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Archive 2023 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Desmolicious
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Leica currently sells the M-A, which is a manual film M with no exposure meter.

So how about a stripped down Monochrom? No rear screen, no light meter. The only exposure control in the camera is the shutter speed dial and an ISO dial. With aperture control on the lens of course.

Just like shooting an M-A, M3, M4 etc...

Sep 29, 2023 at 10:51 AM

formula4speed
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

It sounds cool and I would like to shoot it, but...

It would almost certainly be some kind of special edition which costs more than I'd be willing to pay for a camera. To be fair I have basically the same feelings about the M11 and plenty of people seem to buy them, so I think I'm not their target audience.

Sep 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM

madNbad
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Wasn’t that the idea behind the MD (type 262)? A digital camera for the analog experience. No rear screen, replaced with a ISO dial that looks like the one used on the M-A and even no red dot!

Sep 29, 2023 at 11:49 AM

ottokbre
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Leica M-D Monochrome.

Sep 29, 2023 at 11:57 AM

retrofocus
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Zero interest. If you don't like the display, just turn it off. Simple. Light meter I definitely prefer to have in camera - same in my M film cameras. This said, I never understood this whole M-D hype. I wouldn't buy one, but I also don't mind that the M 240 series has video. But preferences might differ of course.

Sep 29, 2023 at 12:27 PM

retrofocus
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

madNbad wrote:
Wasn’t that the idea behind the MD (type 262)? A digital camera for the analog experience. No rear screen, replaced with a ISO dial that looks like the one used on the M-A and even no red dot!

A stripped M 240 version without video but still with rear screen display. Leica sold it with the slogan "Das Wesentliche". People bought less for more money. The strategy worked, this camera was admittedly a success even I would never be a target group here.

Sep 29, 2023 at 12:49 PM

ottokbre
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Someone just needs to invent a film cartridge that is just a sensor that you stuff inside your film camera.
Just a bunch of fiber optic threads that feed into a processor inside the cartridge. Beep boop beep and kerrr-shlap! of the curtain and you have a 5 megapixel RAW file written to a micro-SD card inside.

Got the exposure wrong? No problem. Just boost shadow recovery 17 stops. The noise is grain.

What are you shooting today?
E-Portra. You?
iPan. Oh, wait, no, thats my e-cigarette! I vaped my Contax T2! oh no!

Sep 29, 2023 at 12:50 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

ottokbre wrote:
Leica M-D Monochrome.

But remove the meter.

Sep 29, 2023 at 12:52 PM

retrofocus
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

ottokbre wrote:
Someone just needs to invent a film cartridge that is just a sensor that you stuff inside your film camera.

This was done several times with limited success at best. Leica actually released one of the best systems for their R8 and R9-series SLRs - the so called Leica Digital Modul R. But it was overpriced and was released at a time in 2005 when the digital camera transformation was in full swing, and first consumer-based DSLRs hit the market.

Later some kickstarter initiatives with small sensors were reported which remained commercially of no interest.

Sep 29, 2023 at 01:16 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Desmolicious wrote:
Leica currently sells the M-A, which is a manual film M with no exposure meter.

So how about a stripped down Monochrom? No rear screen, no light meter. The only exposure control in the camera is the shutter speed dial and an ISO dial. With aperture control on the lens of course.

Just like shooting an M-A, M3, M4 etc...

I'd be in Huss. The only electronics would be the sensor. A lever like a film advance could cock the shutter.

Sep 29, 2023 at 01:36 PM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Having a real "film advance" lever to cock the shutter would be so sweet. Basically an M-A with a digital sensor but nothing else. No light meter.
I'd be in.

Sep 29, 2023 at 02:38 PM

airfrogusmc
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Desmolicious wrote:
Having a real "film advance" lever to cock the shutter would be so sweet. Basically an M-A with a digital sensor but nothing else. No light meter.
I'd be in.

I'd be in......

Sep 29, 2023 at 03:23 PM

Valorin
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Maybe it's just showing the era in which I came into photography, but not having a meter is not a desirable or charming feature to me, just an inconvenience. Since a digital camera already has a battery, not having a meter is just a pain. I'm all in for a shutter recocking mechanism, that tactile experience is something I like about my film cameras. Interesting to know that there are those that would be able to get along without a meter though.

Sep 29, 2023 at 10:37 PM

1bwana1
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Strictly speaking my M11 doesn't have a light meter. It calculates exposure straight off the sensor.
I almost always shoot with the range finder. I sometimes review images on the rear screen, but most days don't even turn it on. Consequently my batter lasts for days of shooting.

I do enjoy and benefit from the modern features in the M11 when I do use them. I probably wouldn't be a customer for Huss's stripped down M camera.

Sep 29, 2023 at 11:13 PM

pmeheut
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Valorin wrote:
Maybe it's just showing the era in which I came into photography, but not having a meter is not a desirable or charming feature to me, just an inconvenience.

Same here. I used to shoot daily with a M4, most of the time I did not need a meter but had a small one in my pocket just in case.
It was ok but I do not feel the need to go back as the meter and even the A mode allows me to shoot street pictures more efficiently and to concentrate on the scene, the subject...
And when I want to be more focused on the light, exposure, etc, I still can.

1bwana1 wrote:
I almost always shoot with the range finder. I sometimes review images on the rear screen, but most days don't even turn it on. ...

I do enjoy and benefit from the modern features in the M11 when I do use them. I probably wouldn't be a customer for Huss's stripped down M camera.
I agree 100%.

Sep 29, 2023 at 11:38 PM

panos.v
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

Ultimately I can see a future special edition where you pay a 50% premium over whatever the Mx is at the time to get a box with no camera inside. The ultimate in simplicity, it enables the user to connect with the scene, literally feel, hear, see, breath, LIVE the moment itself. Comes free with infinite brain storage but then again Johnny Mnemonic may beg to differ.

Sep 30, 2023 at 03:05 AM

panos.v
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

But seriously now...the question is this.

A meterless film camera makes sense as it is from a different era and you can abuse film a few stops (ok not E6) and in the end you get usable results that are technically worse but add to character.

If you have 60MP and you under/overexpose it 3-4 stops yes you can recover it and it is great but there's always that nagging feeling of "but but but I paid for all those 60MP and I get a bit of clipping that nobody sees so but but but this is just crap".

Also, the hipster reviewers in yootoobboob can just about their heads around manual focusing and dropping a star on the review because of "no weather sealing". Take the meter out and you may end up violating youtoobz policy by having people's heads explode as they try to use the camera after unboxing.

Basically....there comes a point where the invconvenience makes you think "you know what 7k for a meterless camera...I could buy a TLR and a lot of film for that money and that'll be even more fun".

Sep 30, 2023 at 03:11 AM

RustyBug
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

I would be fine with such a camera ... i.e. manual controls only.
But, I do think a light meter would be a convenient tool to have, as a reference. Personally, I'd like to see a small incident meter built into a body, so I can know the light (vs. the reflected light).

Shooting manual, I frequently do NOT shoot at the "correct exposure" (by intent, as the point of shooting manual)), but having an awareness of the light I'm working in is helpful. Personally, the match needle on my old Nikon FE was probably my favorite metering device (that was in a camera body).

Otherwise, I'm toting an incident / reflective meter at times. I have a lot of EV values committed to memory, but sometimes, and if the shot won't have a "reshoot" opportunity, it might be nice to have a "sanity check" metring tool (for initial setup, not shot to shot) ... not to be confused with an exposure automation tool.

Now, to the matter of price ... ummm, yeah I can just shoot manual with my current bodies, and don't chimp. Basically, it is only a matter of personal discipline for working with the tool(s) that I currently have.

Would I think it was kinda cool and nostalgic and retro-familiar ... yup. Would I open my wallet for it ... nope.

I'd buy glass (or

) instead. Glass rules.

Sep 30, 2023 at 07:51 AM

Desmolicious
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

For those who say it would not be for them and a meter is great - 100% understand and of course it is.

But why does Leica sell the meterless M-A alongside the MP film cameras? Obviously there is a market. This would be that in digital form. And there would be takers just as there are takers for the M-A.

Sep 30, 2023 at 01:04 PM

tommmi
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Any interest in a really basic Leica M?

I would buy it.

I find it fun to shoot M11 with display completely off, and I don't pay attention to the red dot and triangles indicating the exposure in the rangefinder. But, I would still be possible to "cheat" and check the photo after shutter release from the screen and that's something that nags me.

I use the camera as manual as it is possible already. Would be great to get the real deal with really stripped down features. I'd definitely buy one without screen, without light meter, and especially with the film advance lever to cock the shutter!

Sep 30, 2023 at 01:41 PM

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