You design the camera...

You do not have to update or upgrade. If the camera you have delivers, no need to get a newer one. Just because a newer camera can focus 5 ms faster and has a burst rate of 2 fps more? No valid reason, unless you found that this was the exact reason why the images you created weren't quite up to your standards. That applies to both film and digital cameras.

My next upgrade will be an IBIS body, since that will help me improve my images in marginal light and upgrade all my lenses at the same time. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t buy a new camera in the foreseeable future.

I did consider it to continue to make use of the Rolleiflex SL66 and SL66E - but couldn't find a digital back that would attach to those bodies.

Probably because of the small user base (fifteen years ago) and mechanical focal plane shutter nature of the SL66 system. Its apparently much harder to make separate digital backs coordinate properly with a mechanical focal plane shutter, one of the technical reasons we're unlikely to see the much-fantasized compact digital adapter for the Nikon F/F2.

The overwhelming majority of medium format backs were made in either Hasselblad V mount (mechanical leaf), Hasselblad H mount (electronic leaf) or Mamiya 645 AF mount (electronic focal plane). Earlier on, some were made (or could be adapted) to Mamiya RB/RZ, Contax 645 and the electronic Rolleiflex motorized leaf-shutter 6x6 SLRs. But considering the leaf shutter nature and vast popularity of the Bronica ETR and SQ, only a paltry number of digital options were ever adapted for them (which tells you something about the vagaries of the digital back market).

Today, used backs fitting anything but Hassy V and Mamiya 645 are hard to come by, and the new (terrifyingly expensive) Phase One ultra high res backs are almost exclusively made for Phase One's own current derivatives of the M645 camera (or adapted to specialty non-SLR tech/field cameras).

[...] The overwhelming majority of medium format backs were made in either Hasselblad V mount (mechanical leaf), Hasselblad H mount (electronic leaf) or Mamiya 645 AF mount (electronic focal plane). Earlier on, some were made (or could be adapted) to Mamiya RB/RZ, Contax 645 and the electronic Rolleiflex motorized leaf-shutter 6x6 SLRs. But considering the leaf shutter nature and vast popularity of the Bronica ETR and SQ, only a paltry number of digital options were ever adapted for them (which tells you something about the vagaries of the digital back market). [...]

It tells you where money was to be made selling digital backs, i.e. what cameras were used by people who could turn the expense of buying one of these backs into an income.

Actually, I wouldn't want much - just a high resolution digital back to fit my Nikon Film cameras in place of the film. Compact, staying close to the original size of the camera and operation with original camera controls. As to new tech, I have what I need in digital for the foreseeable future.

Looks like we have a soulmate here :p Imagine having a digital back for your FE2 or F801.

For me, give me the Nikon D600 with a tipping touch-screen. They always leave out one or other feature, like metering with manual lenses, or integrated flash, or power grip, or.. or...

My next upgrade will be an IBIS body, since that will help me improve my images in marginal light and upgrade all my lenses at the same time. Otherwise, I probably wouldn’t buy a new camera in the foreseeable future.

I sincerely hope Nikon does not go out of business (should we believe UTube?). There's a huge ocean of Nikon lenses of all vintages floating around- they would be orphaned. Just a thought - what if someone (maybe Nikon, maybe some other company) came up with a middle-level body-stabilized camera that could take all these lovely lenses.. wouldn't that be a great success in the market for new body sales?

Miroslav Tichy

Yes, he knew how to make great cameras.

Have a couple "perfect" cameras. They're film cameras, a Hasselblad 500cm & a Voigtlander R3m 35mm rangefinder. Each is 100% manual and operate 100% mechanically. The R3m does take batteries but only for an in camera metering system.

I would LOVE to have a digital camera that functions EXACTLY like these cameras do. Granted the 500cm would take a digital back. OK so now I need a simple digital camera to mimic my 35mm rangefinder.

Are Leica M digicams really as simple as the R3m? IF yes, the cost puts them out of reach for many, me included.

Interchangeable lenses

On/off

ISO

Aperture

Shutter speeds

Image Review

plus:

slot for storage device (IE SD card),

battery.

Why is this so f*kn difficult? Yet nobody seems to have this, well almost nobody (Leica???)

OK let's complicate the thing and add:

Mini USB or some port for coupling to a lap/desk top computer- heck lets do a bluetooth or wireless interface. IF we're doing that lets add geo or location tagging- things I've never wanted or used

Have a couple "perfect" cameras. They're film cameras, a Hasselblad 500cm & a Voigtlander R3m 35mm rangefinder. Each is 100% manual and operate 100% mechanically. The R3m does take batteries but only for an in camera metering system.

 

I would LOVE to have a digital camera that functions EXACTLY like these cameras do. Granted the 500cm would take a digital back. OK so now I need a simple digital camera to mimic my 35mm rangefinder.

 

Are Leica M digicams really as simple as the R3m? IF yes, the cost puts them out of reach for many, me included.

 

Interchangeable lenses

On/off

ISO

Aperture

Shutter speeds

Image Review

plus:

slot for storage device (IE SD card),

battery.

 

Why is this so f*kn difficult? Yet nobody seems to have this, well almost nobody (Leica???)

 

OK let's complicate the thing and add:

Mini USB or some port for coupling to a lap/desk top computer- heck lets do a bluetooth or wireless interface. IF we're doing that lets add geo or location tagging- things I've never wanted or used

I could be interested in a camera like this too, but I don't think most people would be. Once you design a camera to function electronically it is trivially cheap and easy to add features (hence the annoying long menus most digital cameras come with) and any marketer knows that if you can promise more features for the same price that you are likely to sell more than your simpler competitor to the average consumer. Leica users are a different breed--they prefer the classic design and are willing to do some of the work involved in focusing, etc. They also have the money and in some cases, the need for prestige that owning a Leica and Leica lenses provides..

Have a couple "perfect" cameras. They're film cameras, a Hasselblad 500cm & a Voigtlander R3m 35mm rangefinder. Each is 100% manual and operate 100% mechanically. The R3m does take batteries but only for an in camera metering system.

 

I would LOVE to have a digital camera that functions EXACTLY like these cameras do. Granted the 500cm would take a digital back. OK so now I need a simple digital camera to mimic my 35mm rangefinder.

 

Are Leica M digicams really as simple as the R3m? IF yes, the cost puts them out of reach for many, me included.

 

Interchangeable lenses

On/off

ISO

Aperture

Shutter speeds

Image Review

plus:

slot for storage device (IE SD card),

battery.

 

Why is this so f*kn difficult? Yet nobody seems to have this, well almost nobody (Leica???)

 

OK let's complicate the thing and add:

Mini USB or some port for coupling to a lap/desk top computer- heck lets do a bluetooth or wireless interface. IF we're doing that lets add geo or location tagging- things I've never wanted or used

Epson R-D1?

A used Leica M8 is probably cheaper though...

I want the same, but it needs to have a full frame (35mm) sensor, so as to match focal lengths with film.

I have other priorities though, like a house, so a matched pair of Leicas (film and digital) will have to wait.