Can Leica M Film Body be adapted to Digital?

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Traut

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I look st the new Sony NEX bodies and wonder how difficult it would be for Voigtlander/Cosina or another enterprise to adapt an M body to utilize a similar body as the NEX as a digital back.

The NEX is extremely thin in size and uses an aps size sensor. If one was to design the body/back to incorporate the "bulge" on the right side to extend rearwards instead of toward the front it would be completely flat. I don't know what the offset to the sensor is currently but that could be shortened in design.

If one was to remove the film door from an M body and incorporate some type of latching mechanism we might be able to accomplish the undreamable.

Since the digital back would be a constant distance from the film plane all the focusing mechanims and shutter should be able to be utilized.

The electronic interface would merely connect to the flash connector to get the signal to trip the backs shutter.

THis is the same means the digital backs work on the Hasselblad.

The NEX camera body and lens is price around $600. THerefore, it could conceivably be accomplished affordably.

What do you think?
 
.... we will see another full blown rangefinder digital soon. It may not be a manual focus one, but ....
 
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Traut said:
I look st the new Sony NEX bodies and wonder how difficult it would be for Voigtlander/Cosina or another enterprise to adapt an M body to utilize a similar body as the NEX as a digital back.

The NEX is extremely thin in size and uses an aps size sensor. If one was to design the body/back to incorporate the "bulge" on the right side to extend rearwards instead of toward the front it would be completely flat. I don't know what the offset to the sensor is currently but that could be shortened in design.

If one was to remove the film door from an M body and incorporate some type of latching mechanism we might be able to accomplish the undreamable.

Since the digital back would be a constant distance from the film plane all the focusing mechanims and shutter should be able to be utilized.

The electronic interface would merely connect to the flash connector to get the signal to trip the backs shutter.

THis is the same means the digital backs work on the Hasselblad.

The NEX camera body and lens is price around $600. THerefore, it could conceivably be accomplished affordably.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

No you are fantisising:eek:
 
What I actually want is some sort of big company investment in Leica (Sony/Nikon?) to get the R and D right and improve productivity for a modern concept digital M body. I dont care about black paint /brass etc. I dont need 'classic' feel to a digital body. Id trade them for contemporary low light performance, good TTL flash, weather proofing, Japanese electronics and a spot meter in a trice. It is very much a use it up and replace philosphohy now. Dont say this is impossible. it can be done but it needs an organisation bigger than just Leica to make it happen. It is the lenses that provide the classic status of a Leica and these of course are the keepers. The only issue with this particular dream is that if commercially sucessful on a large scale there would be one serious shortage of Leica glass the likes of which we have not before seen.

Richard
 
I was wondering if the M9 could be adapted to take 35mm film.

Money drives business. If it makes business sense, then it will happen. That should answer the question.
 
10 years time and some bright spark will be doing digital conversions for M6s using full-frame, 60 mega-pixel kodak sensors cannibalized from mid priced DSLRs.
 
Built in Obsolescence

Built in Obsolescence

The problem with finding a way to bring old (= film) cameras into the digital era in this way is that the companies that could do it DON'T WANT TO. :( If they produced a slim digital sensor - FX size with 15+MPixels would be quite feasible - with the battery/CPU etc in the position that the cartridge would be so that it fitted into a 35mm camera then we'd all be using our Leicas, FEDs, and even (dare I say on a RF forum) our Nikkomats and Canon A1s instead of BUYING NEW CAMERAS. :dance:

I had a friend at college who earned a crust working in a Singer shop. They used to offer a £50 trade-in on your old singer if you bought a nice new one. The reason for this generous offer was because the new ones were DESIGNED TO BREAK after 5 years. :eek: His task was to take the old indestructible manual singers out the back and sledge hammer them into submission.:bang:
 
Rikkirutter said:
The problem with finding a way to bring old (= film) cameras into the digital era in this way is that the companies that could do it DON'T WANT TO. :( If they produced a slim digital sensor - FX size with 15+MPixels would be quite feasible - with the battery/CPU etc in the position that the cartridge would be so that it fitted into a 35mm camera then we'd all be using our Leicas, FEDs, and even (dare I say on a RF forum) our Nikkomats and Canon A1s instead of BUYING NEW CAMERAS. :dance:

I had a friend at college who earned a crust working in a Singer shop. They used to offer a £50 trade-in on your old singer if you bought a nice new one. The reason for this generous offer was because the new ones were DESIGNED TO BREAK after 5 years. :eek: His task was to take the old indestructible manual singers out the back and sledge hammer them into submission.:bang:
Click to expand...

I agree, and I've heard a similar story about old Singer sewing machines.
 
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