New (cheaper) Leica Film Camera on the Way?

[zenza]

Perhaps, if they have the capacity to churn them out, The Bessas weren't the most rugged cameras, though they were lightweight and equipped with great rangefinders.

A P&S film camera makes the most sense to me; appeals to the hipster crowd and others uninterested in full manual operation. Or perhaps even repurposing the Q body for the project.

P&S would make sense...but the rumour is it's similar to the M6.

The more I think of it, Leica already doesn't have the capacity to produce their current two models and keep up with demand. Adding a third model surely means a collab of some kind.

 

[Nitroplait]

For Cosina, I think the sticking point would be shutters. My recollection is that the availability of mechanically cocking shutters was what did their cameras in.

I wonder if there are any appropriate commercially available shutters in the market for rangefinder cameras?

Joe

Good point. Cosina had the standard shutter they used in their SLRs modified with and extra "layer" as there would be no mirror to deflect light.

It will be interesting to follow how this pans out. Maybe someone found 5000 forgotten shutters in storage which created this opportunity?

 

[css9450]

Collaboration with KMZ would be my guess.

 

[james.liam]

No. Wait. It is going to be KMZ Zenit labeled as R 2021 !

Collaboration with KMZ would be my guess.

KMZ does make the most sense. But they would have to differentiate it from the MP and MA, already very minimalistic devices.

 

[raid]

LOL!

Sofort 2.0

The new Leica "Sofort Pleite" Kamera! 😱😎😀:bang:

 

[Archlich]

That parts bin is deep.

 

[helen.HH]

New Film camera M
$2-$3000.00

Kinda Cool , kinda So what
You can still buy buy a less expensive Film M
and who needs a metered camera

But I do Thank Leica if it’s keeping on with Tradition & Innovation

 

[kshapero]

I'm interested.

 

[CameraQuest]

it would be truly great if the new camera is a modernized version of the film CL

naw, Leica photogs are just not that lucky ....

 

[Bingley]

it would be truly great if the new camera is a modernized version of the film CL

naw, Leica photogs are just not that lucky ....

Now THAT would be interesting! Might even sell something to finance the purchase of an updated film CL.

 

[hap]

Good point. Cosina had the standard shutter they used in their SLRs modified with and extra "layer" as there would be no mirror to deflect light.

It will be interesting to follow how this pans out. Maybe someone found 5000 forgotten shutters in storage which created this opportunity?

sort of like ballots.

 

[hap]

it would be truly great if the new camera is a modernized version of the film CL

naw, Leica photogs are just not that lucky ....

Hey...wait a minute! What's wrong with the original CL?

 

[james.liam]

A new CL makes the most sense, as I postulated in my original post. As does Ko.Fe’s suggestion about KZM as partner. P&S with a stellar lens with a 40mm Summicron is another. Those 25 year old P&S cameras are now aging out but still getting $1-2k on that auction site.

 

[FrozenInTime]

Agree with the idea of a new film CL:
Likely with an electronically controlled shutter so as not to eat into the premium M-A and MP market; maybe even a motor wind on ... contract manufactured by Konica ;-)

 

[aizan]

A Cosina collab or CL reissue would be ideal, but realistically I’m expecting it’ll be a Leica MP with aluminum plates and maybe no frameline preview lever for $4500. It’ll be “cheaper,” but I have low expectations.

 

[agentlossing]

Didn't Leica rather resent the original CL, and pull up stakes from that partnership pretty quickly? I really don't see this situation playing out again. But I'd be happy to be wrong.

 

[CameraQuest]

A Cosina collab or CL reissue would be ideal, but realistically I’m expecting it’ll be a Leica MP with aluminum plates and maybe no frameline preview lever for $4500. It’ll be “cheaper,” but I have low expectations.

I'm guessing some sort of lower cost point MP - we will see

fewer framelines
no preview frameline lever
no motor or winder connection
no meter
some sort of less expensive body covering
barnack style knob film advance (just kidding)

 

[jsrockit]

Cosina collaboration is my bet.

In what world could this ever be possible? Note they said "cheaper" not cheap.

 

[jsrockit]

I'm guessing some sort of lower cost point MP - we will see

fewer framelines
no preview frameline lever
no motor or winder connection
no meter
some sort of less expensive body covering
barnack style knob film advance (just kidding)

I would think the meter is the key...since it's the exact reason the M6 is going up and up in price.

 

[james.liam]

They can’t keep up with orders for the MA/MP so why would they cannibalize the line to make a lower price point M? Makes no business sense.