Eliminate black plastic on back of M9 and replace with chromed or black paint buttons

[robofc]

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The cheapest part of the M9 is the black plastic screen surround and buttons. They should be replaced by chomed or black painted metal, depending on the color of the camera.

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[Alnitak]

I've got no problem with plastic. I'd rather they spend the money and put the sapphire glass back on rather than a metal surround.

[menos I M6]

The digital M is as highly sophisticated as materials can go for such a low priced, low quantity product, involving a high amount of manual labour as Leica products, as it can get.

 

The LCD framing back is part of the Al die casting back housing half. It is not made from "plastic".

 

The only components on the back, made from plastic are the buttons, the scroll wheel and the likely the scroll wheel cover.

 

I would not want any buttons made of any other material than black plastic, as these are there for usage with my naked fingers and not for fashionable reasons.

[redbaron]

Why not make it yourself, if it's such a good idea?

[robofc]

Perhaps those that favor black plastic should write an ode to its qualities. I tried but couldn't get very far. Perhaps Leica should replace the shutter dial with black plastic too, that would be equally functional?

[jaapv]

Well, the specific quality of the " black plastic" of the LCD surround is that it is made out of a magnesium alloy, as it is the camera frame casting...

[wattsy]

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Perhaps those that favor black plastic should write an ode to its qualities. I tried but couldn't get very far. Perhaps Leica should replace the shutter dial with black plastic too, that would be equally functional?

 

Maybe a walnut veneer would be more in keeping? Complaining that the part is made of plastic seems a bit odd when, as has already been pointed out, it isn't made of plastic.

[bill]

Perhaps those that favor black plastic should write an ode to its qualities. I tried but couldn't get very far. Perhaps Leica should replace the shutter dial with black plastic too, that would be equally functional?

 

...you are less likely to leave chunks of your face sticking to plastic in cold weather...

[jaapv]

Well, this is the M9, and M8 is the same except for the button texts. Btw, even in a Rolls Royce the switches are made of plastic, as it is advisable to use a material that does not create short-circuits for switches.

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[250swb]

I wonder if robofc is confusing the wear that develops on the surround with it being plastic? It does start to look shabby fairly quickly, and similar panels on other makes of cameras I have that are made from plastic do hold up much better to polishing and the odd finger nail scuff. So maybe the OP's logic is misguided, and it should have a high tech plastic cover to stop it looking scruffy so quickly?

 

Steve

[jaapv]

Although the bright chrome of my two older M8s is a bit to rather beat up, I don't see much wear on the back plate.

[robofc]

OK, so the surround is metal. If that is the case why not make it the same black paint or grey paint as the camera, so it doesn't look like plastic? And the switches could be made of metal as well, to match the camera. The whole thing in back does not go with the rest of the camera design and it should.

[earleygallery]

Ivory buttons would be far more exclusive and make a nice contrast to either finish.

[menos I M6]

It does very, very well actually with a reminiscence to the classic Leica M film body design, having the back covered in black leather.

 

Painting LCD bezel in another color than black would look as ridiculous as a first gen Olympus Pen E-P1 or worse.

 

Leica did very well with the integration of the digital guts into a classic design.

There are some details, which can be refined in a functional matter (recessed buttons for example).

[frc]

LOOK, so much nicer with black paint buttons.

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[jaapv]

Ivory buttons would be far more exclusive and make a nice contrast to either finish.

Real ivory is illegal nowadays...It would be hippo tooth - not quite the thing for the ultimate snob.

[jaapv]

OK, so the surround is metal. If that is the case why not make it the same black paint or grey paint as the camera, so it doesn't look like plastic? And the switches could be made of metal as well, to match the camera. The whole thing in back does not go with the rest of the camera design and it should.

Actually, the finish is very,very close to the finish of the top and bottom plate of my black M9.As close as you can get considering the difference in base metal. To paint it grey for the grey one would make it rather garish imo. I really think there are more important "issues" like the fact that the "A" on the shutterdial is red, whereas the feet scale on the lenses is orangy yellow. Quite a blunder imo. CV lenses are far better matched to the camera in that respect, so it will stop customers from buying Leica lenses.

[wattsy]

I really think there are more important "issues" like the fact that the "A" on the shutterdial is red, whereas the feet scale on the lenses is orangy yellow. Quite a blunder imo.

 

My black paint 35 has the feet scale in a similar red. Maybe you need to invest in some black paint lenses?

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[rosuna]

I prefer some real improvements.

 

I ask for larger, recessed, sealed buttons, made of plastic or not. I don't care about the material.

 

I see it would requiere a redesing of the chassis (body magnesium inner structure). That's why the M9 has the same small and punchy buttons. The M9 shares many components with the M8, for cost savings mostly based on shared parts/components (the same rangefinder, LCD, chassis, bottom plate, etc.).

 

Anyway, if the whole body has to be redesigned, I prefer the interface of the S2: only 4 buttons and a wheel.

[pop]

Real ivory is illegal nowadays...It would be hippo tooth - not quite the thing for the ultimate snob.

 

Recycled ivory, then, perhaps from antique piano keyboards. Rubies would look attractive, too, wouldn't they?