What's the best camera Leica haven't made?

[varjag]

From the all cameras that Leica haven't made (or haven't quite made), which one is the best in your opinion?

Discuss.

 

[Peter A (NYC)]

M3 with regular hinged back and rewind crank!

 

[photogdave]

M3 with regular hinged back and rewind crank!

Hinged back is for pansies! Rapid load is the best! 😉

 

[laptoprob]

The CLE, what else?

 

[shadowfox]

I second the fantasy that Leica makes a digital back for M3 or MP. Wanna bet how fast *that* will sunk the M8 sales ? 🙂

 

[peter_n]

The CV Bessa R4.

 

[ferider]

The Olympus M1.

🙂

 

[dadsm3]

An M3 with an adjustable VF mag; .58, .72, .85, & .91, and ONLY the framelines of the lens you're using show up, no others. It just knows.....

 

[shadowfox]

The Olympus M1.

🙂

Good one! 😛

 

[Stanton]

Nicca 5L or Tower 45/46 -- a screw mount clone of a Leica IIIf with an advance lever and a back which opens to ease loading. You have the easily pocketable size of a classic screw mount Leica, and the choice of dozens of screw mount lenses. The Tower was made for Sears by Nicca, which merged into Yashica. Quality is very high. See the more complete description of the Nicca 5L on the Cameraquest site. Hard to find, but worth it.

 

[gb hill]

Sinse I take the question to read, What is the best camera Leica hasn't made I voted for the M9. I'm sure they will get it right next time.🙂

 

[akalai]

...the Konica Hexar AF and the Ricoh GR Digital.

 

[VinceC]

1:1 finder for normal and telephotos ... being able to easily use wide-angle lenses with eyeglasses but without a separate finder. Having the same body optimized for 28mm lenses and 85 through 135mm lenses; Select-it-yourself framelines instead of automated ones. One-handed focusing and shooting. Removable back for quick access to entire film compartment. 1/60 flash sync. Titanium curtains. PC-socket in a place that doesn't gouge out your eye. Life-size rewind knob for human-sized fingers.

I picked the SP.

 

[nagroth]

The camera Leica should make would be like a rubix-cube/transformer. By turning and pushing/pulling the body (M3 style) sections it could become an SLR/ TLR/ large format...everything! 🙂

 

[Al Patterson]

The Minolta made CL...

 

[Lemures-Ex]

PC-socket in a place that doesn't gouge out your eye.

*snickers*

Just got a Ricoh GR Digital and I'm very happy with it. If they could squeeze an APS sensor in there while keeping the same size (lens can stick out 3/4 inch or so) and increase the RAW performance to match the JPEG speed I'd be happy. I don't mind the external finder. The snap focus (hyperfocal) setting is a great feature.

Of course this is suited primarily for street photos. If you want something else...

 

[Film dino]

The CLE, what else?

Yes, the CLE

 

[Rob-F]

Olympus OM-2 (or whichever is your favorite Olympus OM-series SLR). It's the small Leica-like SLR.

 

[Creagerj]

Not an RF, but the Nikon F3. Great cameras, rugged, feels nice in the hands, and can take the accidental drops and bumps.

 

[Chad]

I'm confused, Leica has made an M5 so why is it a choice in the poll? My favorite non-Leica is a Canon 7s.


~Chad