Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/12/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'd give the idea to Sony and let the Japanese run with it. They certainly aren't engineering slouches and seem more innovative the current German wiz kids. Adam Bridge wrote: > I find your idea intriguing but you do this hand-waving thing that > completely ignores the cost of firmware development not to mention the > lens array that will be needed in front of the CCD. That's some > serious R&D bucks to be spent that isn't on the order of machining up > an example of a rapid-winder or making a soft-touch release. Some very > substantial buck-a-ding-dongs are gonna have to be spent to put the > pieces together with the risk that the hoity-toity or maybe stodgey > will look at it, sniff "Well it's on 8M and it's low-light isn't that > hot and . . ." it will go on and on. > > I think if anyone could develop a product like this it would be Leica > itself who now understands most if not all the issues related to the > sensor's location and what those micro-lens arrays have to do. > > Adam > > On 12/8/06, Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> wrote: > >> Bringing together a number of threads: Walt's minimal digital Leica, >> the LUG anti-chimping attitude, high M8 prices, and the multitude of >> old film Leicas. >> >> A current issue of an electronics trade publication mentioned that >> large area 8 Mb CCD sensor chips and associated circuitry were >> becoming commodity items and would be featured in next year's >> consumer digital cameras. The expected retail price point of the >> cameras would be around $200. The Apple web site featured a USB to >> iPod connector that would download images from a digital camera, >> storing the data on the iPod's 20 or 30 Gb disc and simultaneously >> displaying the image on the iPod's screen. >> >> Bringing all this together: With digital electronics getting cheaper >> and cheaper it is apparent that the main cost of a digital Leica is >> the mechanical components. Based on years of consulting to the >> optoelectronics industry, I estimate that the mechanical and optical >> components of the M8 account for more than 80% of the manufacturing >> cost. But all the old M Leicas already have the costly items. >> >> It may be time to dust off the idea of a digital add on for the older >> Leica cameras. If a digital sensor chip was fashioned to replace the >> film inspection port, and the electronics, battery and memory card >> were contained in a baseplate extension, older Leicas could be >> updated to the digital age without losing their film capability. >> Eight Mb is enough for quality work. Note that the concept does not >> include a viewing screen. No chimping allowed. Yet if the >> photographer wanted to chimp, the iPod download would let him/her do >> so at leisure. In addition the iPod would allow storage of a weeks >> shooting without changing memory cards and you could listen to music >> between exposures. >> >> The probable cost of such an add on would be less that $1000. I would >> certainly buy one at that price. It is obvious that Leica would never >> make such a device because it would cannibalize sales of the M8, but >> one of the Asian makers of digital cameras might jump into the >> market. After all, in the early days of the Leica, dozens of small >> companies made a reasonable income feeding off the body of the German >> giant. Leica is no giant any more but there are thousands of Leica >> owners out there who think that $5000 is too much for the opportunity >> of using their old lenses. >> >> Larry Z >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >