[Leica] Re Modular Leica - an indignant reply

[henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)]

At 12:15 PM -0400 10/30/09, wildlightphoto at earthlink.net wrote:
>Lawrence Zeitlin wrote:
>
>>>>
>Perhaps I didn't make my point clear enough about a modular Leica. ...In
>today's world, mechanical and optical parts cost more than electrical
>parts...  Leica's digital M cameras appear to be monolithic. There is no
>way of enhancing the photographic capability except by major rebuild or
>altering the software. It is hard to imagine that sensor and electronic
>design will not evolve over time even faster than film improved. <<<
>
>What I'd like to see is an industry-standard sensor/electronics interface
>so that a Kodak or Dalsa or Sony sensor/electronics package could be popped
>into a Leica or Nikon or Sony or Canon, much as 35mm film dimensions,
>perforations and cassettes were standardized many many years ago so that
>Kodak or Agfa or Fuji film could be used in any camera that supported the
>standard.
>
>Doug Herr
>Birdman of Sacramento
>http://www.wildlightphoto.com


Yes, but they haven't even been able to standardize on a battery 
casing. Earlier there had been standardization on hot shoes and flash 
terminals (lowest common denominator PC sockets) and cable release 
connection, but those standards all started disappearing before 
digital came out. Not only did each company have its own electrical 
release connection and flash connection, Minolta even had its own hot 
shoe! The larger camera companies probably regretted the 
standardization of the 35mm cassette, especially since it made small 
start up companies viable.

With respect to batteries, we're fortunate that Leica continues to 
use the same battery in the M9 as in the M8. Canon (and others) 
continually change battery size even for the same line of batteries, 
say the SD series.

4/3 (and m4/3) is a brave attempt to have a standard lens mount, but 
needs a few more companies to really take off.

I don't think we're going to see such integration as Doug proposes as 
long as corporate structures and policies and competition and profit 
margins are what they are.
-- 

    *            Henning J. Wulff
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