First disappointing evening with the T

[stuny]

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John -

 

Do you have the Visoflex? If so, how does that help you "see" in similar situations?

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[barjohn]

Yes, I have the Visoflex. In low light it is not gained up either so it is the same problem as using the LCD. However, I noticed that it does not fluctuate in brightness quite as much.

[Guest]

The switch over to the Visoflex is, unfortunately, painfully slow. I find that I am using the LCD more these days to "capture the moment" when out with friends etc or not shooting static images and landscapes.

 

How I wish for an improvement solution from Leica like a virtual "always on" button.

 

Separately, I have had the chance to spend more time with my T and I am loving the output and handling more each day.

 

It would serve Leica well to impress its target audience with more frequent firmware updates than they have (not) done with the XV and their other cameras. This would go well against the "expensive, but worth it" image that they aim for.

 

Perhaps they could focus on "quick hits" (hint hint...) against a quarterly delivery schedule.

(Oh, to dream!)

 

I was told by a friend who works at one of Leica's sister companies that some of the firmware/electronics for the T and XV are produced here in the US (upstate NY) at yet another division (sister company). If true, perhaps this may in-part explain the slow and infrequent firmware delivery schedule.

 

Software development is not a one-time project/effort. Like a rocket, once it's launched, additional work is needed to maintain it in orbit. (Same is true for marriage actually.) This is different than the auto industry which has annual refreshes (car releases).

 

I sure hope someone at Leica reads these forums too.

 

Happy shooting and cheers!

[barjohn]

DGP,

 

I agree with you that Leica could and should offer more frequent incremental updates. Especially, where several significant firmware bugs or performance issues have been identified that will eventually impact sales if not addressed. As someone that has managed numerous software development projects over the years, you quickly learn that your team always has to be working on enhancing the software, improving its performance and fixing identified bugs. Once the software is in the hands of your customers you will quickly learn the bugs you missed, the performance issue you overlooked or thought was unimportant and ways you can improve the user experience. That is part of any software development's life cycle. I have learned that it is better for customers to see you fixing things and making improvements in multiple smaller steps than to wait and provide a big set of changes. Customers will tolerate problems when they feel they are being addressed and they see steady progress and quickly surmise you are incompetent and don't care about them when you delay for the big release. Additionally, you will invariably introduce new bugs in any but especially that big release and it is much harder to identify the cause and fix.

[Guest]

+1. Exactly! Well stated.

[colonel]

I was told by a friend who works at one of Leica's sister companies that some of the firmware/electronics for the T and XV are produced here in the US (upstate NY) at yet another division (sister company). If true, perhaps this may in-part explain the slow and infrequent firmware delivery schedule.

 

!

 

I doubt that very much.

Its clear that the XV has not sold as much as Leica would have wanted, and it has more popular models.

Leica have limited development resources and are probably focusing on the T and the 240 and also don't believe the XV has any major issues.

Some folk here believe there is a focus problem. I never found that the XV couldn't focus less then, say, the X100.

I suspect Leica is working on a firmware update for the XV but probably a bit of a slow burn for them

best rgds