Small Annoyances

[jrc]

Now that all the big stuff is out in the open, how about the small stuff? There are a few things that Leica could fix for when I buy that second body... 8-)

The on-off switch is too loose. It would be good if it were tighter, or had definite detents. I wrapped a jacket around my M8 when I was getting it out of sight in the back seat of my car, and that incidental contact turned it on.

The outer finish is too slippery. Not a lot, but a little. A more rubbery feel, like on the Nikons, would be better, IMHO. The same finish is used on the grip; that especially needs to be changed.

The shutter speed dial, like the on-off switch, needs to be stiffer. I've managed to nudge it off target a few times. I think it's related to the grip -- I tend to dangle the camera by the grip, using my last three fingers. My index finger then looks for a place to rest, and that tends to be the side of the shutter-speed dial. I'll try to break the habit, but it would still be better if the dial were a bit stiffer.

Would be great to see the ISO at a glance. Last night I managed to shoot some twi-light shots with a Nocti set at f1, and wondered why the on-coming car lights were long ovals in the LCD. It's because I was shooting on A at ISO 160.

Would be cool if somebody were to invent a kind of "take-up" strap like the kind used for dog leashes, so that you could adjust a neck strap to be shorter and function as a hand grip when you want to walk around that way.

The detachable bottom...not too important on a camera that otherwise is advertised as not weather-proofed. It's not a terrible feature, but certainly not as convenient as those used by any other pro or semi-pro camera. We have winter here; it's possible to drop the grip in snow...I'll admit that it has some charm, though.

JC

[Jean LeBlanc]

Originally Posted by jrc

Now that all the big stuff is out in the open, how about the small stuff? There are a few things that Leica could fix for when I buy that second body... 8-)

The detachable bottom...not too important on a camera that otherwise is advertised as not weather-proofed. It's not a terrible feature, but certainly not as convenient as those used by any other pro or semi-pro camera. We have winter here; it's possible to drop the grip in snow...I'll admit that it has some charm, though.

JC

There's no reason the bottom couldn't be hinged, with a mechanism to then release it completely for attaching a grip or whatnot to the bottom. It does seem silly to have it detach completely every time you want to swap out a card or a battery. Those tiny memory cards are enough of a nuisance.

[mike prevette]

I find the on off switch TOO stiff. When I'm tryingto flip it I end up having to press on it so hard It overshoots all the way to the time relaese setting someties. annoying. If it had less resistance that wouldn't happen.
_mike

[B&W]

Originally Posted by jrc

Would be cool if somebody were to invent a kind of "take-up" strap like the kind used for dog leashes, so that you could adjust a neck strap to be shorter and function as a hand grip when you want to walk around that way.



JC

Try this one (it is very nice):
Artisan&Artist* Straps

[farnz]

Originally Posted by B&W

Try this one (it is very nice):
Artisan&Artist* Straps

Please be aware that Artisan and Artist has recalled all of these straps sold between October 2005 and July 2006; details here:
ARTISAN&ARTIST