[Leica] A modest proposal

[lrzeitlin at aol.com (lrzeitlin at aol.com)]

Here is a modest proposal. The next Leica (M10) should be modular with 
the mechanicals, lens mount, shutter, and rangefinder in one module and 
the electronics, sensor, microcomputer, battery in the other. When 
technology advances to the point where the electronics are obsolete, 
the electronics module could be slipped out of the case and replaced 
with the newer and hopefully better version. Perhaps Leica could run an 
upgrade service similar to the one which upgraded the older LTM cameras 
to later models. If that were the case, $7000 for a camera body might 
not be such a bad deal.

What kept the film Leicas viable for decades is that the mechanical and 
optical components lasted long enough to accommodate many changes in 
film technology. If the M10 is built to the same standards as other M 
series cameras, the optical and mechanical components should not have 
to be discarded with every generation of electronics. Remember that in 
the computer world, the half life of a technology is only about six 
months.

Larry Z