Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/02/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Larry, I think your design concept is safe from any patent infringement! OK, put down that 6th triple espresso and back away from the keyboard slowly ;-) We have a saying over here commonly used in a friendly way... Don't give up your day job ;-) ;-) 2009/2/17 Lawrence Zeitlin <lrzeitlin@optonline.net> > > On Feb 16, 2009, at 10:00 PM, Geoff wrote: > > The 'CL of digital' seems to have popular support on the internet forums. >> It >> certainly sounds like Leica are hinting in that direction. I don't see >> what >> you could remove from the M8 design to make it much simpler though. If >> that >> is so, you need a much cheaper to manufacture body with an M mount. If >> that >> means an EVF I think it would lose its rangefinder essence. >> > > > Not necessarily. The CL cost much less than the M series Leicas to produce. > They sold retail for about 1/3 the price. I bought one new in 1970 for less > than $400 USD. While I have no definitive knowledge, I suspect that the > bulk > of of the cost of the M8 comes from the mechanical and optical parts. With > a > digital CL using the mass marketed mini 4/3 components, it could sell for > considerably less than the M8 yet still use an optical RF system. It all > depends on whether Leica is making enough money from selling a small number > of expensive M8s or wants to broaden its base by selling many more cheaper > digital CLs. Remember that Leica killed the CL because it was selling too > many of them and felt that it was cannibalizing sales of the M cameras. > Perhaps Konica Minolta still has the tooling tucked away in some warehouse. > > Alternatively Leica, or another supplier, could retrofit existing M cameras > for digital photography by making a 4/3 digital sensor module to replace > the > inspection door in the back and incorporate digital electronics in a > somewhat enlarged base plate. Everything else is already there, the > shutter, > the range finder and the view finder. You would have to advance the "film" > normally to cock the shutter. In addition to extending the useful life of a > generation of film cameras, the original back door could be replaced to use > film if desired. > > Leica, you can have my suggestion without a fee. I'll even let you have a > couple of M3s to modify digitally, as long as I can get them back. > > Larry Z > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Cheers Geoff 'Licence to Chill'