M8 -- Shutter Noise FOLLOW-UP

[terence fairweather]

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As the famous car makers Rolls Royce once said: " The quality will remain long after the price has been forgotten".

[tom0511]

The silent shutter noise was one of the things being promoted (and I think which actually was) one of the big advantages of a Leica M.

IMO the M8 does not have this advantage any more. Its now more in the range of SLRs.

I miss the silent shutter of film-Ms.

[jaapv]

When I started this discussion about shutter noise, I was interested in receiving replies with the emphasis on persuading Solms to take corrective action in response well-reasoned arguments -- and for those of you have been helpful in that regard I am thankful.

For the others who would criticize our efforts, it would appear that they misunderstand what I am trying to achieve -- it is not, repeat, not how noisy the shutter is with respect to other cameras, it is that it is noisier than previous models, and, for a $5,000 camera excuses are meaningless.

For example, when designing a new version of an existing product, one is entitled to expect that improvements will be made -- not that its main virtue will be disregarded to accommodate the "improvement", as has happened with the M8.

Remember, it was only a few years ago that Leica said that you can't have a digital "M", and now here we are. Why, I bet that they can even do a full frame digital. True, perhaps the camera body might have to be a tad deeper, but I doubt anyone would object.

Back to basics -- if Leica reverted to the classic cocking of the shutter, as recommended by one of the respondents, might Leica also go back to the cloth shutter, with motor driven mode for sequential sohts? I think that this is all no more complicated than that, and therefore would enlist the support of those in agreement.

I would not like to see the cloth shutter return. It was inaccurate beyond 1/250th,it had a ridiculous sync speed and it had only 1000th (approx) which did not help shallow DOF... That kind of nostalgia I can do without.

[reddawn]

I would not like to see the cloth shutter return. It was inaccurate beyond 1/250th,it had a ridiculous sync speed and it had only 1000th (approx) which did not help shallow DOF... That kind of nostalgia I can do without.

 

The magic of the cloth shutter is in its whisper quietness and the tactile feel of the camera as that shutter opens and closes when you can actually feel the travel.

 

And with manual cocking, it actually adds a rhythm to the shooting. I know, all these have nothing to do with ultimate picture quality but are intangibles which add to the M experience, or rather, preserves the M experience in a digital M body.

 

The inaccuracy can be solved if the shutter is electronically timed (ala the M7), and 1/1000 will be less painful if they can lower the default ISO speed (to something like 50 maybe?) with a different sensor.

 

As for using flash on a M.......

 

Personally I would take that over the burst / continous mode... guess I'm a traditionalist

[jaapv]

The magic of the cloth shutter is in its whisper quietness and the tactile feel of the camera as that shutter opens and closes when you can actually feel the travel.

 

And with manual cocking, it actually adds a rhythm to the shooting. I know, all these have nothing to do with ultimate picture quality but are intangibles which add to the M experience, or rather, preserves the M experience in a digital M body.

 

The inaccuracy can be solved if the shutter is electronically timed (ala the M7), and 1/1000 will be less painful if they can lower the default ISO speed (to something like 50 maybe?) with a different sensor.

 

As for using flash on a M.......

 

Personally I would take that over the burst / continous mode... guess I'm a traditionalist

 

Well. 35 years of M cloth shutters have taken care of my traditionalist needs I guess.