New digital rangefinder

I have (and really like) a DP1, but, go figure, I almost exclusively use it as a scale focus camera.

Also, for you SLR's-are-huge people, there aren't many interchangeable-lens cameras smaller than my Pentax ME Super. SLR's are great cameras, and some of them are quite handy to use. The ME rockin' a 50/1.4 and the Bessa R4A with a 21mm is my usual film rig these days, and both fit comfortably in the Domke F803 with room for a compact umbrella AND a paperback book.

Anyway, I like Leicasniper's posts. They seem sensible to me. Nobody's suggesting RF's aren't great cameras--it's a given we all dig 'em.
 
While i was in the bathroom something donned on me to make a GREAT digital RF.
The biggest problem with digital is of course battery consumption/dependence, so why not make a digital RF with a manual advance lever that instead of simply re-cocking the shutter, the mechanism also utilizes the friction and movement of the lever to generate a charge that can be funneled back into the battery, all the while making the sensor/lcd screen the only things dependent on the battery....could be cool.
 
tmfabian said:
While i was in the bathroom something donned on me to make a GREAT digital RF.
The biggest problem with digital is of course battery consumption/dependence, so why not make a digital RF with a manual advance lever that instead of simply re-cocking the shutter, the mechanism also utilizes the friction and movement of the lever to generate a charge that can be funneled back into the battery, all the while making the sensor/lcd screen the only things dependent on the battery....could be cool.
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Excellent, like one of those swatches:)
 
sojournerphoto said:
Excellent, like one of those swatches:)
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Yeah, you know people around here beat the whole leica's been riding the wave of the m3 thing to death, and I think Leica, being a non-mainstream camera company, has the unique opportunity to make a pass at this kind of innovation. The big 2 camera companies are too busy competing for megapixels and low noise to actually innovate anything cool like this and it's certainly the type of thing Leica could do to hop back on top of the market.

There really hasn't been any innovative ideas in the camera world since the advent of digital photography....all the cameras are basically the same design and offer the same features as they did 20 years ago (granted they've become a little better and faster, but nothing groundbreaking.)
 
It will work.

It will work.

tmfabian said:
While i was in the bathroom something donned on me to make a GREAT digital RF.
The biggest problem with digital is of course battery consumption/dependence, so why not make a digital RF with a manual advance lever that instead of simply re-cocking the shutter, the mechanism also utilizes the friction and movement of the lever to generate a charge that can be funneled back into the battery, all the while making the sensor/lcd screen the only things dependent on the battery....could be cool.
Click to expand...


The technology is there, It’s been around about 12 years. I first saw it on safe / vault combination locks.
I serviced them for years on the El Toro Marine base. As you rotate the dial it would energies a DC generator that would charge a capacitor long enough to provide power to light the LED number ring. They are still used today manufactured by Hamilton. https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/port...340829,181_5343999&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Bill
 
tmfabian said:
While I certainly don't agree with leicasniper on all things, this being one of them, he certainly has the right to voice his opinion here.
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Yes, yes, inserting my P.C. boilerplate here. However what he suggests implementing (sans interchangeable lenses) already exists, and it sucks.
 
one other area Leica is in a unique position to innovate is the fact that since a rangefinder camera does not have any viewfinder blackout when the shutter goes off, they could quite easily adopt a sensor getup that captures a very high FPS by way of minor video capabilities. Also if you wanted a stealth mode they could simply have a shutter lockup and allow the sensor to be electronically controlled and act as the shutter...no sound at all for that shutter release.

There are alot of areas I think Leica could exploit based on rangefinder design to create a very new type of camera.
 
POINT OF VIEW said:
The technology is there, It’s been around about 12 years. I first saw it on safe / vault combination locks.
I serviced them for years on the El Toro Marine base. As you rotate the dial it would energies a DC generator that would charge a capacitor long enough to provide power to light the LED number ring. They are still used today manufactured by Hamilton. https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/port...340829,181_5343999&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Bill
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I just realized that they could also incorporate the cam/focusing mechanism to provide energy as well.
When will the fun ever stop.
 
leicasniper said:
The thread topic is "New Digital Rangefinder." If you don't want AF or AE, don't care about full frame or megapixels, which seems to be the case, then the world doesn't need a new digital rangefinder
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I'm fine with digital rangefinders. THe keyword here is, rangefinders. What you suggest is simply not one.

Sure, it is possible Leica can do better by ditching existing user base and hoping for the best with a glorified P&S. Didn't work for Contax, doesn't seem to work terribly well for Sigma, but who knows. But would you bet your money on that?
 
leicasniper said:
The two suggestions for improving the M8 I've seen most on this and other forums, consistently, have been removing the motorized shutter cocking, returning to manual cocking and removing the LCD from the back so that folks aren't tempted to chimp. Perhaps these options will be part of a future downgrade program.
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This is where the thread goes stupid, Next subject PLEASE.
 
One more constructive thought...

One more constructive thought...

A great addition that could only improve Leica's cameras would simply be 'manual focus assist' via ir-lamp. A small 'in focus' LED in the viewfinder would be a great asset in accurate manual focusing, especially since ir assist is most beneficial on the wide to short tele subject distances. A small ir-emitter would be easy to implement and easy to integrate into the camera's systems, especially now that the M is digital...

2¢

S.G.
 
Well, I have a camera with AF assist right in my bag today: Contax RX. The problem with it is that even me, only a casual SLR user, can focus manually faster and better (just by using the normal visual aids) than the assist feature ever does.

If Leica decides to add assist in their camera they better make it really fast. If their R&D is up for the task is an open question. Traditionally, electronics hasn't been their strong point.
 
POINT OF VIEW said:
The technology is there, It’s been around about 12 years. I first saw it on safe / vault combination locks.
I serviced them for years on the El Toro Marine base. As you rotate the dial it would energies a DC generator that would charge a capacitor long enough to provide power to light the LED number ring. They are still used today manufactured by Hamilton. https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/port...340829,181_5343999&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Bill
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Ummm-yes. You might be able to fit one of these into one of the larger view cameras. It might be a bit problematitic to get them into anything smaller.:p
 
varjag said:
Well, I have a camera with AF assist right in my bag today: Contax RX. The problem with it is that even me, only a casual SLR user, can focus manually faster and better (just by using the normal visual aids) than the assist feature ever does.

If Leica decides to add assist in their camera they better make it really fast. If their R&D is up for the task is an open question. Traditionally, electronics hasn't been their strong point.
Click to expand...


Well, yes. And what did digital and AF do for Contax as a company? ;)
The Olympus OM 40 had a pretty good focus assist ( small green square LED in the VF.) Worked quite well. Olympus is still around:rolleyes:
 
POINT OF VIEW said:
This is where the thread goes stupid, Next subject PLEASE.
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Next New Digital Rangefinder

1) Weather sealed
2) Battery replacement without taking off bottom plate
3) Card replacment without taking off bottom plate
4) SDHC compatibility and/or use Compact Flash cards
5) Electonic shutter cocking motor that can be switched off for manual advance
6) Full frame sensor that is compatible with current M lenses (aaaah, the real problem ;))
7) Large LCD screen that can be switched off
8) Larger, faster buffer for RAW images

O.C.
 
leicasniper said:
Yup, I can still focus a camera manually. But why? Yes, there are situations where you need to focus manually. But not most of the time. It's just like aperture priority automation. I can set aperture and shutter speed manually. I've been using cameras for 40 years. But why not let the camera do the job of setting the shutter speed when it's going to set it the same place I would? Equally, I can focus manually. But for most photos, I focus using the RF and shoot when the RF says the image is in focus. Why turn that focusing ring manually when the camera can do it faster and more accurately?

My ultimate goal is to get the photo, not reinforce my manhood to my friends.
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Turning your manhood to reinforce it? Seems a bit painful for an exercise.
 
footprint

footprint

jaapv said:
Ummm-yes. You might be able to fit one of these into one of the larger view cameras. It might be a bit problematitic to get them into anything smaller.:p
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The footprint for the Xo9 combination lock is 4in. x 1in. The generator is 2mm. The lock does not have any battery, that was a government requirement, for design. Bill
 
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