Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/02/21
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]If you follow technology, especially Integrated Circuit Technology, there is a significantly short technology life cycle.... great if you want to buy the newest computer or upgrade every 3 years or so. However, when the technology is finished, the "tooling" is retired and can not be started again. As inventory depletion occurs, eventually the IC's are no longer available. Equipment gets replaced, not fixed because there are no more parts. Enter the Leica.... cameras 60 years old are brought up to snuff for a few dollars...if necessary someone will cut a new gear or file some bit of metal to keep them running. They are reapirable because the parts can be made. Let us postulate on the M9. A mythical camera with fully electronically controlled shutter. What happens when the shutter is timed by an IC? Well, the speed accuracy will be incredible. Long term effects will be self compensated. Metering, well you already have opinions about M6 metering. How long until your speed IC lives.... maybe 10 years, maybe more or less... it is really unimportant. The chip will someday die ( or you will not be able to get batteries... same difference.) At first Leica will repair from stock. But in the future, there will be no stock, and the IC can not be made again. your Leica M9 will not be fixable. There will always be a place for mechanically controlled cameras of superb build quality and optical performance. Even 60 years from now. Thank You Frank Filippone red735i@worldnet.att.net