jrethorst Posted November 11, 2013 Share #1 Posted November 11, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) This camera has a wonderful lens, great controls and feel, and a loyal following. Could we all get together and find someone technically competent to do what seems not that hard, just minor updates using off-the-shelf parts? - Install same-sized sensor with 10mp resolution - Replace EVF with a higher-resolution unit - Replace memory chip on circuit board so RAW images can be written faster - Support higher-capacity SD cards I don't know if it would be as easy to speed up autofocus, or do other things. But someone with some skill at what's essentially disassembly and reassembly could make $300 to $500 per camera, at least from me. Nice business opportunity. John R. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 11, 2013 Posted November 11, 2013 Hi jrethorst, Take a look here Update the Digilux 2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted November 11, 2013 Share #2 Posted November 11, 2013 Nice business opportunity. John R. Nice in the same way that selling £50 notes for £1 would be? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted November 12, 2013 Share #3 Posted November 12, 2013 This camera has a wonderful lens, great controls and feel, and a loyal following. Could we all get together and find someone technically competent to do what seems not that hard, just minor updates using off-the-shelf parts? - Install same-sized sensor with 10mp resolution - Replace EVF with a higher-resolution unit - Replace memory chip on circuit board so RAW images can be written faster - Support higher-capacity SD cards I don't know if it would be as easy to speed up autofocus, or do other things. But someone with some skill at what's essentially disassembly and reassembly could make $300 to $500 per camera, at least from me. Nice business opportunity. John R. You forgot the extra large battery compartment, high capacity battery and circuitry ... plus the firmware development costs. Cameras have moved on in leaps and bounds since the D2 and Panasonic LC-1 were current. dunk dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrethorst Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted November 12, 2013 > You forgot the extra large battery compartment, high capacity battery and circuitry ... Is that really an issue? I don't see it discussed often here. But the Digilux 3 battery works fine, with higher capacity, than the Digilux 2 battery. > plus the firmware development costs. That would be an issue, but a lot of people seem to like to write code. > Cameras have moved on in leaps and bounds since the D2 and Panasonic LC-1 were current. They have, but the D2's lens is still pretty special, and just the number of posts and views of the "Distinctive Look" thread suggest that plenty of users would like to keep that lens, supported by updated ancilliary components. And it shouldn't be too hard to do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 12, 2013 Share #5 Posted November 12, 2013 Consider that Leica cannot replace the LCD in the M8, even though there are pretty much identical parts out there, they just won't work. That's just an LCD and you're hoping for a major upgrade of key components. I'm not an expert on electronics but it's clear that you can't just 'replace the sensor' or 'fit a faster processor' into a digital camera. It's pretty much a wholly integrated unit. As I've said in another thread on this same issue, if you really wanted to do it you could commission someone to manufacture the relevant parts for you, but it would of course be completely uneconomical to do it, but there could be some fanatic out there with unlimited funds who wants to! As for writing new firmware to make it all work properly, have you spoken to these people you mention to find out if they could even do it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrethorst Posted November 29, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted November 29, 2013 Leica has replaced probably hundreds of defective sensors in the D2. Enough pictures and diagrams extant of the camera suggest that ‘integrated unit’ notwithstanding, parts can be replaced. My whole point is not to manufacture anything. Off-the-shelf 2/3 sensors are there. Higher-capacity memory chips are there. High definition EVFs are there. While it’s true that camera design has come a long way since the D2, the size of the “distinctive look” thread in this forum, and a good deal of interest expressed elsewhere on the web, suggest that many people would like to see an update to what surrounds this wonderful lens. I’m just asking whether an expert on electronics would think it might be feasible. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rsolomon Posted November 29, 2013 Share #7 Posted November 29, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) I dont think i want an upgrade, i think i want to leverage that lens on a differnt camera, like a new mirrorless leica Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted November 29, 2013 Share #8 Posted November 29, 2013 Leica has replaced probably hundreds of defective sensors in the D2. Enough pictures and diagrams extant of the camera suggest that ‘integrated unit’ notwithstanding, parts can be replaced. My whole point is not to manufacture anything. Off-the-shelf 2/3 sensors are there. Higher-capacity memory chips are there. High definition EVFs are there. While it’s true that camera design has come a long way since the D2, the size of the “distinctive look” thread in this forum, and a good deal of interest expressed elsewhere on the web, suggest that many people would like to see an update to what surrounds this wonderful lens. I’m just asking whether an expert on electronics would think it might be feasible. Electronics experts are seldom accountants or production engineers. If you want a slow camera(s) with limited usable ISO and absolutely superb IQ which will knock everything else for six, consider buying a Sigma DP1 Merrill, DP2 Merrill or DP3 Merrill. dunk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 30, 2013 Share #9 Posted November 30, 2013 Leica has replaced probably hundreds of defective sensors in the D2. Enough pictures and diagrams extant of the camera suggest that ‘integrated unit’ notwithstanding, parts can be replaced. My whole point is not to manufacture anything. Off-the-shelf 2/3 sensors are there. Higher-capacity memory chips are there. High definition EVFs are there. While it’s true that camera design has come a long way since the D2, the size of the “distinctive look” thread in this forum, and a good deal of interest expressed elsewhere on the web, suggest that many people would like to see an update to what surrounds this wonderful lens. I’m just asking whether an expert on electronics would think it might be feasible. I suggest it can't be done, at least not within any reasonable economical limits. By all means do your research, contact some of these experts you mention and prove me wrong! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steveclem Posted November 30, 2013 Share #10 Posted November 30, 2013 What was the price new for the D2? £1000 or so? Hey Leica, forget the sensor,body,electronics et al. Just make the lens for that price (or less considering you're dumping all other parts) and it will fly off the shelves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuny Posted November 30, 2013 Share #11 Posted November 30, 2013 The price in March 2004 when I bought mine was US$1800 or US$1850, I don't recall which. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjh Posted December 8, 2013 Share #12 Posted December 8, 2013 Install same-sized sensor with 10mp resolution All of this is quite impossible of course, but have you checked what sensors might be available with the same form factor? There was an 11 MP SuperCCD, a 12 MP CMOS EXR, and a 12 MP CMOS XTrans sensor, all made by Fuji. Neither of these has ever been available to vendors other than Fuji and all of these are throughly different from the CCD in the Digilux 2. Even if there was a suitable 10 MP CCD available (as a matter of fact it never was), it would be far from easy to make it fit the Digilux 2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 8, 2013 Share #13 Posted December 8, 2013 What was the price new for the D2? £1000 or so?Hey Leica, forget the sensor,body,electronics et al. Just make the lens for that price (or less considering you're dumping all other parts) and it will fly off the shelves. What camera would you mount it on? I am not aware of any system camera with a ⅔rds sensor, which is the coverage of the lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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