(Stephen H. Westin) wrote:

I wonder if the F6 was derived from the D2 series. More probably, they
were developed together, and the degree to which they share technology
made it economical to do two cameras rather than just one.


The F6 and D2 are the products of a Nikon development program that has
been running for three years with the aim of marketing a convertible
film/digital SLR that would have succeeded both the F5 and D1X. The
rationale for this hybrid camera was questioned - and abandoned - in
early 2003 when it became apparent that Nikon's target market's move
from film to digital was becoming so rapid and so total that it made
such a hybrid obsolete even before it hit the camera dealers' shelves.

The result was that Nikon used the technology to develop two separate
cameras, one film and one digital, that share many common features.
In fact they share just about as many features as it is possible for a
film and a digital SLR to share. Metering, autofocus, even the
shutters share similar technology.

Leica's R Digital Back for the R9 is aimed at a different market; one
that is still firmly wedded to film but is slowly and cautiously
moving into digital. Leica don't expect large production volumes for
their digital back, but loyal Leica fans wishing to embrace digital
while continuing to use Leica optics will no doubt support Leica's
efforts to the extent Leica need.