Hi Chris, you're certainly not alone in that line of thought.
A few weeks ago I wrote on another forum why I think Leica could/should make adapters for 35mm FF systems, such as Canon, Nikon and Sony:
Pros:
- The MTF’s of the S lenses are hard to beat for any of their counterpart FF lenses
- tilt/shift, movements would be possible with specialised adapters, even more so for APS-C cameras that also use Canon, Nikon and Sony mounts
- Possibility to later (or from the moment of purchase) use the S lenses on a larger sensor camera such as the Leica S system, future MF mirror-less, and also on future larger sensor video and digital cinema cameras. The über 65mm sensor of the new Arri requires a 59mm image circle, but the S lenses have most video sensors covered with a 54mm image circle.
- Leica can make (extra) money on adapters and lenses
- making the option to use S lenses on other cameras available to S lens owners would be very economical for photographers who don't want to buy a second S as back up camera (who does/can?) and useful for photographers who want to use a high ISO camera next to their high res S camera. This would save them having to buy Canon, Nikon or Sony lenses and/or schlepping around two lens systems. The money saved on other system lenses can be used to invest in future proof "multi-mount" S lenses
- Leica can sell lenses to the many buyers of high res, small pixel pitch FF cameras who are (with reason) afraid native lenses are not up to the task of providing enough resolving power for their 37,5 - 50 MP (and in the future even higher MP) FF sensors.
- All this would mean that an investment in S lenses is a future-proof and thus safe investment, which would lead to more sales. Leica can make the S system better known, gain prestige, and hopefully get more market penetration of the complete S system. Some photographers who bought the S lenses for their FF system may later on want to use their lenses to their full potential on a real Leica S camera with a 56% bigger sensor.
Cons:
- potentially, there might be more moiré on lower res sensor cameras without OLP filter
- Costs, S lenses are more expensive than their FF counterparts, except perhaps for the Zeiss Otus lenses
- Not all, but quite a lot of lenses available for FF are smaller and lighter
- FF systems generally have faster lenses available
- potential customers might lose an important incentive to buy an S camera if Leica S lens adapters to Canon, Nikon and Sony cameras are available
- it remains to be seen if a FF camera with an adapter can make use of the central shutter in Leica S CS lenses (would be great if they could make that work, and this would be an important reason to buy CS lenses for FF camera users)
