Leica special edition that I'd buy...

[earleygallery]

I've posted before suggesting that Leica should offer one or two lenses in LTM mount for us users of the LTM cameras.

But, imagine if Leica were to produce a Limited Edition lllf or g replica (rather like Nikon did with the S rangefinder) but with an M mount?

I'd buy one. Go on Leica, you know it makes sense.

[christer]

I would buy one too, but only if the lens collapses into the body

[lambroving]

James,

Some screw mount lenses were made for the Japanese collectors a few years ago. You might find one of those. 35/2 ASPH or 50/2 but I can't recall.

IF you can find 1,000 orders, Leica will do a 50 Elmar-M current for you in screw mount.

The camera is out of the question. You wouldn't like the price.

Personally I would not own a Leica without a meter..., period. As for size, my MP .58 is as small as I want to go for balance and ergonomics. Smaller I could not hold steady for slow shutter speeds, and my hands are small.

Good Luck!

[leicapfile]

James,

The tooling for LTM bodies is long gone. Supposedly before they made the move of production/assembly to Solms.

Jerry

[albertwang]

Funny. LTM is kinda a VG mount now.

[TimF]

Originally Posted by earleygallery

I'd buy one. Go on Leica, you know it makes sense.

You'd cheerfully go back to looking through two viewfinders to focus and frame James? It'd be a fairly exclusive club I reckon!

[dg2mst]

personally I believe that the tooling should not be the chief issue here. A few years ago, Leica introduced two 0-series (Nullserie) cameras, which are definitely a lot older than the regular production screwmount units.

Of course, expecting a Leica limited edition to be anywhere near the lower end of the four-digits range seems a little naive

[earleygallery]

Well I use a lllf anyway so the rangefinder/viewfinder thing isn't an issue for me. I was thinking if they can do a Series 0 then it shouldn't be that difficult to make a lllf but just add an M mount for access to new lenses.

I don't seriously expect this to happen however.

Or, maybe they could take the lllf, update it with a single viewfinder/rangfinder, maybe even adding in some frame lines for alternative lenses, an M bayonet, hot shoe for flash, a built in meter and throw in a digital sensor, around 10mp should be fine.........

[vic vic]

james ...
wether u accapt it to happen or not, i join your and others call to leica with that old beautiful camera :-))

by the way..
is there still the 0 series cameras avaliable - how much it costs. or how much the IIIf costs with very good condition (clean or mint how it is called?).

[asmith]

A IIIG was made with a bayonet mount bu there were very few and now probably all in the glass cases of very wealthy collectors.
Alwyn

[leicapfile]

The "O" series produced in the last few years was a relative "bomb" as I recall. Price got down to less than 4 figures.

Aside from the fact that it was a pain to use (put lens cap on, then wind shutter, remove lens cap, then compose scene holding camera at close to arms length, shoot then repeat previous steps), other than for the collector crowd it wasn't a hit.

The real tooling cost for an RF LTM would reside in and around the top cover. Aside from the cover itself (much simpler on the O), would be the RF mechanism. M RF mechanisms are the most expensive component of the camera. Much more so would be the RF in an LTM due to the low demand/production.

Imagine Leica prices for a 'new' LTM. Then check used prices for any of them, even in LN condition. With the possible exception of the IIID, Leica couldn't even come close to the used market. Factor in also, the cost of supporting them after the sale. Don't beleive they support them now, and haven't for years.

If Leica thought there was a buck to be made producing LTMs, I sure they would do so.

Best,

Jerry

[Dan States]

They were silly to make the O series and never take the time/money invested in updating the lens to put out an Elmar 3.5 LTM.

Considering how little it would take it would be a fine way to pull customers who are buying CV 50's for their old Leica's back into the fold. They certainly would sell plenty at say $599.00 and if they can't make money at that price they are damned fools.

I for one would love a new compact 50 for my IIIF and III to stuff in my pocket. Too bad they waisted time updating a dead end camera like the CM and CM Zoom only to watch that market implode.