steveyork
Well-known
I'm betting a shorter rangefinder base too to help differentiate from MA/MP. They don't want to canibilize sales from other new offerings.
New (cheaper) Leica Film Camera on the Way?
- Thread starter Mackinaw
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Leica news is where you find it.
Remember the only new digital Leica M camera made in collaboration with Leica is produced in MOSCOW 😱
Remember the only new digital Leica M camera made in collaboration with Leica is produced in MOSCOW 😱
Orthogonal
Established
I agree. If there's any truth to it I imagine it'll be a stripped down MA at a marginal discount at best. I'd be very surprised by a new body unless it's in collaboration with a third party because of the development costs.
james.liam
Well-known
I wonder how difficult would it be to laser print/cut parts for a resurrected M6?
Meter is dead simple. Use aluminum/magnesium for the body and top/base plates. They’ve got to have the assembly machinery in some warehouse. Probably the very same rugs used until recently to make the M7, or still used on the MP/MA.
Meter is dead simple. Use aluminum/magnesium for the body and top/base plates. They’ve got to have the assembly machinery in some warehouse. Probably the very same rugs used until recently to make the M7, or still used on the MP/MA.
Orthogonal
Established
It would surprise me too, but Cosina did make the Zeiss Ikon. Letting Cosina use the Leica name on a modified iteration of the Ikon for 3k would probably be easy money for Leica.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Krasnogorsk is not in Moscow.
KMZ did odd kit lens for re-plated M240 named after Soviet SLR.
Who knows, maybe M-A will be re-labeled as Zorki. No, "Start", to keep tradition. https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Start_(SLR)
FrozenInTime
Well-known
I'm not sure of a Cosina/Voigtlander and Leica joint venture - the latest Voigtlander M lenses are so good, they must be costing Leica sales of it's M lenses.
DavidKKHansen
Well-known
Note sure if Hasselblad still make film inserts/backs for their H-cameras, would that count if so? Someone else mentioned Rollei, there is also Alpa and I guess Linhof are still in the game? And then there are other large format makers I don't know the names of.
Back to the Leica rumour; if they made an M6 TTL without the preview lever and the top plate of aluminium, couldn't they repackage it and call it a day? Having the shutter dial be larger and rotate the same way as their digital brethren would align well with the rest of their camera lineup.
A modern CL would be nice though! Regardless I think it's great news that Leica will release a new film camera in the near future.
hap
Well-known
Yes, and many of the "innards" of the Zeiss Ikon were baked in the (earlier) cake of FM10, G, OM 2000, Bessa. (Wikipedia) Plenty of expertise and probably parts to throw together a phony Leica. It did not seem a problem for Nikon and Olympus.
It will have the stamp MIC. NOT MOSCOW.
valdas
Veteran
Let’s assume it happens. Will it affect current prices for M6/7. If the price diffrence (say, second hand M6 vs new Leica) is not that big isn’t it more sensible to buy a new film Leica rather than currenty sky high priced M6?
DavidKKHansen
Well-known
If I were Leica, that would be the target market I'd go for. Price the new film camera just above the going prices of used M6 / M6TTL, get buyers to think if I paid just a little bit more, I would have a brand new camera with a 2 year warranty. It would most certainly drive the prices down on used M6's.
Hence I think a new film camera must have a light meter, as that's what is driving the demand up for used M6's. There are more than enough meterless M-mount cameras out there.
zenza
Well-known
What's so out of line with this idea? You realize Cosina produced the Zeiss Ikon ZM, right?
santino
FSU gear head
Leica is nowadays a boutique brand and can price their cameras as they wish to. Most people don‘t buy Leica because they need to but because they want to. I think the price tag will be way above a used M6.
The red dot is life style folks! They can‘t afford to sell „cheap“ cameras.
The red dot is life style folks! They can‘t afford to sell „cheap“ cameras.
james.liam
Well-known
They’re not rebadging an Ikon nor will they do anything to cut into MP sales. It has to be a CL-sized Camera with an electronic shutter or a fixed lens P&S device.
I can't see them doing a deal with Cosina or anyone else.
I think the market could work with a cheaper Leica film camera, as that market is entirely the used market now.
The question is, can they make an M body for 2500ish that Leica people would actually want? Or would it be compromised in one way or another so as not be considered a 'real' Leica or 'real' M and therefore shunned by the cognoscenti?
I think the market could work with a cheaper Leica film camera, as that market is entirely the used market now.
The question is, can they make an M body for 2500ish that Leica people would actually want? Or would it be compromised in one way or another so as not be considered a 'real' Leica or 'real' M and therefore shunned by the cognoscenti?
valdas
Veteran
I’d probably buy a new Leica P&S that is on Contax T3 level (specs and IQ wise).
santino
FSU gear head
P&s with classic design and certain manual control for the young people. Even 1500-2000 would bring them profit.
wjlapier
Well-known
Leitz and Wetzlar engraved or no deal.
benlees
Well-known
Leica have associated themselves with Panasonic over the years, and cell phone companies recently. A film camera made by someone else in collaboration has been done before and is surely possible now- but it won't be an M.
zenza
Well-known
Was going to mention the same thing. Leica has had no problem slapping their name on mediocre things. A collaboration with another 'lesser' company would be business as usual.
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