Re: What If?

[JayPax@aol.com]

In a message dated 97-02-22 19:58:47 EST,
jbieleck@northland.lib.mi.us@northland.lib.mi.us (Jim Bielecki) writes:

<< Has anybody out there ever wondered if Leica would consider building
 some future rangefinder Leica on a totally different chassis?  When you
 consider that the current M-6 is derived from the M-3 of 1954 (and
 designed years before that), you've got to wonder if some engineer at
 Solms has an idea for a TOTALLY NEW Leica, one that isn't based on the
 current M chassis (but keeping the M lens mount).  Heresy?  Or has years
 of no competition (until recently) bred complacency among the Leica
 design crew?  I tend to think that the M chassis Leica would have
 disappeared years ago if Canon, Nikon and the old Contax hadn't given up
 on rangefinders like they all did back in the 60's (competition usually
 dictates constant improvement).  Comments? >>


There is probably some truth to that.  As the proverb says:  "As iron
sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."    Competition and cash flow are
the mother's milk of innovation.  However, in the case of the Leica
rangefinder, with an almost cult like following, I'm sure the issue could be
disposed of rather easily since (1) they didn't really need to change the
design and (2) the Leica purists would soon organize a lynch mob.  Nothing
succeeds like success; and there was no reason to fix what is not broken.

My guess is that in the future, Leica is not likely to change the basic
design of the M camera.  In fact, their efforts in that area (in the form of
the M5) were not generally successful   Perhaps they will add aperature
priority autoexposure, faster flash synch, etc., but I don't think the basic
design is likely to change.

Jay P.

JayPax@aol.com