My Ideal Film M Body

[scottmcl]

I just got my .72 M6TTL back from DAG. Framelines were gummed up. But I was putting the strap on, mounting lens and, well, was in general fondling mode for a short while. I loaded a roll of NPH, and set the ISO dial to shoot it at 320. I put on the SF24 just to check the ISO setting, and started thinking about the TTL feature in the camera, and how nice that was, but then the slow flash sync....

And that got me thinking about my ideal Film M. It will never be built, with the emphasis on digital, but still, I'd love to see this camera.

- Shave ~2 centimeters off the width, and ~1 cm off the height.

- Ship with a grip add on in box. Also helps folks with bigger hands.

- Nicely damped metal shutter with a nice high shutter speed. Flash sync at 250. Like a Nikon FM3a (but quieter).

- Motorized film load, adance and rewind. Perhaps backup manual rewind (on camera bottom).

- Tripod socket aligned with camera center.

- Keep a nice RF base length, even on the smaller body. Should be no prob with a more compact shutter and small, efficient motorized film wind.

- Have in-camera switchable VF mag: .58 or 1:1 . Shutter speed display in VF.

- AE or full manual

- Traditional "semi spot" but also a smaller angle spot metering mode.

- TTL flash

- Various flash sync options - slow, rear, etc.

- Four standard flash units: small (like the SF24), medium (small bounce head), large (like an SB800) and handle mount.

- Keep standard PC cord and cable release.

- Self timer

- Otherwise, a Leic M :-)


Not a collector's camera, far from it. Basically, a high quality, smaller RF M-mount camera with the features of a modern, automated SLR in a smaller form factor. A modern shooter's RF camera.

A man can dream....

Scott

[ywenz]

Why not throw in a miniature microwave, so you can heat your cold nachos..

[merciful]

Originally Posted by ywenz

Why not throw in a miniature microwave, so you can heat your cold nachos..

You're killin' me...

[scottmcl]

Originally Posted by ywenz

Why not throw in a miniature microwave, so you can heat your cold nachos..

I don't like nachos.

Scott

[merciful]

Originally Posted by scottmcl

I don't like nachos.

Scott

Nachos disprove Nietzsche's assertion that God is dead.

[Grober]

Black M7 with .72 v/f is THE standard to which all pretenders aspire. I'd like to have a .58 also but they're almost impossible to find in decent condition.

[wtl]

my god, giving me headache.

[scottmcl]

Originally Posted by Grober

Black M7 with .72 v/f is THE standard to which all pretenders aspire. I'd like to have a .58 also but they're almost impossible to find in decent condition.

I found an M6TTL .58 in great shape about a year ago without too much trouble.

However nice the current M's are, I think there's room for a much more feature rich body design. But that's probably already apparent

[x-ray]

The ideal M, keep it simple, the MP. Basically it sounds like you want a point and shoot.


http://www.photo.net/photos/X-Ray

[Les Lammers]

Originally Posted by ywenz

Why not throw in a miniature microwave, so you can heat your cold nachos..

Hey, he doesn't like nachos so how bout a convection oven to warm leftover pizza?

[Gabriel M.A.]

Originally Posted by merciful

Nachos disprove Nietzsche's assertion that God is dead.

I actually think it's penguins. It also proves He has a Funny Bone.

[erikhaugsby]

Originally Posted by scottmcl

- Nicely damped metal shutter with a nice high shutter speed. Flash sync at 250. Like a Nikon FM3a (but quieter).

- Motorized film load, adance and rewind. Perhaps backup manual rewind (on camera bottom).

ouch
those are the two things that I love about the Leica. Without an advance lever, I personally don't think that it'd feel right.
The flash is a good idea, for sure.

[wyk_penguin]

My go at it.

[quote]
- M3 type film advance. Rewind crank.

- Tripod socket aligned with camera center.

- Shutter speed display in VF. (already available on the M7)

- AE or full manual (already available on the M7)

- Traditional "semi spot" but also a smaller angle spot metering mode.

- Selectable front or rear curtain sync. (common slow sync is actually just front curtain sync at slow speeds)

- Keep standard PC cord and cable release.[quote]

Fire at will.

[sf]

M3 in every way - but with ttl metering and aperture priority.

And priced under $1000.

Actually, ideally, under $5.

[Alec]

Scott, have you ever seen an Hexar RF? I believe it is just what you want!

[Simon Larbalestier]

Originally Posted by x-ray

The ideal M, keep it simple, the MP.

Same thought for me.

[jaapv]

A digital M with a backward shifting sensor so it can also take film

[markinlondon]

Originally Posted by jaapv

A digital M with a backward shifting sensor so it can also take film

That sounds like a great idea, Jaap.

I think above all I'd like an M6TTL with an M2 finder and advance. As I only use 35,50 and 90 lenses I'd love to lose the extra frames. I prefer the big shutter speed dial of the TTL and the meter is handy. I'd like it M2 size though.


Mark

[jaapv]

I just stuck the Shade from Leicagoodies on my M6TTL. It makes a world of difference, all flare has gone and the viewfinder looks a lot like the original M4-2 one.

[boarini2003]

I think with your description, you should get a Nikon N80 or something. Metal shutters will always be louder. Leica M's don't need timers or high flash synch, it doesn't go with the "shooting philosophy" of the camera and it's lineage. Imagine an HCB photo titled "Self-Portrait on the banks of the river Marne!" LOL. And motorizing the camera? Not very discreet. Besides, it would add to the bulk, not counting your proposed grip. You forgot to mention that it should also have a Polaroid feature.

[amateriat]

Originally Posted by Alec

Scott, have you ever seen an Hexar RF? I believe it is just what you want!

Shucks, you beat me to it.

Save for the variable-magnification VF, the HRF hits most of the desired specs you've put forth, all in a titanium-clad package similar in size to contemporary Ms. One gripe some have had is the lack of TTL flash capability, but in practice (for me, anyway) this hasn't been an issue, even on the rare occasion of shooting 'chrome film (Konica HX-18 and Nikon SB-20 flash units).

- Barrett

Post deleted by posters request

[SolaresLarrave]

Well... I really don't see these suggestions as "improvements" on a Leica body. They're mostly features you can find in other cameras. If any givem M body came with these changes it would cease to be the kind of "M" we go for.

Hence, the ideal M camera (at least to me) is the M7. Despite all the bugs it seems to have.

[scottmcl]

Yes, a Hexar RF is quite a big step toward what I'm looking for.

I don't think the M body has to be a nostalgia trip. An M decked out with "modern" features would be just dandy!

Scott

Post deleted by posters request