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IF I could design the Leica M7..eh...M8

This page was originally written in  October 1999.   The M7 appeared in February 2002, the MP in February 2003

My 1999 M7 Wish List which APPEARED on the M7 in 2002

• Similar size, shape of the M6
• Choice of present day .58, 72 or .85 finders
• Traditional M style rangefinder focusing, NOT autofocus    
• The M finder needs to be improved by eliminating the current sometimes RF ghosting/flare situation which can occur in some lighting situations.  It would also be nice if the entrance and exit pupils were enlarged, giving room for a built in 24mm finder as well as easy viewing of the entire 24 frame by glasses wearers.
• Manual OR aperture priority exposure,  program or shutter priority functions not desirable to Leicanuts. 
• Full meter readout in either exposure mode
• Exposure lock on AE by depressing the shutter release  
• Traditional M style lever advance, this is important to maintain the Leica "M" feel.  Leica nuts will not take easily to a completely motorized film advance.
• Traditional M style lever film rewind
• Shutter lock -- though I wish the M7 lock was a simply elegant and easy as the one built into the Cosina Voigtlander Bessa L.   A lug is built into the advance lever which lock the shutter release unless the advance lever is pulled out about 15 degrees.
• DX or manually set film speeds
• Battery check
• Exposure compensation

My 1999 M7 Wish List which APPEARED on the MP in 2003

• A standard optional black enamel finish
• A return to the beautiful traditional "Leica" engraved script top plate as STANDARD

Leica GREATLY expanded the M7's capabilities by going outside the company to use the considerable flash expertise of Metz to produce an excellent M7 flash -- far beyond the embarrassingly limited SF-20

• Easy to use TTL flash at all f/stops, like the Minolta CLE
• Sophisticated flash availability similar to Nikon SB-28 -- today's SF-20 is just too damn limited
• Auto flash fill with variable ratios, like Nikon
• Front or Rear curtain flash sync
• Manual over ride of flash down to 1/64th power
• Multiple wireless off the camera TTL flash, like the Minolta and Canon systems.  In fact, it would be smart if Leica just licensed Canon, Minolta, or Nikon technology to allow some cross compatibility between systems.
• Modular Flash base which allows interchangeability with Nikon, Minolta, Canon flash systems

My M7 Wish List which have NOT appeared on the M7 YET

• A return of the optional and previously poorly marketed Titanium finish.   This is the most rugged finish ever put on a 35mm camera.   Unfortunately the Leica marketing department did not sell the M6 Titanium  correctly -- dooming it to an early death.  The Leica design department didn't help the situation when they screwed up the concept with the awful and silly ostrich body covering.   Get it right this time and use the standard body covering!!   Leica DID bring the Titanium back for a limited edition M6 TTL in 2001,  just not for a standard finish yet.
• Sophisticated data back allowing f/stop and lens serial # to be imprinted for lens tests.  Ideally this should be backwardly compatible with ALL Leica M bodies.  How ?  A self contained unit which is IR controlled by a standard laptop.   The self contained super digital back idea was originally marketed in the late 1970's by Chinon (who would have figured).  It was a versatile digital back that could imprint practically any message you wanted.   A few were even adapted to Nikons.   If you take that same idea, update it with today's technology, it would be a winner.   Hell, add a few video games to keep you occupied between shots ... just kidding. 

My M7 Wish List that will have to wait until the M8

• Matrix OR centerweighted TTL ambient and flash exposure.   This would not be easy to do, but it's not rocket science, either.   
• Detachable Nikon F3 style motor capable of 6 fps, using AA's.  Considering Leica's difficulties with the R8 motor, the best route is probably to  construct the M7 so that it just "coincidentally" takes the Nikon F3 motor.   
• ON/OFF switch AND shutter lock by simply pulling out the advance lever 15 degrees 
• Automatic 3 frame bracketing with photog defined exposure increments
• Easy double exposures with lever rotating around the shutter release or advance lever
• Illuminated framelines for low light shooting   (an idea from Nikon's 1957 SP  frameline illuminator)
• Standard flip open back for easy loading
• The battery needs to be placed in a conventional battery compartment on the bottom of the camera
• Flash Sync of 1/250th or higher
• A QUIET Electronic metal shutter allowing a wide range of speeds from 30 seconds to 1/8000.  A mechanical backup for at least two shutter speeds (1/30th and 1/125 or thereabouts) would be great, but not absolutely necessary. 

Please note that for this camera to be made, no new technology would have to be invented.  It has all been done before, just not in the same camera!

In today's industrial world, the reality of it in my opinion is that such an M8 could  only be easily and economically made in Japan, by another manufacturer.  The KEY to Leicanut acceptance of a high quality M8 made by say, Cosina, would be that the body would NOT be marketed under any other name or any other form, and that the camera is made in Germany.  Leica nuts will never take a Japanese made Leica M to their hearts, just look at the excellent but not accepted by the Leica faithful Minolta CLE and Konica RF.   Wetzlar would be a nice place for a new M7 factory.

Let me make it clear ALL of the above is just a mental exercise.  I have NO inside information on any new Leica M.   I just like dreaming about it.

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Revised: November 25, 2003 .  Copyright � 1998-2003Stephen Gandy. All rights reserved.    This means you may NOT copy and re-use the text or the pictures in ANY other internet or printed publication of ANY kind.  Information in this document is subject to change without notice.  Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.