Response to Concerns Re the Dials

[markpsf]

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There have been two reports by early users of problems with the exposure and shutter speed dials and the on-off switch. One concern was misalignment of the dials. The other is that the two dials move too easily...are too loose.

 

I wrote to a UK Leica person and have received this response:

 

" I can confirm that the dials on both aperture and shutter speed were changed on the final production versions. Some of our sample cameras did not line up consistently, the same was true with the on and off button. This is unfortunately what happens when pre-production samples go out into the wider market.

 

I still haven’t, and may not until next week, see a finished version, at that point I will check about the tension on the dials as I am unsure currently how much the newer dials effected this point. I will speak to the product manager in the morning and come back to you."

 

This guy has been a no b.s. straight shooter before and I expect that this is accurate info.

 

Mark

[h00ligan]

At the very least it's nice that they are offering personalized attn at this point (presale).

[jsrockit]

I guess this proves that Leica is making tweaks all the way up until delivery time.

[markpsf]

If they are addressing the dial looseness and some of the easier glitches to fix, then the wait time will be well worth it. So what if it's late February if they got it almost totally right.

Notice that I said "almost"! It doesn't matter which camera brand we're talking about...none of them ever get it all right.

 

Mark

[Ro1and]

I think this is an admirable response from Leica.

[Ecaton]

If they are addressing the dial looseness and some of the easier glitches to fix, then the wait time will be well worth it. So what if it's late February if they got it almost totally right.

Notice that I said "almost"! It doesn't matter which camera brand we're talking about...none of them ever get it all right.

 

Mark

 

Except that Leica prices for perfection.

[Dutch]

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I hope Leica will increase the tension a bit on the dials. It seems like a triviality, but will do a lot of good to justify the heavy price tag.

If I buy an X1, and I am very inclined to do so, I expect to feel quality in every detail.

[spylaw4]

I guess this proves that Leica is making tweaks all the way up until delivery time.

 

Yes they do. I believe that the first M9's delivered in the UK had to be sent out in the afternoon as they were having new firmware installed in the morning.

 

I think Leica are aware of the rotating dial problem on the X-1.

[barjohn]

At least one poster here claims to have received the X1 and that it is shipping now. However, it still had firmware Ver 1.00. So much for the delay was to fix the issues.

[NZDavid]

At least one poster here claims to have received the X1 and that it is shipping now. However, it still had firmware Ver 1.00. So much for the delay was to fix the issues.

 

Weird response, sounds almost legalese! He said he got the camera. Don't you believe him? How can you possibly comment on the firmware if you haven't even tried it?

[h00ligan]

It's still possible they shipped a later version opting to call it version 1.

 

The pre production units may have been labeled 1.0023.4 the final could be something like 1.0085.0 - but those numbers may stay internal to Leica just earning a round down. Happens a lot with firmware - at least outside of the camera industry (not sure about inside it!)

 

I guess we'll know more soon!

[barjohn]

I neither believe nor disbelieve him since I don't know. I seriously doubt that Leica would roll back the firmware number after changing it, that makes no sense. If h00ligan works for a software company that engages in that practice I wouldn't want to use their software as it would mean their versioning controls were crap and their integrity even less. I have worked with many software development companies and worked for and/or owned a couple and we NEVER engaged in such practice. It sounds more like trying to make an excuse for Leica. My comment on the firmware was based on the poster's comment that it was version 1.00 and since that is the same version that Sean Reid and several others have had, tested and used that it was reasonable to infer that nothing has been changed.

[markpsf]

Soon we'll know!

 

Meanwhile, I've been told that Leica is switching factory locations in Germany, that this is one cause of a delay in shipping, and that none will be shipped to the U.S. in January.

 

This from a reliable U.S. authorized dealer.

 

And so it goes...

 

Of course there are only 10 days left in the month.

 

February seems like a good bet....Maybe even February this year

 

 

Mark

[pappde]

Soon we'll know!

 

Meanwhile, I've been told that Leica is switching factory locations in Germany, that this is one cause of a delay in shipping, and that none will be shipped to the U.S. in January.

 

This from a reliable U.S. authorized dealer.

 

And so it goes...

 

Of course there are only 10 days left in the month.

 

February seems like a good bet....Maybe even February this year

 

 

Mark

Well, how about this one:

Update on Leica availability in the US | Leica Rumors

This says that it is a warehouse in the US.

[h00ligan]

@barjohn - just a few clarifications - first - not software, firmware. Second - I'm not suggesting they have reversioned it - but they changes they made may have been so far down in the . scale that we don't know the actual version number.

 

Often times in firmware you will not see more than x.x or x.x.x - internally leica may have had a firmware called x.x.x.x that they shipped on pre production models - while now shipping firmware may be x.x.x.z - but all we ever see is x.x.

 

Make sense? I don't think they'd reversion it - but I could see them doing more revision numbers than they show to the end user - absolutely, it's common practice.

[TEBnewyork]

John,

When the M9 was released there was a firmware upgrade ready, waiting and needing to be done by users. Even if someone got a camera with firmware 1.0 it really doesn't mean anything because we don't know if 1.1 or some other incarnation is ready to be released. I picked up a new G1 a month ago that came with 1.0 and we are now on 1.4.

[spylaw4]

IIRC the pre-production firmware was 0.xxxx not 1.xxxx.

[janmartm]

@barjohn - just a few clarifications - first - not software, firmware. Second - I'm not suggesting they have reversioned it - but they changes they made may have been so far down in the . scale that we don't know the actual version number.

 

Often times in firmware you will not see more than x.x or x.x.x - internally leica may have had a firmware called x.x.x.x that they shipped on pre production models - while now shipping firmware may be x.x.x.z - but all we ever see is x.x.

 

Make sense? I don't think they'd reversion it - but I could see them doing more revision numbers than they show to the end user - absolutely, it's common practice.

 

Me being the one reporting having received an X1. I was surprised to see the firmware version was 1.0. It does indeed say 1.0 and not 1.00000. So it could well be that you are right that we only see x.x. Note that the earlier reviews reported 0.72c or something like that. Leica might have chosen to limit the number of digits.

[h00ligan]

IIRC the pre-production firmware was 0.xxxx not 1.xxxx.

 

Some sites tested with 1.0 - I believe Steve Huff had a 1.0. fwiw.

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Hallo,

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[pappde]

In all camera's menu system there is a tab for the firmvare version, her you can look up the installed firmware. It gives ALL the digits, commas etc. that is to the particular firmware. No hidden 0 or any other digits, letters!