Sherwood Nash Posted September 7, 2009 Share #21 Posted September 7, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) It's all academic now it's out the door, but aesthetically, I would have liked to have seen the 'step' with a curve, rather than a sharp right angle. If allowed, could someone show the top right front with a softened corner in PS please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 7, 2009 Posted September 7, 2009 Hi Sherwood Nash, Take a look here Leica M9 Top Plate Design. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
eudemian Posted September 7, 2009 Share #22 Posted September 7, 2009 I understand what you say Andy, but my point still remains. There was a reason for the step down before the M8 and this step down is now incorporated in the M9 but obviously not for the rewind knob, so why make the change? If anything it must cost more to produce that shape and that cost should be backed by a solid reason. I may be old fashioned but not that old fashioned;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philippe D. Posted September 7, 2009 Share #23 Posted September 7, 2009 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.Not really.Because the MP (forget all M3 and 2) is well finished. It is a work of Art, in which you can't add nor take away. It's truly Bauhaus Design. The M8 is unbalanced, the step on M9 (if real) is not well designed (little too high) and have no valuable reason to be there. I just prefer, and miss, this one on M8 and following... 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! Gruß von http://www.hs-pforzheim.de/De-de/Gestaltung/Seiten/Bereich.aspx Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Gruß von http://www.hs-pforzheim.de/De-de/Gestaltung/Seiten/Bereich.aspx ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/95723-leica-m9-top-plate-design/?do=findComment&comment=1021820'>More sharing options...
giordano Posted September 7, 2009 Share #24 Posted September 7, 2009 So, you think this is ugly?... Yes, I've always thought my M8 is ugly alongside the older Ms. Each additional millimetre of height or thickness has spoilt the original near-perfect proportions. Restoring a step at the end of the top plate is a significant improvement. Ugly or not, the M8 still helps me make nice pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julian Thompson Posted September 7, 2009 Share #25 Posted September 7, 2009 I believe there are differences in the windows up there - the M9 seems to have a more square viewfinder and a different sized opaque window too - I actually think that top part of the M9 is more upright but that they have lost some height in the body somewhere - all fractional - but I believe that without the step it would have looked very bulky at the top.... We'll see I guess :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted September 7, 2009 Share #26 Posted September 7, 2009 ..."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... When i said it's ugly i just expressed my personal opinion for what it's worth but quite frankly i thought of my tweaked M9 and i did not think a second that the M8 was exactly the same. Hard to believe i guess but 100% true. Funny no? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 7, 2009 Share #27 Posted September 7, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) If ya want to be happy for the rest of your life, never make a pretty woman your wife.... Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpattinson Posted September 7, 2009 Share #28 Posted September 7, 2009 it's to mount the accessory beer opener Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill W Posted September 7, 2009 Share #29 Posted September 7, 2009 Was there something filling up that space in the M8 that no longer requires that addition. We will need to wait for a full autopsy which I am sure will be performed by I believe it was Mark Norton before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted September 8, 2009 Share #30 Posted September 8, 2009 On a more serious note - I'm sure that removing the inset LCD reduced the production complexity significantly (no precision machining for the LCD fit, no LCD quality control, no fitment labour step, less parts to go wrong etc) and no doubt opened up some usable space under the top plate for other use in the camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
docolmo Posted September 8, 2009 Share #31 Posted September 8, 2009 I am surprised nobody complained about the bottom plate, and the fact that you have to remove it to insert or change the SDHD card. Many people thought it was a cumbersome an unnecessary effort. But I am glad Leica retained the bottom plate, as long as the retaining "pin" and that part of the plate is strong enough not to shear during impact. With the bottom plate, they've retained the classical M-look, which others would agree. Just like the X-1 as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennB Posted September 8, 2009 Share #32 Posted September 8, 2009 I always thought it was strange that the twist lock on the M8's bottom plate was on the opposite side than my M6s. It took me some getting used to, but I never read about anyone complaining about it. Guess no one was changing film as often as I was when I was using mine for work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamriman Posted September 8, 2009 Share #33 Posted September 8, 2009 I think Epson got it right with the RD-1 from the begining. Classic step with functional rewind knob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSU Posted September 8, 2009 Share #34 Posted September 8, 2009 Ever seen the M5? 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...
adan Posted September 8, 2009 Share #35 Posted September 8, 2009 Actually, the first Leica M I ever shot a story with was the M5 - put me off Leica for years - I think I just tend to "block" that era psychologically - but you're right. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted September 8, 2009 Share #36 Posted September 8, 2009 Well, realistically - the "whimsical change" occurred with the M8 introduction, not the M9. ... Was there something filling up that space in the M8 that no longer requires that addition. ... Must have been the remaining frames counter. M9 doesn't have a top LCD, therefore the return to the earlier design? Sure did like that M5 look. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhabedi Posted September 8, 2009 Share #37 Posted September 8, 2009 I suspect the reason for the return of the "Red Dot" is to point out to people this is an M9. No. It's for legal reasons. They are not allowed to use the black dots anymore. (Remember that Leica Camera AG is not the owner of the Leica trademark.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted September 8, 2009 Share #38 Posted September 8, 2009 Don't tell me that's Qatar as well? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted September 8, 2009 Share #39 Posted September 8, 2009 I like the notch. Given that the top plate lcd is gone, and the M7/MP viewfinder system seems to be used with almost no change (same frames, back to 1m standard distance, slight eyeglass relief from .72 to .68 to accept the fact that 90% of the purchasers are over 50 yrs), there is nothing in that volume. The M9 notch is the same height as the top plate on the other side of the section raised over the viewfinder mechanism, so it lines up nicely. From the M2 all the way to the MP bodies with the painful rewind knob, the notch goes deeper, determined by the height of the knob. scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 8, 2009 Share #40 Posted September 8, 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. Well said... it was the flat end of the top that surprised me in M8, not the step in M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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