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[Ivo_Afrikanac]

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I know, I know... it is the same all over again... how can M9 be improved?

Still, I pondered and decided to write my personal thoughts.

All those would not change much picture quality that we already have, but in my opinion may add to the practicality, classic styling and feel / work-flow.

 

Obvious:

 

1. ISO dial, I think as much as possible use of buttons and menus should be minimized

 

2. 36MP sensor. Not so much as it would give additional detail, but it would then reach ISO 100 classical film resolution - a true Leica. Maybe 2 different models, 36MP as high detail and 18MP as higher sensitivity.

 

3. High definition screen, let's say 1.4MP, and yes, sapphire, scratch resistant, AMOLED. In my opinion view screen is necessary evil of digital photography, but if we have it on Leica (and we must) then it should be top-notch.

 

4. Faster processor and card handling (both not so important in my opinion)

 

My personal quirks:

 

5. CF card as more professional against current SD. CF is faster, cheaper and more storage for the money. Probably also more durable (I'm not sure on this)

 

6. AA NiMH batteries instead of proprietary Leica as cheaper, available and higher capacity (I'm sure that charger and battery are not prime focus of Leica for profits)

 

7. Metal removable cover for the screen and buttons. If we take our mind from constantly checking and adjusting we may use our brains more. Of course, we need them... sometimes.

 

8. My personal-personal craze - introduce back the manual cocking lever for the shutter, save battery (I guess it is less then 10% of consuption against processing and LCD but still), improve grip and firmly and definitely say to yourself and anybody who is watching - I'm taking this picture right now! I always liked that finger movement on all film cameras I have used, motor drive baaaah.

 

 

I guess levellers, GPS, auto modes, art filters (which are lovely on Oly), live view, movie mode etc, etc, sound great but to me they also sound very wrong, at least for this spirit I am chasing. I know my camera is not on horizontal, there is a reason for it, I know what I have set and why, I don't care how funny or strange my picture may look with a filter (this is for post processing.. with big if), I don't care about movies...

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[perb]

2. 36MP sensor. Not so much as it would give additional detail, but it would then reach ISO 100 classical film resolution - a true Leica. Maybe 2 different models, 36MP as high detail and 18MP as higher sensitivity.

 

Actually, I would propose a 54MP sensor. Why? Because if you choose 4mu pixel pitch then the Nyquist frequency will be 125lp/mm which allows us to take advantage of the performance of the best lenses, albeit on a tripod. 4mu pixel pitch will also give you more pixels on tiny insects when using the MACRO ELMAR-M. Finally, if you bin the pixels 2x2 then you get a respectable 13.5MP for low light photography without the need for separate camera bodies.

 

The fact that Canon has been able to get pretty good performance out of the 4.3mu pixels in the new 7D shows what is possible.

 

3. High definition screen, let's say 1.4MP, and yes, sapphire, scratch resistant, AMOLED. In my opinion view screen is necessary evil of digital photography, but if we have it on Leica (and we must) then it should be top-notch.

 

I also like good screens, but they make the camera thicker and there is only so much room on the back. Instead I propose that Leica entirely remove the screen from the body and provide them as bluetooth accessories instead. You could have a whole range of screens in different sizes, e.g. a "watch" on your arm, or even eye projection

 

No screen on the body will make it slimmer which will please those who argued for removing it, and it will save battery as well.

 

Regards

Per

[zlatkob]

Here we go again. I agree that the LCD screen (or any type of preview screen on the back) should be top notch. It should be fast, sharp and accurate. It should zoom in quickly. That screen is easily one of the best things to come to photographic technology in the past century. It is invaluable, serving several important functions at the same time. I will never consider buying a digital camera without some form of preview screen built in.

 

Also, a manual shutter re-cocking lever would be a terrible step backwards, IMO. I feel that this would simply serve some notion of nostalgia, rather then serve any functional purpose. That is a dull mechanical operation that I will gladly turn over to the camera and forget about. It is an obstacle to photography rather than an aide to photography. I do agree that the grip should be improved, but not with an otherwise nearly useless lever.

[W4Leica]

I would like to see Leica can make future models (M9.2 or M10) high ISO quality, like Nikon D3s. So I do not need to dry my account for lux or nocti lenses. In my book, 16mp is good enough for me. W

[Pophoto]

People never get tired of these posts, what's wrong with you all?

I mean getting me started and joining in this silly fun!

 

1) "Faster processor" for sure

2) "Weather sealed" for us to take out in the rain once in while!

3) For the same price include a "scratch resistance glass screen"

[Ivo_Afrikanac]

Here we go again. I agree that the LCD screen (or any type of preview screen on the back) should be top notch. It should be fast, sharp and accurate. It should zoom in quickly. That screen is easily one of the best things to come to photographic technology in the past century. It is invaluable, serving several important functions at the same time. I will never consider buying a digital camera without some form of preview screen built in.

 

Also, a manual shutter re-cocking lever would be a terrible step backwards, IMO. I feel that this would simply serve some notion of nostalgia, rather then serve any functional purpose. That is a dull mechanical operation that I will gladly turn over to the camera and forget about. It is an obstacle to photography rather than an aide to photography. I do agree that the grip should be improved, but not with an otherwise nearly useless lever.

 

 

You are undoubtedly right... I know, I know... do you think Leica is actually reading this?

[Bo_Lorentzen]

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Hmm. print by print im not really entirely sure if the M9 is not already well in the 35mm film land.

 

While I'm excited about the future of M cameras, surely those will come soon enough, it seems the most effective improvement to my pictures have been me talking more pictures. far more effective than improving the sensor.

 

.

[gwelland]

None of the stuff listed really bothers me at all.

 

I don't need any more resolution, sure the crystal LCD cover would be nice, as would a true chrome finish again but neither of these are show stoppers for me. You can keep all the auto gizmos too.

 

I'd go for more and more dynamic range and clean high ISO support every time. That I can always use. I recently got my D3s and it's frightening good in low light ...

[Ivo_Afrikanac]

None of the stuff listed really bothers me at all.

 

I don't need any more resolution, sure the crystal LCD cover would be nice, as would a true chrome finish again but neither of these are show stoppers for me. You can keep all the auto gizmos too.

 

I'd go for more and more dynamic range and clean high ISO support every time. That I can always use. I recently got my D3s and it's frightening good in low light ...

 

 

Above(s) are not really picture improvements, I agree, that was not the point.

[xtoph]

my votes would go to:

 

--physical iso dial (but now that i am using the m9, i have to say it is not as bad as i feared).

 

--weather sealing (and hinged bottom-plate door/s already)

 

--more informative meter. i appreciate the minimalism, but my om3 had worlds better meter readout system... a quarter century ago

 

--improved low light performance/dynamic range

 

--instant on (with concomitant battery life improvement)

 

i don't really feel a need for more resolution--the 18mp i am getting w/o antialiasing filter is looking very, very nice.

 

i could see a version without color filter array being very popular with some, though--the advantages would be substantial for resolution phreaks, and probably low-light shooters, and potentially for dynamic range and even processing speed (don't have to demosaic). i think an m9bw model would be an nice interim model, say, delivered a year from now...

[Pophoto]

While I'm excited about the future of M cameras, surely those will come soon enough, it seems the most effective improvement to my pictures have been me talking more pictures. far more effective than improving the sensor.

 

.

 

Bo: Surely you meant "taking" pictures, no?

[Bo_Lorentzen]

Pophoto - LOL... that is an embarrassment. Maybe Freudian slip.?

 

Yes I did mean "the action of taking more pictures" might in fact improve my average image quality more than a better sensor ever might.

 

.

[Ivo_Afrikanac]

The best camera is always the one that you have as you cannot use any other.

 

Clearly rambling here on wishes is just empty air compared to actually doing some photography... still, it is pleasurable, a bit like pint of beer with lads down at the bar, discussing all the thing we will never do... That's OK.