Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/12/08

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Subject: [Leica] Re: Digital Leica back
From: lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin)
Date: Fri Dec 8 14:36:12 2006
References: <200612081553.kB8FqDYE003204@server1.waverley.reid.org>

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


Replies: Reply from abridge at gmail.com (Adam Bridge) ([Leica] Re: Digital Leica back)
Reply from imagist3 at mac.com (Lottermoser George) ([Leica] Re: Digital Leica back)