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Leica M Mount Camera with Full Frame CMOS Senor


erdnusscn

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A Leica M Fan ( maybe in Hongkong ) has modified his Canon 5D Mark II to a Leica M Mount Camera. Using the live view funktion to focus.

 

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An interesting project although I'll quickly add that it's not a camera that would appeal to me. It is fascinating to see what effort this person has gone to to marry up a 5D2 sensor with M mount lenses. And to be fair he's made a pretty good job of removing the prism and mirror assembly and making the exterior presentable. Not sure why he'd show the cameras attached to their massive battery extension packs though.

 

The only advantage I can see is using the 5D2's excellent high ISO capability but the disadvantages are that the 5D2's heavy AA filter prevent the sensor capturing the full resolution offered by M lenses (an M9 should out-resolve this camera) and the absence of a viewfinder. It doesn't look comfortable having to hold that great lump at arm's length for too long.:rolleyes:

 

Pete.

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Yes!!! We need to track this guy down and ask for some pictures taken with this thing. I see he has a Noctilux mounted in one pic. He must use a hood to focus via live view. With the Noct, I'll bet this rig works great with the Noctilux. I would hack a dslr myself just for my Noctilux alone!!!! It is torture I cannot buy something like this. I would like to see a step by step how to make this camera. Sometimes I feel there is more innovation by individuals than camera makers! Leica., where are you on this one!!!!

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An uobtrusive street shooter to hold at arm's length and focus via lcd screen. Great equipment to exercise and strengthen arm and shoulder muscles at the same time:). Advanced users will particularly enjoy holding it steady to focus a Noctilux at full aperture.

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The only advantage I can see is using the 5D2's excellent high ISO capability

 

HD video? Difficult to do that with an M9.

 

I'd imagine the Noctilux and this sawn-off DSLR have great potential for doing interesting video work. Yes, I know that Canon have a 50/F1.2 and other fast lenses but sometimes it's quite satisfying to hack stuff for a slightly less predictable outcome.

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I'd like to see some pictures taken WITH the camera, esp. with that 15mm c/v or the 21. Red edge? Green edge? Vignetting?

 

Whatever compromises (if any) result from putting M lenses in front of a CMOS/live-view sensor at their "normal" focusing range.

 

It is certainly a innovative hack, especially managing to lobotomize some of the electronics (lens contacts, AF, etc.) without putting the CPU into a padded room. Even more tricky than cutting off some magnesium. Where's our M8 surgeon (Mark Norton)?

 

Also good reference images to show why M lenses can't be used on a standard SLR body except for close-ups - that extra cm (1/2 inch) or more of body surrounding the mirror.

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I am calling fake.

 

Hmm - 5 images, with the dents, chips and tool marks in the filler putty exactly duplicated in the same places (but with different lighting for each shot)?

 

As someone with 20 years experience with Photoshop, and another 10 years or so (in my youth) hacking plastic models with Dremel tool, knife, and putty, I'd say this is clearly a real modified 5D body. Not hard to do at all, if one has the tools and hand skills. Anyone who can build a working scale-model steam engine from blueprints (and there are lots of hobbyists who do that) can work to the precision needed.

 

Whether it actually operates or not is a different question. As I said, the hardest part would not be the mechanical modification, but persuading the electronics not to have a tizzy-fit because they are missing expected input from the meter, lens contacts etc. It would take some hot-wiring skill.

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I agree with Andy. It looks real enough, and is an interesting engineering exercise. I don't think that the electronics would be too much of a problem though. The lens contacts can just be ignored as far as I am aware, for these cameras work with adaptors that don't pass any signals back. The TTL metering circuitry could just be left as-is, but would be non-functional. (Probably just wrapped in black sticky tape and tucked out of the way somewhere.) It might still have some metering capability though, as I believe that the live-view system uses the image sensor for its information.

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... It might still have some metering capability though, as I believe that the live-view system uses the image sensor for its information.

Nicole,

 

I suspect that you're right because when using Live View in spot metering mode the joystick can be used to move a cursor around the screen and meter off any point on the screen.

 

Pete.

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Sure the lens contacts are ignored if they are not transmitting lens data - but do we know whether the 5D does a self-check when switched on? It is one thing for the CPU to discover no data coming from the lens contacts, and something different if the CPU can't even FIND the circuits.

 

Just as it is one thing for one's sense of touch to report "There is nothing in my hand" and something quite different and troubling for it to report "I can't feel my hand at all!"

 

In any event, I'm sure it would be a solvable problem, but would take some knowledge and skill of electronics not needed for the physical modification.

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