In praise of clean uncluttered design

[NZDavid]

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One of things I like most about Leica is its simplicity: concentration on the essentials. I really like the Leica M with its manual shutter dial, manual aperture ring, manual ISO setting, manual rangefinder focusing. Form follows function. Bauhaus design. Back in the 60s and 70s, all cameras were like this. Then, with more electronics, cameras became increasingly complex to use. Now, with cameras that are computers, the controls almost require a science officer. Menu upon menu. Fiddly buttons.

 

With this in mind, I think Leica is to be congratulated for keeping its camera designs basically unchanged (except for the Panasonic-derived point and shoots). This is evident in the M8 and now the S2. Changing shutter speeds using a dial is straightforward. Compare the process on other brands: selecting TV, rotating a dial, squinting into an LCD. With the M, it’s one step, not three.

 

Canon’s G10 is more evidence of a return to basic, proven, functional controls. My chunky fingers are simply no good at pressing tiny buttons – same with a cell phone. But there shouldn't be too many manual dials and switches, or the camera becomes too cluttered.

 

I would love to see a simplified Digilux 4. Manual shutter dial, aperture ring, (both with A), ISO ring, even a manual zoom. And the option of fewer, not more shooting modes. Most are just distracting and a waste of time. Record, play, delete – that’s all you really need.

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[rsolomon]

agreed -- less is more in this case however there are a few things i would like to see in a Digilux 4....i have them listed in another thread

[NZDavid]

Thanks, interesting. I didn't mean to comment on just one model, though -- I think all kinds of tech products could be a lot simpler to use. Leica M is a good example of straightforward product design.

[JBA]

Absloutely agree. My hatred of fiddly buttons and a maddeningly complex array of functions is what drew me to Leica. I was contemplating the purchase of a Nikon D200 with 18-200 and ended up getting an M6 and 35 Summicron Asph. -- vastly different beasts! And I've never looked back.

 

Leica really deserves credit for keeping the new S2 simple and uncluttered.

[adan]

I've always had fun imagining to myself a "modal" automobile interface along the lines of modern (non-Leica) cameras - One "control wheel" to handle all jobs, depending on the button pressed..

 

The steering wheel handles everything - you just change the "mode" by pressing different buttons.

 

To back out of your drive, you hold the "transmission" button in, while turning the steering wheel until the LCD reads "reverse". Then you press the "steering" button to get back into steering mode. As you roll backward into the street you quickly press the "brakes mode" button, while turning the wheel to stop, and then quickly press the "steering" button again to turn before you hit the trash cans across the street.

 

Press "transmission" and turn the wheel to get to "Drive" (no "manual gearbox" on this baby - down that path lies madness).

 

Press "Engine" and turn the wheel to "30 mph" - quick press "Steering" button to get back into steering mode before you run off the road.

 

Same for tuning the radio - press "radio" button and turn steering wheel until you get to "tune", press "radio" again for set, then turn wheel to get to the station you want - hopefully all on a straight stretch of road because you have no steering while doing these other things.

 

etc. etc.

[NZDavid]

From what I've read, BMW's iDrive is like that. The new Jag appears to have a multi-function transmission controlled by a single button. And steering wheels these days are indeed plastered with all sorts of buttons. They control even more important functions than driving, like stereo controls and phone.

[stuny]

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David -

 

(Good to hear from you via our site, by the way). I don't know if the D2 is in your experience, but part of the reason why so many of us value it is its simplicity.

[marknorton]

I'd be all for simplifying the M further, specifically a DNG only mode which would allow options to be removed from the SET and main menus and not just greyed out.

[wattsy]

With this in mind, I think Leica is to be congratulated for keeping its camera designs basically unchanged (except for the Panasonic-derived point and shoots). This is evident in the M8 and now the S2.

 

The S2 lenses don't appear to have an aperture ring - that's one step towards the current 'norm' which I regret a little. Presumably changing the aperture will require looking at the LCD and pushing some button somewhere. The M8.2 also shows certain signs of feature creep - EV compensation via the rear dial, auto-ISO and a totally uncalled for idiot-mode. If some of the forum members get their way we'd also end up with electronic framelines and other gizmos.

[stunsworth]

Presumably changing the aperture will require looking at the LCD and pushing some button somewhere.

 

There's a wheel under on the grip where the right thumb would sit, I assume that's for changing the aperture.

[rob_x2004]

They control even more important functions than driving, like stereo controls and phone.

Which is a good idea, because most clowns driving all over the road are distracted by or have their heads in the most used instruments on their dash.

[rosuna]

I want the S2 interface in the next M9...

(based on 4 modal buttons).

[stuny]

Steve is correct. The wheel behind/under the left thumb is to adjust the aperture. No menus for the basic controls -- Just as I prefer it. Perhaps this will appear on the R10, for use with the new lenses only, while we use the aperture ring on our current R lenses.

[wildlightphoto]

Steve is correct. The wheel behind/under the left thumb is to adjust the aperture. No menus for the basic controls -- Just as I prefer it. Perhaps this will appear on the R10, for use with the new lenses only, while we use the aperture ring on our current R lenses.

 

The unfortunate lack of an aperture ring most likely makes weather sealing much easier and more effective.

 

Regarding current R lenses - has anyone else noticed that on many current lenses the bayonet flange appears to be held by ten screws? In reality, four of those screws hold the aperture ring/flange assembly to the barrel of the lens. I wonder if Leica has plans to make electronic aperture control a retrofit option for these lenses? All it would take is to replace the mechanical aperture control / flange assembly with an electronic assembly. Personally I have little interest in this conversion unless a vary large benefit comes with it, I'm just curious from an engineer's POV.