF one has the wherewithal to spend >$6K now on a FF DRF, why would one wait 3 or 4 or 5 years?

 

[sig]

A big difference between want a M9 and can afford a M9. For me (and I believea lot of other people) waiting and hoping is the only option.

 

[FrankS]

I'll continue to shoot film until a digi camera comes along that meets my requirements. Not quite there yet.

Full frame
Works well with M/ltm lenses in manual focus obviously
Manual Focus confirmation
Optical viewfinder

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

If given the option between a $100 glass of wine now or wait for an anti-balding calorie-burning $25 pint of ale in five years from now when I'm thirsty *now*, choosing milk when it wasn't an option would tell you that perhaps we're no longer at the cocktail bar.

I'd choose the wine, btw...

 

[bugmenot]

I wouldn't care if it has a rangefinder on it. Give me a full frame NEX, and I'll be happy. And from what I hear (FF NEX camcorder at Photokina this year) and recently see around (hint: Sony RX1 full frame compact), I'd say we won't have to wait too long for a FF NEX ...

 

[Roger Hicks]

A big difference between want a M9 and can afford a M9. For me (and I believea lot of other people) waiting and hoping is the only option.

This, to me, is the only rational answer. But I set the price of the imaginary future camera to be comparable with the price of a second-hand M9.

Cheers,

R.

 

[E.M]

a FF digital Nikon SP would be nice , in the meantime I'm using a film M and a FF dslr .

 

[kshapero]

I'd just keep on shooting film.

FF on the cheap.

 

[mac_wt]

FF on the cheap.

Cheap? 7 years of film and developing might cost some serious money.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Cheap? 7 years of film and developing might cost some serious money.

Let's say 7 years at 50 rolls a year as $10/roll processed... 7x50x10 = $3500. Interesting... exactly my imaginary price.

Cheers,

R.

 

[sebastel]

... I set the price of the imaginary future camera to be comparable with the price of a second-hand M9.

then, why not go ahead with a used M9 right away?
you won't see in the files this camera produces, that the camera was not bought as new. used M9, used M4 --- my way.

s.

 

[froyd]

off topic... but i cannot help pointing out how this thread has received 132,000 views in seven hours!!!

Must be the combination of "Full-frame digital non-Leica M" and the name of the author.

Back to the topic at hand... can m9s be purchased used for $3500 in good condition? I had not realized. Still a bit too much for me, but it's getting closer. But if I could afford it now, I would go for an M9 rather than wait even as little as 3 years. To me the M9 is more camera than I need. I'd bee happy with an M9 with M8 sensor. I never really shoot above 400 anyway.