In my opinion, It is more fun to use a manual focus SLR with an aperture ring and shutter speed dial and to enjoy the smooth damped focus of a quality manual focus lens that is all made out of metal. Does anyone else share the same sentiment? Do you think there is a market for such a classical camera that is so different from the cameras Nikon/Canon are making?
I would like to suggest a new classical manual focus DSLR with large throat lens mount designed around the APS-C (1.5x) format. This is a commonly available sensor format and it should reduce the costs of obtaining sensors. There is an interesting sensor developed by Aptina that Leica could use.
The large lens mount should allow for modern highly corrected digital lenses and it should be easier to design mechanical adapters for the Leica R with a larger mount. The APS-C format is also suitable for telephoto lenses for wildlife and nature photography and will not compete with the Leica S.
The electronics for all this to work might already exist in the form of the Leica X1. All they would need to do is design a new modern mount, mirror box and chassis.
Please share your thoughts and ideas.