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What do you want in the next digital M?


IkarusJohn

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I want a lighter camera

I want a more compact camera

I want a larger focussing screen in the rangefinder

I want auto ISO

I want 4k video and a state of the art fast digital video transfer port maybe super fast wifi

I want a microphone port and state of the art fast sound transfer port maybe super fast wifi

I want 50 megapixels

I want focus aids like peaking in the range finder view

I want better low light performance

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on the next M i would like to see.

 

better low light performance (although 6400 on the M is pretty good, a faster lens may benefit me better too)

 

more info in the VF, at least a SS and ISO display so i dont need to take it from my eye to see - flashing the Shutter speed display when it drops below 1/focal length would be nice too.

 

the M button and front button being reprogrammable - i havent touched either of them, except for a quick play with video mode when i first got the camera (fuji had a RAW/JPG button on the back of the X100 that was useless, a FW upgrade unlocked it so it could be reprogrammed, i had it set to switch the 3 stop ND filter in and out)

 

a built in PC socket for flash

 

24mp is plenty for me - im sure the next M will have an incremental upgrade though.

 

Wifi would be nice, but i dont see me really using it much - i would rather canon implement it on the next 1D body without a stupid (and pricey) dongle that can be easily snapped off.

 

i dont want them to take away the optical rangefinder - thats the whole reason i bought an M in the first place - live view and focus peaking is nice, but i much prefer optical viewfinders.

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Many of the expressed requirements can be provided by open source firmware.

It would also be handy to have a hardware upgrade path - why do they have to carve out a new block of magnesium just to fit a more modern sensor? (What I'm trying to say is the sensor and electronics should be a disposable item like film is).

By the way, I dunno why I always sound so negative, I'm delighted with my M.

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My frustration stems from the fact that I went on a trip to one of the most wildest places and remote places on earth and around me there was just astonishing beauty. I took photos with my M9 and video with my HD Sony video camera and certain stills with my panaleica lx5 and also with my iPhone for the. Panorama stills. It frustrated me that I could not have everything that I wanted in one camera . I beamed the images and video on a very expensive projector onto a 130 inch screen and I was not happy with any of the images or video not enough resolution. I want this from my M11 which I intend to order as soon as it is announced and I want it now. If Sony can manage 4k video in their compact camera then Leica should be way ahead of them.

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Many of the expressed requirements can be provided by open source firmware.

 

I am not sure that the requests can be solved through open-source, but we would at least KNOW if it were possible. Shame on Leica for a closed system.

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As above and variable viewfinder magnification.

 

 

Yes, something like Canon had in their 7-series rangefinders would be good.

 

 

 

Sent from my Etcha-sketch.

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A lot of what I want has been mentioned by others in various combinations :-

  • Although not possible, but the slimness of the M6/M7
  • Wifi for transfer & remote (liveview/camera) control
  • Frame preview lever to come back
  • Timer more than 2 sec but less than 12

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Other than size and weight, which has been beaten to death in this forum. There are only a couple of things I would like. Some may be fixed in future firmware and some cannot and I don't know which is which.

 

1) Color - it's still not right. Better with the new firmware but still off especially for skin tones.

 

2) EVF makes me sick! I now use it only in manual mode, but the color, exposure, really bad. The only thing it's good for is critical composition.

 

3) Multifunction Handgrip, the worst piece of s$&@t, ever produced by Leica. Slow, inaccurate, does not work in all areas (I live in china). It provide little benefit outside of TTL when the hot shoe is occupied. Mind you, I did have flash when using the Visoflex III due to an adapter cable.

 

So you can see that it's not the camera it's self I currently have issue with, I like the shutter and overall performance (given the right card). I think increasing the pixel count at this point is counter productive, as handheld performance decreases and tripod requirements increase from this point on.

 

There are some other things I would like fixed, but they have already been mentioned in this thread.

 

But basically, if Leica would finish the things they started with the M240 and not use customers to beta test their camera. Use current technology (EVF 4 or better), and provide full functionality of components (GPS), it would be pretty good camera as it is.

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my current fantasy next digital M body (until that one materialises it seems the M Mono is a body, long, long time satisfying my needs):

 

- M Mono CCD sensor - please don't change a thing

- more compact body (Leica M6/ MP)

- re-introduction of manual advance lever cocking when using body only without Digital Leicavit

- re-introduce battery + card indicator display on top deck

- manual ISO selector in full stops (ISO 100,200,400,800,1600,3200,6400,A)

- when selected "A" define in menu a Auto ISO program OR use specific ISO value instead (half stops, values out of range of ISO dial, etc …)

- rear LCD max 2.5" with sapphire cover glass

- have available finishes: black lacquer or silver chrome (via a la carte programme maybe more finishes, if desired like black chrome, black powder coating, Safari, hammer tone grey, etc …)

- re-introducing different magnification finders (0.58, 0.72, 0.85) via a la carte

- bring back one flash sync port on the body

- accessory Digital Leicavit: adding additional battery, flash sync ports, hotshoe, motor drive for shooting without manual shutter cocking with single shot and continuous, GPS, WiFi

- Leicavit could be designed in two stages - compact bare bones (size of film Leicavit with just flash sync + hotshoe and motor drive and a model with all features (and more bulk obviously)

- do not forget the frame preview lever - this is an essential feature of the M

- remove the bottom plate safety switch and let me operate all camera functions with the bottom plate removed (I hate to prepare my gear and have to re-attach the bottom plate for bulk formatting SD cards or syncing camera clocks

- remove USB connector

 

sounds like leica need to release M-P edition or M Epson edition :D

 

I still love my Rd1 despite bad batteries which drop dead after 36 shots.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Simple user serviceable Rangefinder. i.e. turn screw left for front focus' date=' turn screw left for back focus. I totally understand how difficult this would be but it would be a brilliant feature.[/quote']

 

They already have this. The problem is the linearity adjustment, which is much tougher.

 

Dante

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Simple user serviceable Rangefinder. i.e. turn screw left for front focus, turn screw left for back focus.

 

I totally understand how difficult this would be but it would be a brilliant feature.

 

Its almost science-fiction but who knows what the future holds... :cool:

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