Photographer Modifies Panasonic G9 II to Mimic Leica Style
▼ Summary
– Cristian Băluță, a programmer and photographer, built a custom camera by transplanting the internal components of a Panasonic Lumix G9 II into a custom-made Leica M-style body.
– He undertook the project due to frustration with the lack of compact, rangefinder-style Micro Four Thirds cameras, choosing the G9 II for its high capability and compatibility with his lenses.
– The build required extensive custom design, 3D modeling, and CNC machining to create a high-quality aluminum body with minimal visible screws and essential controls.
– The finished camera has some functional imperfections, like loose dials and sensor calibration issues, and its aluminum body inhibits Wi-Fi performance.
– The total project cost was under $2,700, which is far less than a new Leica, and while not his perfect dream camera, it proved that compact, beautiful hardware is achievable.
Sometimes the perfect tool for a creative pursuit simply doesn’t exist on store shelves. This was the reality for Cristian Băluță, a programmer whose weekend passion for photography led him to an extraordinary DIY project. Unable to find a compact, rangefinder-style camera that met his technical demands, he decided to engineer his own by transplanting the advanced internals of a Panasonic Lumix G9 II into a custom-made body inspired by the iconic Leica M design.
Băluță’s frustration stemmed from a belief that the Micro Four Thirds system had drifted from its original promise of compact, high-quality gear. He wanted a camera that paired the formidable performance of modern technology with the timeless, minimalist aesthetic of a classic rangefinder. The Panasonic G9 II was his donor of choice, selected because he considers it “the most capable” Micro Four Thirds camera available, boasting excellent resolution, reliable phase-detect autofocus, and seamless compatibility with his cherished Panasonic Leica lenses.
The project, dubbed the “Leica G9 II,” was far from a simple shell swap. Băluță established a strict set of design goals: a seamless, high-quality exterior with no visible screws, a perfectly centered lens mount, and a control layout stripped down to only the most essential buttons and dials. After purchasing a used G9 II, he discovered a fortunate amount of empty space inside the chassis, which provided the room needed for his ambitious redesign.
With no prior experience in advanced 3D modeling software, Băluță adopted a trial-and-error approach using Fusion360. “My strategy was ‘do first, ask questions later,’” he explains. Months of iterative design, test prints, and refinement followed before he commissioned the final, high-quality components. The assembly process presented further hurdles, requiring him to meticulously redesign circuit boards and internal structures to fit the new, slimmer form factor.
The finished camera is a striking achievement, though Băluță is candid about its imperfections. Some control dials feel looser than intended, and the image sensor is not perfectly calibrated, resting on springs. The all-aluminum construction, while beautiful, interferes with Wi-Fi signal strength—a trade-off he accepted to avoid using plastic. Despite these quirks, the image samples produced by the camera are excellent, showing no visible defects from the sensor’s unconventional mounting.
Financially, the endeavor totaled just under $2,700 when accounting for the donor camera, new battery, custom CNC machining, printed parts, and specialized tools. This sum is a fraction of the cost of a genuine Leica M body. For Băluță, the value lay not in perfection, but in proof of concept. “I still don’t have the camera I imagined, but I now know what it takes to build it,” he says. “This build gave me proof that good hardware can be smaller and beautiful.”
He plans to invest further to refine the design, aiming to resolve the remaining issues before taking his unique creation on a photography trip. While he may critique the details, the result is undeniably impressive—a fully functional, custom-bodied camera that successfully captures the Leica look while housing the powerful heart of a modern Panasonic. It stands as a testament to the fusion of programming precision, photographic passion, and hands-on craftsmanship.
(Source: Petapixel)
