[LRflex] Re: Nikon Step Down Mechanism Ponderings

Hello Bill,
    I must admit that I completely wiffed on catching on to the fact  
you were arguing against marrying an R9 front with D700 back! mea  
culpa on that one.
    I must also admit that I am genuinely optimistic about the  
challenge of making a D700 have an Auto Aperture R Mount being within  
the grasp of tinkerers and creative thinkers. There is also the giant  
caveat to the potential for the unknown coming up to bite one in the  
butt - unchangeable wiring, unalterable limits on space, un-obtanium  
actuators or motors - the unknown genuinely is unknown at this point.
    I would also like to advance an economic rationale for embarking  
on the endeavour of attempting a conversion. Assuming a starting  
premise that Leica would build a 'Unicorn' (the mythical Digital R) I  
don't see much hope that it would cost any less than an M9 ie:  
$7,000us. Using that figure, hypothetical that it is, if one were to  
find a design for an R'd D700 the cost of such a camera would be the  
$3,000us of the D700 plus the cost of the conversion and it's  
constituent parts. I would see merit in thinking that conversion &  
it's parts wouldn't aggregate to more than the difference between $7k  
and $3k ie: 4,000 bucks. This is assuming it's a cooperative endeavor  
rather than one for profits and, really, at this point - how big could  
the market for such a thing be.

Anyway, I do know I'm precluded by disability from being point person  
on the project. Trust me on this, ok? In defense, I should be having  
an economic windfall this year (fingers crossed) and wouldn't hesitate  
to kick in a few hundred to help pay for machining/cnc'ing.  
Potentially even a Donor Camera to Prototype with - with dibs on it if  
it ultimately works!

Sincerely
Richard in Michigan

On Jan 19, 2011, at 5:17 PM, William B. Abbott III wrote:

> Richard,
>
> I never said it would be simple.
>
> You have just made my point and endorsed my strategy; thank you!
>
> In addition, you have proposed a workable solution concerning where  
> the dividing line between "R9 front" and "D700 back" should be,  
> requiring little or no "exquisite engineering ... access to  
> expertise ... Over coming the Camera Software challenges..."
>
> I am appreciative that we think alike.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill

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