Norman Peritore Posted July 28, 2019 Share #1 Posted July 28, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) Dear Leica, have your engineers considered the idea of printing camera bodies out of carbon fiber, light and strong as steel, instead of sculpting them out of metal? You could make the bodies lighter, thinner and therefore add more components, cheaper, and the outside moulding could be customized to any style you wanted. I don't know about heat dissipation, waterproofing, etc, but thats up to your research. I imagine S and SL and even M cameras could be a lot lighter and easier to use with this new material. You could keep the same pretty form and even add metal tops and bottoms for decoration. Patrick Peritore, Recife, Brazil PS if you use my idea, please send a nice CL to my address.😀 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 28, 2019 Posted July 28, 2019 Hi Norman Peritore, Take a look here carbon fiber printed cameras??. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wda Posted July 28, 2019 Share #2 Posted July 28, 2019 If you don't ask, you are unlikely to receive 😆 Surely you would need to add ballast to restore 'heft'? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted July 28, 2019 Share #3 Posted July 28, 2019 (edited) I can't see that ever happening in the M lineup. Perhaps a carbon fiber S3 with a carbon fiber 35mm or 45mm Summarit for Alpinists, though? Edited July 28, 2019 by Herr Barnack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted July 28, 2019 Share #4 Posted July 28, 2019 (edited) 1 minute ago, Herr Barnack said: (duplicate) Edited July 28, 2019 by Herr Barnack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted July 28, 2019 Share #5 Posted July 28, 2019 Carbon Fiber precision assemblies seem like a lot of effort, involving layering, epoxy, curing and bonding in of threaded inserts... with dimensional verification needed at each stage. From a production standpoint it’s a lot faster, repeatably precise and cheaper to CNC machine a billet of aluminum alloy. There were limited edition machined from solid titanium cameras that saved a mere 90 grams over aluminum and brass, so it’s not really worth the effort .... though I love that color and finish. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted July 29, 2019 Share #6 Posted July 29, 2019 2 hours ago, FrozenInTime said: There were limited edition machined from solid titanium cameras What models were those? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted July 29, 2019 Share #7 Posted July 29, 2019 Advertisement (gone after registration) 8 hours ago, pico said: What models were those? M7 50 year http://www.fotohennyhoogeveen.eu/nl/merken/leica/sold_items/leica_m7_ldquo;titanium,50_jahre_leica_m_systemrdquo;__3000104 M-P titanium https://us.leica-camera.com/Company/Press-Centre/Press-Releases/Press-Releases-2016/Press-Release-The-new-special-edition-in-distinctive-design-the-Leica-M-P-‘TITANIUM’-Set Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted July 29, 2019 Share #8 Posted July 29, 2019 Additionally, is my recollection correct that a "one off" titanium M was commissioned (at a doubtless astronomical but undisclosed cost) by an oil sheikh? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted July 30, 2019 Share #9 Posted July 30, 2019 Carbon fiber is one type of composite material. Composite means that the material is composed of two or more types of substances bound together to take advantage of differing characteristics of the substances. The substances are not mixed together like an alloy of metals. Most everyone is familiar with fiberglass (or glass-reinforced plastic) which is glass fibers (usually a mat) sprayed or brushed with plastic that is hardened chemically. Fiberglass has been around for a long time. Carbon fiber is carbon threads often woven into a mat and impregnated with an epoxy resin. The resin is hardened by cooking the assembly at a certain temperature. Carbon fiber has been around longer than many people realize. There are many other types of composites. I venture a guess that a majority of interchangeable lens digital cameras are made of fiber reinforced polycarbonate. The selection of a material (composite or metal) depends on the engineering, cost and marketing implications. For instance, it might be too expensive to tool up for composites for items that are going to be made in small numbers. But there is no reason that a Leica M could not be made of composite materials. We all accept and want carbon fiber tripods because low weight and high strength are critical. From a marketing perspective Leica owners would likely revolt and avoid an M that is not metal. However other markets seem to like the look of carbon fiber weave and stick decorative carbon fiber panels, say, in the interior of a car merely as a marketing tool. I don't know of any attempts to 3D print composites. Such a process would require simultaneously printing two very different materials. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Peritore Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted July 30, 2019 Very enlightening answer, Zeiss. I guess we have to wait for new materials science. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick_S Posted July 30, 2019 Share #11 Posted July 30, 2019 (edited) On 7/28/2019 at 7:11 PM, Norman Peritore said: Dear Leica, have your engineers considered the idea of printing camera bodies out of carbon fiber, light and strong as steel, instead of sculpting them out of metal? Nikon appear to be using a carbon fibre facing on the D750: https://blog.carbonfibergear.com/nikon-lightens-the-load-with-carbon-fiber-faced-d750/ Edited July 30, 2019 by Nick_S 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Peritore Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted July 30, 2019 Very interesting Nick. But its an unbearably ugly camera! Interesting comment though, that it didnt reduce weight much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Albertson Posted July 31, 2019 Share #13 Posted July 31, 2019 The D750 is a *bearably* ugly camera, and runs like a champ. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted August 1, 2019 Share #14 Posted August 1, 2019 If you assembled all the interior parts of a DSLR, covered the parts with clay, and then held the clay like taking a picture and squeezed, you would end up with the contemporary DSLR shape. Does it remind you a little of the R8? I find it curious that folks stick all kinds of appendages on a digital Leica M in order to make the camera easier to hold. I still admire the beauty of my M2 with its wonderful shape, even the graceful curve of the advance lever. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 1, 2019 Share #15 Posted August 1, 2019 23 minutes ago, zeitz said: I find it curious that folks stick all kinds of appendages on a digital Leica M in order to make the camera easier to hold. One reason is the average age of the Leica owner - over fifty years-old when our hands are almost as cranky as our attitude. We also like to customize the camera to make it our own by adding straps, half-cases, new skins: it is deep in our inaccessible unconsciousness that we like playing with paper dolls. 👚 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lykaman Posted August 1, 2019 Share #16 Posted August 1, 2019 pico, real Dolls please I keep my cameras bare.. @ 77 who has time to take a lens hood off? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted August 1, 2019 Share #17 Posted August 1, 2019 Pico, do you customize your film Leicas with appendages? Straps, cases and new skins have been around since the birth of Leica cameras, although cases with lumps built in under the right fingers are new. I was trying to point out that the Nikon D750, and similar DSLs, are shaped the way they are not for beauty, but so one can hold the camera and work the myriad of buttons and dials without having to add appendages. And some find digital Leicas difficult to hold. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Peritore Posted August 1, 2019 Author Share #18 Posted August 1, 2019 Interesting thread. I use a sony a7rii as a platform for my amazing Leica R lenses with their beautiful cinematic renderings. Id rather have an SL, M240, or even a CL, but the prices year your heart our, and could end most marriages. The Sony is way complex, but i turn off everything, go to Manual, and basically turn it into a Leica wannabe. Its full of stuff i dont need and heavy, high ISO is gritty, the colors suck. Accept no substitutes. I just wish Leica would make a Volkswagen camera for the rest of us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Peritore Posted August 1, 2019 Author Share #19 Posted August 1, 2019 Dear Leica, your user base is on the older side, as they saved up all their lives to buy your camera. Next cameras must include a bright EVF, forget the optical kind, and a silent electronic shutter. Focus magnification is necessary. We dont see very well anymore. The CL is great evolution, if it only had a full frame sensor.... For those of us in the third world, you should include a free matching Doberman. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted August 1, 2019 Share #20 Posted August 1, 2019 2 hours ago, zeitz said: Pico, do you customize your film Leicas with appendages? I customize all my film and digital Leicas with hand-grips, motor winders and/or rapid winders. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now