How excited would you be if Canon announced a "Digital Canonet"?

So, POTN, how excited would you be if Canon announced a "Digital Canonet"? Like - as some have suggested - a "Poor Man's Leica" - in a manner of speaking.

I know that personally I would be all over that

Edit: I just wanted to expand on what was a meager post with not much explanation at all.

The Canonets were 35mm rangefinder compact cameras, with fixed focal length, fast-aperture lenses. Canon released a few different versions, and they were aimed at a 'middle' market - people who wanted light, quality rangefinders but were not willing to shell out for Leicas.

To clarify my original thread-starter - my question was and still is: If Canon announced a digital rangefinder with a fixed, fast-aperture lens, with a similar build and build-style to their 1960/70s Canonets (really compact and light), would or would you not shell out an appropriate amount of money for one of said digital rangefinder.

Canon may or may not have intended for the G-series cameras to be a replacement for their Canonets. If they did - then in my opinion they did not do a terribly good job. The small sensor is a killer, especially for high-ISO shots: A full-frame sensor on the proposed Digital Canonet is not necessary - and in fact may make it too expensive - IMO an APS-C sensor would be adequate. The G11 also has a relatively dim zoom lens compared to the Canonets, they had sharp and bright (<f/2.0) fixed focal length lenses.

TL;DR , what I'm essentially asking for is a digital rangefinder on the budget that looks, feels, and shoots like a Canonet.

The G11 is an excellent compact and will continue to serve many satisfied customers who are looking what it provides. However, it is not - in my opinion - a digital Canonet rangefinder, by any stretch of the imagination.

I think a sort of rangefinder camera would fit nicely into the Canon lineup. With the 7D possibly replacing the xxD series, and the Rebels becoming more powerful every year, this could fit the hole nicely for a camera priced a little higher then the Rebel, or cancel the Rebel (as we know it) and make them a little better (like a D90) and have the rangefinder and entry level EOS camera.

YES!!! My dream camera.

My idea of what it should be:

$500
45mm equivalent f1.9 lens (like the old ones)
viewfinder - optical or digital as long as it is built in.
APS-C sensor.
Hot shoe.
720p video

^ what he said

<$600

Maybe another line of lens? EF-X with adaptor that would accept EF-S and EF?

otherwise 45mm but f1.4 instead? I know not much difference but it is 2010

APS-C sensor, hot shoe and most importantly
built in VF.

Canonet had a fixed lens. I think to make a reasonable price point and size they should stick with that.

You guys mean something like this? http://www.sigma-dp.com/DP2/index.html

At B&H: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_DP2_Digital_Ca​mera_.html

20droger wrote in post #9870310
You guys mean something like this? http://www.sigma-dp.com/DP2/index.html

At B&H: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_DP2_Digital_Ca​mera_.html

Yeah, just like the DP2, only good.

I guess I'm missing something here.

Why on earth would I want a rangefinder on an autofocus camera? Viewfinder, sure - but we already have those. My wife's A620, for example.

-js

tkbslc wrote in post #9870425
Yeah, just like the DP2, only good.

Actually, the DP2 is quite good. Its IQ is certainly head and shoulders above any conventional zoomless P&S.

number six wrote in post #9871313
I guess I'm missing something here.

Why on earth would I want a rangefinder on an autofocus camera? Viewfinder, sure - but we already have those. My wife's A620, for example.

-js

The Contax G1/G2 implemented this very idea; however the double image was not visible in the viewfinder so you can't tell if something is actually in focus. You just have to rely on the distance information that is displayed on the LCD inside the viewfinder.

20droger wrote in post #9870310
You guys mean something like this? http://www.sigma-dp.com/DP2/index.html

At B&H: http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_DP2_Digital_Ca​mera_.html

Not a rangefinder. Not banging on it though, it's a nice cam.

20droger wrote in post #9871556
Actually, the DP2 is quite good. Its IQ is certainly head and shoulders above any conventional zoomless P&S.

Yeah, but it isn't quite near a DSLR for speed or high ISO noise, which is what I would want.

well unless i can use all theses FD lenses I have on my Olympus EP2 I won't care haha

chopperdave wrote in post #9873091
well unless i can use all theses FD lenses I have on my Olympus EP2 I won't care haha

The point of the Canonet is simplicity and compactness - I think a new lens mount would ruin it. Just need a nice sharp fast fixed prime. At least on my version.

tkbslc wrote in post #9873214
The point of the Canonet is simplicity and compactness - I think a new lens mount would ruin it. Just need a nice sharp fast fixed prime. At least on my version.

Yeah I'm with tkb. The whole point of the original Canonets was that they were meant to be simple, efficient, and compact. They were smaller and lighter than other popular rangefinders of the time, and IMO the fixed lenses are to the advantage of the Canonet.