Why not a film camera with an EVF?

[Crimeo]

Just slap a sensor in where a focusing screen would be above an SLR mirror, and feed an EVF with it (as well as optional digital jpg snapshots for pictures not worth the film perhaps)

Unlike just remaking something you can get on ebay for 1/3 the price, this is actually unique and worth considering IMO. You can preview what a scene will look like in B&W exactly with black and white film loaded, live exposure preview, focus peaking, histograms and info heads up displays, etc.

 

[wiltw]

Bodies with easily changed backs (Nikon F, Olympus OM-1, Topcon RE) could easily mount a digital sensor back in place of the usual pressure plate back, the ribbon cable could run downward to electronics and battery mounted below like the motor winders would fit. One could put an LCD externally for status/control display, like P&S camear. I proposed that back in the mid 2000's. The Imback unit was somewhat like that, but that was the only offering.

 

[Crimeo]

Bodies with easily changed backs (Nikon F, Olympus OM-1, Topcon RE) could easily mount a digital sensor back in place of the usual pressure plate back, the ribbon cable could run downward to electronics and battery mounted below like the motor winders would fit. I proposed that back in the mid 2000's. The Imback unit was somewhat like that, but that was the only offering.

The goal is a film camera and film photos, just with an EVF for previewing the shot

 

[wiltw]

The goal is a film camera and film photos, just with an EVF for previewing the shot

The Nikon F and Topcon RE could convert to EVF fairly easily since they both have interchangeable finders. Why bother, using a film reflex camera and film recording?... merely for chimping the way all too many photographers shoot today...zero faith in their own ability to shoot without error?! We used to shoot film with zero feedback, so why convert to battery consuming EVF if no digital sensor for recording the photo. EVF suffers from optical lag since what captures the image has to be converted to viewable JPG, so there is always 1/60 or 1/120 lag from image capture to initial display, too. Reflex SLR has zero optical lag.
Maybe, for using a film reflex camera outfitted with a retrofit digital sensor...but again, no commerically successful offering.

 

[Paul Howell]

A hybrid would be a Sony A900 full frame body married to Minolta 7 film drive and replace the back screen with the screen of the 7 More modern would a marraige of a A99 to a A900.

 

[Cholentpot]

Just slap a sensor in where a focusing screen would be above an SLR mirror, and feed an EVF with it (as well as optional digital jpg snapshots for pictures not worth the film perhaps)

Unlike just remaking something you can get on ebay for 1/3 the price, this is actually unique and worth considering IMO. You can preview what a scene will look like in B&W exactly with black and white film loaded, live exposure preview, focus peaking, histograms and info heads up displays, etc.

To be honest, I'd love a mirrorless with an OVF. I don't like the EVF all that much.

 

[wiltw]

To be honest, I'd love a mirrorless with an OVF. I don't like the EVF all that much.

...but then it could not be 'mirrorless', because the mirror is needed for optical path to eye. At the minimum, we are back to the pellicle (Canon Pellix or Canon RT) and its issues.