Digital photography

you'd have to set iso on both camera and back at the same time then: and adding a knob to the back of the digital bit would mean somehow modifying the existing film back, which either means ruining the camera's film capabilities, or creating different models of the digital back for each camera and thus ruining the 'compatibility' element of the hypothetical product. so yeah sorry for the ramble, it's a shit idea.

what i would be interested in is a cheaper digital body without lcd, with a high quality sensor, an m42 or pentax k mount, with the exposure and aperture controls in the traditional place, and the ability to shoot aperture priority.

is that too much to ask?

Yes.

cheaper

And that's why.

Camera manufacturers aren't interested in what you want, they are interested in what you'll buy.

They know that if you want the look and feel of something traditional then the best way to make money from you isn't to give you the simple camera you want to buy cheaply, it's to make you aspire to/lust after the likes of the Fuji X100 or Leica M9 etc.

I doubt we will ever see a new camera coming out with an m42 or Pentax K mount for exactly the same reason. The manufacturers would far rather you be tied into their brand of lens or at least have to buy an adaptor to use m42 and PK mount lenses.

Maybe some day cameras will be like PCs and you'll be able to buy the sensor you want and the shutter you want and save some money by getting a rubbish screen or mising it out and then getting your geeky mate to put it together for you.