Re: [Leica] Waiting for new cameras ?

[TTAbrahams@aol.com]

In a message dated 8/3/99 11:41:49 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Wolfgang.Oehms@t-online.de writes:

<< Subj:     [Leica] Waiting for new cameras ?
 Date:  8/3/99 11:41:49 AM Pacific Daylight Time
 From:  Wolfgang.Oehms@t-online.de (Wolfgang.Oehms)
 Sender:    owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
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 Hallo LUG`s 
 its look like that everybody is waiting for new (Leica) Cameras. I think the 
"R`s" are running out.
 New "M`s" are not been seen. Every one is waiting.
 Questions to Tom A: A softtop an a winder, was that all? Why dont you start 
to build a camera-body (like M) ? Just a box with a hole, a shutter and 
perhapse a viewfinder. Thats not the world ! 
 Regards
 Wolfgang
  >>
Wolfgang,
 Trust me, I have thought about it, but it is a rather massive project and 
even if I farmed out all the parts (would it still be my camera?), it 
requires more know-how than I posses. If I did it, it would have a long base 
rangefinder, at least 120-130mm long, made from fiber optic and thus could be 
'snaked" through the body casting, rather than be stuck on top. It would have 
at least a 1/125 flash synch speed and probably 1/2000 top speed. Framelines 
for at least the 24 to 135 mm focal length, with provisions for "magnified" 
lines for the 21 and the 180. You would loose some clarity on the 21 due to 
the added optical system for the "wide view" but I could live with that. The 
180 focal length could be handled by a sliding frame (automatic, coupled to 
the 180 mount) enlarging the 135 frame to handle the view. The longer 
rangefinder base would make it possible to use a 180, at least for the 10 
feet to infinity range. An M-type camera that could handle a 180/3,4 APO, now 
that would be something wouldn't it.
 The release would be hydraulic, an oil filled piston that would eliminate 
release shake (wonder if one had to change oil for winter and summer-use?). 
The metering system should be simple, an average meter, similar to the 
current M6, but with the provision of a spot meter option. All mechanical 
shutter, no battery dependence apart from the meter circuitry. If the battery 
goes, the meter goes, but everything else will continue to work.
 Winder should be an optional unit, it should accept a mechanical advance 
such as the Rapidwinder, but also a power winder and within the limitations 
of the shutter, should handle 4 frames/sec. Could be driven by a CR-5 Lithium 
battery (the one used in the Canon EOS), The latter was not my idea, Gilles 
Peress at Magnum suggested that as a power source, he favoured it over 
standard AA batteries. When connected, the cameras meter circuit would be 
powered by the battery in the winder (like the F3/MD-4 drive).
 Body shape should be close to the M6 (and as this is my design, the 
shutterspeed dial would turn the same way as on the old M6!). It would of 
course accept M-lenses, without adapters and possibly have a 39-mm inside 
thread in the mount. This would allow us to use 39mm screw mount lenses, 
without resorting to adapters (the frame lines could be handled by a preview 
lever with a clickstop on it. You select the view and push the "button' on 
the lens and that frame stays in place). All right, it would have to have a 
spacer ring to prevent the screwmount lens to be screwed in too deep, but 
that's possible to integrate into the mount. 
 The body would also have a proper on/off switch on it, not on the shutter 
speed dial either! It would be made from proper diecast alloy, or even CNC 
machined from solid stock, top and base would be brass (black paint 
optional). It should be designed and built in such a manner that it would 
still be fully functional 40-50 years from now. All right, finding film might 
be a problem at that stage, but it would also have provisions for adapting a 
full 24x36, high-resolution (35 million pixels minimum) digital back to it.
 Sounds good doesn't it and I think it could be done, although not by me. I 
still think the M2 is the best camera made!
Tom A