David,

Well you could just go for the new digital module for the Leica R! It's only a little over $5,000. Its written up in the February issue of Shutterbug just for the "dreamers" to drool over. Anything is possible if you have deep enough pockets.

David
Leica is a great system and 5000 isn't that far out of reach, However if you want to upgrade your computer and you have a solid aluminum custom case you dont throw out the case.... You just put new guts in the case. I just think the same should be done with the higher end digital cameras. Although I totaly agree that it would be nice for the manufacturs to have maid digital backs to convert existing film cameras into digatal.... :cool:

David,

Leica's are still largely handmade cameras, and the body itself is a high value item. With high-volume manufacturers the body is really just a shell supporting modules created by automated machines. The real cost of a Canon body is in the R&D for the technology not so much for the hardware itself, which was the case with traditional camera bodies, which Leica remains to a large extent.

The reason digital backs for existing 35mm SLR's have never been realized is it is cheaper to just make a whole camera body than an accessory back that is not fully integrated with the body, which is the case with medium format digital backs.

Secondly the film advance mechanism just gets in the way with a digital back, but still must be used to charge the shutter.

And finally, a high precision body like those made by Leica support a degree of fit and alignment of a digital back that would probably be hard to achieve with mass-produced Canon SLR bodies.

To a user and consumer the digital back seems like a natural and good idea, but it is seen much differently by manufacturers of mass-produced cameras I am sure, as costing too much to develop for a very limited and uncertain return on investment.