How difficult to make an M camera but replace the M mount to L mount

[Einst_Stein]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

And keep the range finder OVF and the interface to the external 020-like EVF? 

[evikne]

It is probably possible. But many (like me) wouldn't accept having to use an adapter to use M lenses on an M camera.

[dpitt]

1 hour ago, Einst_Stein said:

And keep the range finder OVF

The RF coupling requires a very precise mechanical system. It is quite hard (expensive) to make the RF coupling in the M range with 27.5 flange distance  and no need for any electronic compatibility for the L mount.
Now imagine merging the mechanical and electronic mechanisms of the L and M mount in one with only 20mm flange distance...

People are complaining about the expensive Leica M-L and R-L adapters which only have the electronic 6-bit read out + basic mechanical mount compatibility. Imagine making the same M-L adapter with the extra extremely low tolerance mechanical RF mechanism coupling to this new L/M mount RF mechanism... 😱 I suppose you could buy a decent camera body for the price this one would sell.

I'd rather have Leica spent that amount of R&D effort (if at all feasible) to the integration of IBIS in the M series. Or maybe developing a Q sized system camera with interchangable lenses or a range of Q fixed lens camera's with choice of 35 and 50 mm FL in addition to the 28 mm Q series we have now.

[pgk]

1 hour ago, Einst_Stein said:

And keep the range finder OVF .....

I suspect that this is physically impossible as the L mount sits inside the area in which the RF roller cam would have to be placed. So there would be no way of making the rangefinder work. This is why many want an EVF-M camera, although an EVF-M could be built which could have an L mount with a carefully designed M adapterfit  which could seamlessly and look as though the camera was designed as an M mount. But this would be an EVF camera and not RF.

[earleygallery]

Why can't you just accept that there's an M camera and an L camera?

You want AF and EFV, use the L system. You want manual focus and a rangefinder, use an M.