M10 Bottom Plate Issue

[01af]

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The Leica SL doesn't have a baseplate, has a fairly rugged door for the SD card, and a simple door- and plate-less battery release. And it's weathersealed.

 

And it's significantly bigger than the M10 body.

 

If there's enough room to spare, all kinds of doors and flaps and sockets and click-lock latches can be included. But not in the M10.

[vladik]

And it's significantly bigger than the M10 body.

 

If there's enough room to spare, all kinds of doors and flaps and sockets and click-lock latches can be included. But not in the M10.

 

 

Of course a solution to removable bottom plate could be found. It does not have to be a flip up door that number of respondents are up in arms against. It could be a nice sliding cover or similar. Do you remember the stupid design on M9 that has a tripod socket part of the bottom plate and the whole arrangement wobbled when mounted on tripod ? If Leica is unable to figure it out themselves it could be given to engineering firm to come out with an elegant solution. Porsche or Audi design biro comes to mind or a third year students of engineering.

[LocalHero1953]

And it's significantly bigger than the M10 body.

 

If there's enough room to spare, all kinds of doors and flaps and sockets and click-lock latches can be included. But not in the M10.

Who can tell if it is a design decision driven by necessity or marketing.

FWIW my money's on marketing (i.e. a retro feature).

[pgk]

Do you remember the stupid design on M9 that has a tripod socket part of the bottom plate and the whole arrangement wobbled when mounted on tripod ?

 

Your M9 must be different to mine.

[pico]

Do you remember the stupid design on M9 that has a tripod socket part of the bottom plate and the whole arrangement wobbled when mounted on tripod ?

 

You might be thinking of an M7 or other film M.

[vladik]

Your M9 must be different to mine.

 

 

You might be thinking of an M7 or other film M.

I’ve sold my M9 years ago and that is what I remember. So Goggling Leica M9 bottom plate photos clearly indicates that the tripod attachment screw is a part of a bottom plate and not in the M9 body itself. Would someone please have a look at their M9 and confirm one-way or other.

[jaapv]

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Of course a solution to removable bottom plate could be found. It does not have to be a flip up door that number of respondents are up in arms against. It could be a nice sliding cover or similar. Do you remember the stupid design on M9 that has a tripod socket part of the bottom plate and the whole arrangement wobbled when mounted on tripod ? If Leica is unable to figure it out themselves it could be given to engineering firm to come out with an elegant solution. Porsche or Audi design biro comes to mind or a third year students of engineering.

Leica has been working together with Porsche and Audi for years already...

Anyway, I found the socket in the bottom plate ideal, quite stable and easy to remove the camera from the tripod to change battery or card. The M240 and M10? Add an Arca-Swiss connector and you need a tool to get at the things, you have to replace it by a third-party plate to make it work. 

The tripod connection on the M8/9 is in the bottom plate and slides into a bush in the body for stability- works quite well.

[pgk]

I’ve sold my M9 years ago and that is what I remember. So Goggling Leica M9 bottom plate photos clearly indicates that the tripod attachment screw is a part of a bottom plate and not in the M9 body itself. Would someone please have a look at their M9 and confirm one-way or other.

 

It is, but mine doesn't wobble in the slightest - just checked. I've had a Kirk adapter bolted on for years - its still rock solid.

[M10Alpine]

A new M10 bottom plate takes two weeks to get and cost 240€

[pico]

I’ve sold my M9 years ago and that is what I remember. So Goggling Leica M9 bottom plate photos clearly indicates that the tripod attachment screw is a part of a bottom plate and not in the M9 body itself. Would someone please have a look at their M9 and confirm one-way or other.

 

The tripod mount is in the middle of the base-plate, and the camera body underneath is recessed to allow a generous sized tripod mount. Perhaps someone could post a picture.

 

Both my M9s have RRS base plates which I recommend. The tripod mount is smack in the middle, and the rest of the RRS supports it perfectly.

[digitalfx]

 

Well I guess the flick that opens the bottom plate lock must have opened and flicked in some way. 

 

 

 

 

odds are far greater you simple never locked it....in the locked and folded position, it simply cant unlock itself without some external force.

[jmahto]

I did an experiment with M240. After hooking the bottom plate on the stud I didn't fully press it fully against the body. I turned the latch but it didn't catch inside since it was mot fully pressed. By holding the bottom plate like that I could shoot. It is a little snug and it will remain like that if there are no bumps but certainly will fall off at some point. Something like this must have happened.

 

Lesson learnt is to fully press the plate before you turn the latch.

[M11 for me]

I just examine the lock on my plate. The closed and folded down latch can absolutely NOT turn enough so that it could open by itself. The "countersink" is designed in a marvellous oval way that makes it impossible to turn the latch without folding it up. The sink is NOT round. Just a wonderful design element.

 

Nobody knows now in detail what really happened to you. I would just go to buy a new one. And you can be very happy to see that your camera is not scratched. Once the plate is replaced there will be not the slightest damage left.

 

Back to the design: That plate is an original design element that would NEVER ever be omitted as long as there is an M camera. As we all know, and for many of us it was a reason to own an M, the design of that camera is most precious today and no marketing guru ever would dare to make such critical changes. The style is BAUHAUS. A period when they created beautiful design and architecture. As a consequence of the OLD design the users have to be extremely careful with the camera. The design resembles an antique piece of furniture that is most valuable. And still the drawer opens never as smoothly as the drawer of an IKEA furniture. We have to simply accept that fact. I still prefer my old furnitures. I accept many inconveniences but I am still persuaded that in total the M10 is an excellent camera for ME. 

 

Of course i feel very sorry for you. But you can easily solve your problem.

[LocalHero1953]

Back to the design: That plate is an original design element that would NEVER ever be omitted as long as there is an M camera. As we all know, and for many of us it was a reason to own an M, the design of that camera is most precious today and no marketing guru ever would dare to make such critical changes. The style is BAUHAUS. A period when they created beautiful design and architecture. As a consequence of the OLD design the users have to be extremely careful with the camera. The design resembles an antique piece of furniture that is most valuable. And still the drawer opens never as smoothly as the drawer of an IKEA furniture. We have to simply accept that fact. I still prefer my old furnitures. I accept many inconveniences but I am still persuaded that in total the M10 is an excellent camera for ME. 

Does it take photos?

[M11 for me]

Does it take photos?

 

 

Yes of course. But this is very often not the unique reason why people buy a Leica M. I am probably a very typical user. At an event (political event or private party with lots of people) I still have the Canon 5D bodies with me with 135mm or 70-200m or 50mm, all fast lenses with fast AF. But for all other occasions I use more and more the M10 because I love it, its beautiful and small and it has excellent lenses. And that is why the bottom plate hast to remain unchanged :-)

 

If the M10 had an ugly design it would be out of market for a long time already. I am persuaded about that.

[digitalfx]

The closed and folded down latch can absolutely NOT turn enough so that it could open by itself. The "countersink" is designed in a marvellous oval way that makes it impossible to turn the latch without folding it up. The sink is NOT round. Just a wonderful design element.

 

 

 

This design is not unique to the M10, nor the digital M...its been around for well over half a century for a reason. Its solid.

The same locking mechanism on the bottom plate has been used since the 50's on Leica cameras and many others including my 1959 Nikon F.

 

Is it time to update the bottom of the M...I think yes. But is there anything wrong with this design? Clearly no.

 

The OP just failed to properly secure the plate....its simply not possible to fall off unless this was the case.

[lmyking]

The bottom plate on my M10 can be installed with the left side edge appearing properly seated,  and the right side a little less than 2mm short of being fully seated to the body.  The plate will then fall off at some point.  I look at mine very carefully when installing to be sure that it is fully seated the full length of the plate before turning the locking mechanism to the locked position.  I hadn't noticed that on any of my other digital M bodies.  

[digitalfx]

The bottom plate on my M10 can be installed with the left side edge appearing properly seated,  and the right side a little less than 2mm short of being fully seated to the body.  The plate will then fall off at some point.  I look at mine very carefully when installing to be sure that it is fully seated the full length of the plate before turning the locking mechanism to the locked position.  I hadn't noticed that on any of my other digital M bodies.  

 

 

All of the digital M's are exactly the same... If you look at the bottom plate while you install it, its easy to tell when its fully seated as there is no gap between the plate and the body covering. Ive noticed the M10 is tighter than the previous cameras, otherwise they are exactly the same. 

[M10Alpine]

odds are far greater you simple never locked it....in the locked and folded position, it simply cant unlock itself without some external force.

 

possibly, but I did use it all day, but sure, 99% chance user error.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[digitalfx]

nearly 100 years ago Oskar Barnak used a very similar design. This is the bottom plate on my Leica I model C from c1930

 

possibly, but I did use it all day, but sure, 99% chance user error

 

 I'm going to go out on a limb here and say its 100% user error. Attach the plate properly and try to make it to come off...let us know what you find.

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