nggalai Posted October 2, 2011 Share #1 Posted October 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) For some, this following image might be self-explaining: There, I fixed it 02. by nggalai, on Flickr Does anybody here have any info from Leica why they stuck with a removable bottom plate with their digital offerings? Tradition, or is there a technical reason? It might be nicely retro, but well, I dropped it after a bump in the back last night during a concert. It took me until after the concert to recover the plate, i.e. be able to shoot some more. Not a biggie; I was there for the music (as both my selection of lens and position clearly indicate), not the pics, but still … Do you guys like the bottom plate system? Or did you run in similar accidents? Cheers, -Sascha Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 2, 2011 Posted October 2, 2011 Hi nggalai, Take a look here Removable bottom plates, and how to deal with them.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
carlmuck Posted October 2, 2011 Share #2 Posted October 2, 2011 That's why God gave you a mouth, to hold the M bottom plate while changing film, or batteries/sd cards. No other retaining devices necessary! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nggalai Posted October 2, 2011 Author Share #3 Posted October 2, 2011 That's why God gave you a mouth, to hold the M bottom plate while changing film, or batteries/sd cards. No other retaining devices necessary! Well, I used my God-given armpit, which was no match to about 300lbs of dance-frenzied womanhood butting me with Gods know what. Seriously, though: I guess the bottom plate is due to the small form factor of digital Ms. I do understand why they don’t just hook it up with a hinge only, having the tripod thread in the bottom plate. But why not combine both, or having a security catch or something? Well, I have now. Thanks, Gaffa. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shade Posted October 2, 2011 Share #4 Posted October 2, 2011 I think the bottom plate is annoying and they do it because of tradition only. Im planning to order Luigi's bottom plate with hinges just on the battery and sd card compartment. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted October 2, 2011 Share #5 Posted October 2, 2011 The removable bottom is a nuisance that has no place in the digital era. As in your situation at the concert, it easily becomes a hindrance to photography. Contrary to the design dictum that "form follows function", this is an example of "form interferes with function". My guess is that they kept this holdover from the film era to appease nostalgic older buyers who feel that the "essence" of Leica is found in anachronistic details and not in the more important things, such as speed, size, viewing, and image quality. Some prefer a leisurely approach to photography, and feel that anything that slows you necessarily contributes to more thoughtful or meditative photography. I'm sure you were being the most thoughtful photographer at the concert when your bottom plate went missing. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constable Posted October 2, 2011 Share #6 Posted October 2, 2011 I agree 100%. i bought Luigi's bottom plate and have never had a problem since. Ed 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
asmith Posted October 2, 2011 Share #7 Posted October 2, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The bottom plate helps to keep dust out of the battery and SD card compartments. One is no more likely to drop it than to drop a lens while changing it. Is that an argument against prime lenses rather than zooms? Alwyn 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nggalai Posted October 2, 2011 Author Share #8 Posted October 2, 2011 (edited) The bottom plate helps to keep dust out of the battery and SD card compartments. One is no more likely to drop it than to drop a lens while changing it. Is that an argument against prime lenses rather than zooms? Is it possible to drop a baby when hit by somebody while trying to give it a pacifier? When changing lenses, I usually have another one ready (otherwise, why change?). When changing batteries, I don’t have another bottom plate on me without which the camera won‘t work at all. When I want to change a memory card, well, there’s something to change it with, i.e. a memory card available. I don’t have multiple bottom plates at my disposal. I understand the reasoning – keeping dust out; having hinged compartments for both battery and SD-Card might make the camera bulkier, too. But why is there no safety catch for the bottom plate, without which the camera will stop working completely? Is it possible to acquire additional bottom plates? As spares? How much are they? I must admit my second reaction after feeling the plate dropping due to abovementioned female impact was “well, there’s probably another 200 Euros.” My first thought is not fit for publication. I don’t regurarly lose bottoms, and the Gaffa helps a lot, but you must admit this isn’t the most customer-friendly way to deal with exchangable parts in the field. No? So – why the completely removable bottom plate? Tradition, as has been mentioned in this thread? Edited October 2, 2011 by nggalai Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted October 2, 2011 Share #9 Posted October 2, 2011 One is no more likely to drop it than to drop a lens while changing it. Is that an argument against prime lenses rather than zooms? Alwyn As there are no M zooms, it is simply an argument for a strong, sensible door that won't be fiddly to attach or get lost and disable your camera. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billib Posted October 3, 2011 Share #10 Posted October 3, 2011 Steve Huff has written that the MATE lens is a true Zoom Lens. The viewfinder isn't, of course. So, right now it can't be used realistically as a zoom. Thats if you have a MATE. When (if) the M10 is released with its optional Electronic Viewfinder or with its full time "on" LCD viewer on the back of the body then the true nature of the MATE can be explored. The Leica MATE Lens Review (Medium Angle Tri-Elmar) by Ashwin Rao | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted October 3, 2011 Share #11 Posted October 3, 2011 As there are no M zooms ... Actually, the Tri-Elmars are bona fide zoom lenses. Pete. Oops, cross-posted with billib. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted October 3, 2011 Share #12 Posted October 3, 2011 Check out the RRS bottom plate which is made for tripod clamps, but also has a hand grip option which for me performs better than the Leica grip. You can get the base without the hand grip, though-just to be clear. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
billib Posted October 3, 2011 Share #13 Posted October 3, 2011 Check out the RRS bottom plate which is made for tripod clamps, but also has a hand grip option which for me performs better than the Leica grip. You can get the base without the hand grip, though-just to be clear. Really Right Stuff Grip/Plate photo link: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/203278-compatibility-hand-grips.html#post1846852 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted October 3, 2011 Share #14 Posted October 3, 2011 Whether Tri-Elmars are true zooms doesn't matter in this context. I guess someone might use only an f/4 Tri-Elmar solely because they're afraid of dropping a lens while changing, but that would be a little over-cautious. There are good reasons to use primes and zooms that have nothing to do with dropping a lens. But, as far as I can see, there is not a good reason for keeping the removable plate as part of the design, especially when one considers its disadvantages. Would the camera bottom need to be slightly bigger to accommodate a door? Maybe, or maybe not, I don't know. Keep in mind that the M9 is a camera that doesn't give you a frame counter on top. You have to press a button to see the frames remaining. So it's easy to get caught by surprise with a full memory card, which in turn can lead to a rush to replace the card. SD cards are already small and easy to lose, so dealing quickly with the card and the removable plate can be a challenge in some environments and situations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted October 3, 2011 Share #15 Posted October 3, 2011 I cannot help but smile at those who bemoan baseplate juggling to change their battery or SD card every few hundred shots or so. I don't complain once every 36 exposures... Perhaps the art of anticipation has gone the way of the Dodo along with patience, sangfroid and tolerance for the opinions of others. Regards, Bill 10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 3, 2011 Share #16 Posted October 3, 2011 But why is there no safety catch for the bottom plate, without which the camera will stop working completely? If get a mangled baseplate after dropping it you can stick some Blu Tack over the little recessed pin next to the battery compartment and the camera will be fully operational again. Steve 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted October 3, 2011 Share #17 Posted October 3, 2011 One thing I learned from old-time M photogs hereabouts is that you should stick the baseplate in your mouth with the hollowed side down. If you don't, saliva will gather in the hollow and freeze solid, and you won't be able to put the plate back again. Be warned. These dinky little hatch covers on non-M digital cameras, however, are usually the first piece to fail. (The same with battery covers on analog cameras, of course.) The Leica baseplate on the other hand has a proven Mean Time Between Failures of more than half a century. The old man from the Age of the Big Freeze (1940's) 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 3, 2011 Share #18 Posted October 3, 2011 (edited) Proper Leicas have little dents from your teeth in their baseplate. I think I must start producing dentures with a special baseplate holding gap in them. At least you do not have to cut your SD card to a special shape using the SDFOT to be able to get it in... Edited October 3, 2011 by jaapv 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted October 3, 2011 Share #19 Posted October 3, 2011 And this is the solution for sissies: loop the elastic around the camera strap and stick the adhesive thingy to your baseplate: Hama Lens Cap Keeper (5898) - Only £1.95 - Park Cameras Online 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted October 3, 2011 Share #20 Posted October 3, 2011 The only time I can imagine not having a pocket to put the baseplate in while changing a battery or card would be if I'm naked? Is this causing the problem Sascha? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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