beoon Posted September 7, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 7, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Can anyone suggest why Leica have put the new step in the M9 top plate? If we assume it is the same basic design as the M8, then it would have been easier to remove the hole for the frame counter and the top plate would have worked for the M9 and this retains valuable spare volume capacity for future electronics. But the designers chose to introduce a step? Any suggestions as to why? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 7, 2009 Posted September 7, 2009 Hi beoon, Take a look here Leica M9 Top Plate Design. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
adan Posted September 7, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 7, 2009 Makes the corner look a bit less like Boris "Frankenstein" Karloff's head and a bit more like an M3/M2/MP minus rewind knob - i.e. cosmetics. http://www.doncapone.org/modelkits/images/Frankenstein-Billiken-3.jpg http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M3/Leica-MP/MP-167_368/MP-368A.jpeg Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brill64 Posted September 7, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 7, 2009 so that it looks more like an m3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eudemian Posted September 7, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 7, 2009 This has me puzzled as well. If we assume there is a reason for this change, and a technical reason what could prompt the change? Is it purely aesthetic, in which case I wonder about the validity of the change? If it is a technical reason I wonder what that could be? I hope form follows function, that seems to the Leica ethic and why would they depart from that if this is a purely stylistic change? Just wondering, I am sure there will be ideas in the forum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 7, 2009 Share #5 Posted September 7, 2009 A body like this would have been pretty ugly. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/95723-leica-m9-top-plate-design/?do=findComment&comment=1021654'>More sharing options...
beoon Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted September 7, 2009 A body like this would have been pretty ugly. But that is an M8 and the "original" design (with the top frame counter to emulate the rewind knob of an M3 etc) The M9 body in the brochue does not have the step at the same level as the side with the shutter dial, which if aesthetics was the reason you would have thought they would be at the same level. Although I suspect the one in the brochure may be a "mock" up since the vulcanite covering looks odd at the side with the new step and could only be pictorial for the brochure Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 7, 2009 Share #7 Posted September 7, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) "Although I suspect the one in the brochure may be a "mock" up" ...hmm, words likely to be eaten 2 days from now. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 7, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 7, 2009 But that is an M8 and the "original" design (with the top frame counter to emulate the rewind knob of an M3 etc)... It's just the M9 in the brochure to which i've added a few millimeters on the right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe D. Posted September 7, 2009 Share #9 Posted September 7, 2009 A body like this would have been pretty ugly. Yes, I share fully this feeling. I suggest this one: Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/95723-leica-m9-top-plate-design/?do=findComment&comment=1021714'>More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 7, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 7, 2009 It's so you can stick your chewing gum there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 7, 2009 Share #11 Posted September 7, 2009 A body like this would have been pretty ugly. So, you think this is ugly?... I have no strong opinion on M9 top plate one way or another, but I always thought my M8.2 was rather beautiful...same shape as your photo, I think. To each his own. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 7, 2009 Share #12 Posted September 7, 2009 There is always this possibility: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/97346-accessory-idea.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 7, 2009 Share #13 Posted September 7, 2009 So, you think this is ugly?... Yes i do sorry. Matter of tastes though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bo_Lorentzen Posted September 7, 2009 Share #14 Posted September 7, 2009 They HAD to do something so collectors and M lovers across the world would instantly spot the M9 in the crowd. God forbid they accidentally could mistake a M8 for a M9. Now with a only a little time on the grinder the M9 have a clear defining look of its own, yet hint strongly of classical Leica design traditions and history of cameras already collectors items. . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 7, 2009 Share #15 Posted September 7, 2009 Exactly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted September 7, 2009 Share #16 Posted September 7, 2009 Bo, I think you've got it. So many people were covering the model number with tape, Leica wanted to be sure we could all tell the camera at a glance. The step really looks cruddy to me. Esthetically I'd have preferred the traditional straight side. Will the step mean extra cost because of an extra production step? Will it be the other way 'round? Or no difference? Maybe there were two sides on the design team. Side 1 got its way with the M8, Side 2 gets its way with the M9. We'll get used to it. Maybe seeing the camera in person will make it more attractive. Turn it into a selling point: Maybe it will offer a more natural thumb position for verticals? And for the purist, someone will start offering brass plugs to glue into that gaping space. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eudemian Posted September 7, 2009 Share #17 Posted September 7, 2009 So, no technical reason for the change, just a matter of aesthetics? This doesn't move me, I want a real reason for the change but I guess I am old fashioned, I am not against change just whimsical change. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
beoon Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share #18 Posted September 7, 2009 They HAD to do something so collectors and M lovers across the world would instantly spot the M9 in the crowd. God forbid they accidentally could mistake a M8 for a M9. Now with a only a little time on the grinder the M9 have a clear defining look of its own, yet hint strongly of classical Leica design traditions and history of cameras already collectors items. . I suspect the reason for the return of the "Red Dot" is to point out to people this is an M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 7, 2009 Share #19 Posted September 7, 2009 They HAD to do something so collectors and M lovers across the world would instantly spot the M9 in the crowd. God forbid they accidentally could mistake a M8 for a M9. Now with a only a little time on the grinder the M9 have a clear defining look of its own, yet hint strongly of classical Leica design traditions and history of cameras already collectors items.. This I can agree with. But, "lct" opinion that M8 is ugly and M9 is lovely strikes me as similar to saying that the Jag XKE became ugly when the headlight covers changed. Different, yes...and preference for one over the other, yes...but ugly overall vs beautiful overall? This change is just a nit IMO and keeping within Leica traditions. BTW, none of this has anything remotely to do with my opinion of the camera, nor has any effect on my purchase decision, but the thread (and "lct" photo post in particular) caught my attention. Slow day. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted September 7, 2009 Share #20 Posted September 7, 2009 Well, realistically - the "whimsical change" occurred with the M8 introduction, not the M9. All previous Leica M's had a sloped or stepped corner to accomodate the film rewind knob/crank. The M8 changed that (maybe for technical reasons, maybe not). The M9 is undoing that change and returning to the 1954-2006 M body design. Truly old-fashioned. I doubt it will affect the pictures one iota. The M8 corner change didn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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