noah_addis Posted September 27, 2009 Share #1 Posted September 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm not sure if this could be implemented in firmware or not, but the M9 and M8 really need a key lock function for the buttons on the back. I've never had a problem before but I was covering the G20 protests and repeatedly had problems with accidentally-changed settings. A few times I changed the ISO by accident, which I did notice quickly because I shoot on manual exposure and noticed the exposures were off. More disturbingly--I somehow managed to change from DNG/JPEG fine to JPEG fine only. This happened twice, and luckily my exposures were good and the frames were still usable. I've never had this problem before--but it was a crazy weekend full of tear gas, rubber bullets and LRADs so things did get a bit dodgy at times. Incidentally I had no problems with using the M8 under the rough conditions, the accidental settings changes were the only glitch. It would be great if you could, say, push the PLAY + SET buttons and turn the wheel a click and have it disable all of the buttons on the back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 27, 2009 Posted September 27, 2009 Hi noah_addis, Take a look here The M9/M8 needs a keylock.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
fefe Posted September 27, 2009 Share #2 Posted September 27, 2009 A closed Luigi half case effectively disable all buttons in the back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebelfocus Posted September 27, 2009 Share #3 Posted September 27, 2009 A closed Luigi half case effectively disable all buttons in the back. I couldn't agree more that a software-based "keylock" is required. A few weeks ago I ended up taking a series of shots at User Profile 0 (the built in one) which is crummy M8 JPGs. It must have got switched to that by accident. I use a Luigi half-case with flap but even with that the buttons can accidentally get pressed and it's nearly worse with the case because you don't notice the screen lighting up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhabedi Posted September 27, 2009 Share #4 Posted September 27, 2009 A closed Luigi half case effectively disable all buttons in the back. Not really. I've had situations where I had my M8 in the case (which is almost always closed) and still accidentally hit some buttons. That included one case where the camera was set to JPEG-only which I only noticed half an hour later. I agree with Noah that it'd be nice if the buttons could be disabled and I think that should be doable in software. Only a fool-proof mechanism to re-enable them which can also be implemented with a pure firmware update might be a bit difficult. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted September 27, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted September 27, 2009 I don't like cases, and in any event they may or may not prevent accidental changes. And keep in mind that under normal shooting situations I've never had problems with the M8. As I envision it you could push the PLAY + SET buttons simultaneously while turning the wheel a click to lock the keys. And the same action would unlock them. Since those particular buttons are far apart it's less likely that you'd accidentally lock or unlock the keys. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted September 27, 2009 Share #6 Posted September 27, 2009 I agree a keylock would be a real plus, and should be doable in the firmware. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted September 27, 2009 Share #7 Posted September 27, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) No key lock needed. What Leica should of done on the M9 is recess those buttons. I can't believe this got left off the list of M9 feature requests. I have been dealing with this since I got my first M8. I have now placed some nylon washers around the three main buttons, Play, SET and Menu that cause this problem. Effectively recessing those button so you have to actually push into the washer hole to activate the buttons. Since doing this I have not brought the camera up to my eye with either the screen being on or any settings being changed. On the M9 you might have to do the same on 4 of the buttons, Play, ISO, SET and Menu. But if you did just the SET and Play button on the left that might keep the ISO button from being pressed accidentally. EDIT: If there was a key lock implemented people would complain that they can't get to the settings fast enough and they forgot they set the key lock and now the menus don't work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
batmobile Posted September 27, 2009 Share #8 Posted September 27, 2009 This has been brought up repeatedly and I am amazed that Leica neither recessed the buttons nor introduced a key lock. basic stuff... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted September 27, 2009 Share #9 Posted September 27, 2009 Also a firmware "disable camera" function so that it can be switched off during travel regardless of the "on" switch position. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted September 27, 2009 Share #10 Posted September 27, 2009 Also a firmware "disable camera" function so that it can be switched off during travel regardless of the "on" switch position. Great idea, but just how does the override work, to turn it back on? scott Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted September 27, 2009 Author Share #11 Posted September 27, 2009 No key lock needed. What Leica should of done on the M9 is recess those buttons. I can't believe this got left off the list of M9 feature requests.I have been dealing with this since I got my first M8. I have now placed some nylon washers around the three main buttons, Play, SET and Menu that cause this problem. Effectively recessing those button so you have to actually push into the washer hole to activate the buttons. Since doing this I have not brought the camera up to my eye with either the screen being on or any settings being changed. On the M9 you might have to do the same on 4 of the buttons, Play, ISO, SET and Menu. But if you did just the SET and Play button on the left that might keep the ISO button from being pressed accidentally. EDIT: If there was a key lock implemented people would complain that they can't get to the settings fast enough and they forgot they set the key lock and now the menus don't work. Of course it would have been nice for the buttons to be recessed. But they're not, and it's a bit easier to change firmware than hardware at this point. Also, with recessed buttons it may be harder to operate the camera with gloves on. The keylock would need to turned on by the user, I don't think it's a good idea to have them lock automatically. And in any event there could also be a way in the menu to totally disable the keylock feature. Some solution is needed, I'm very convinced of that now. Strangely I never had the problem with my M8s. I was using a loaner M8.2. But I no longer have my M8s so I can't say if the buttons or control wheel require a different amount of pressure to operate. The M9 I tried out felt very similar to my loaner M8.2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidrolfe Posted September 27, 2009 Share #12 Posted September 27, 2009 I agree on the desirability of a keylock. I've often had the ISO or white balance on my M8 change after being set. Wouldn't removing the battery serve to disable the camera during travel? drolfe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 27, 2009 Share #13 Posted September 27, 2009 Yes- but not during shooting. A keylock would be an excellent idea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted September 27, 2009 Share #14 Posted September 27, 2009 Wouldn't removing the battery serve to disable the camera during travel? drolfe Yes, but I'm looking for an easy solution to avoid the "on" switch being knocked when I put the camera in a bag and jump on and off a bus or a plane etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted September 27, 2009 Share #15 Posted September 27, 2009 Great idea, but just how does the override work, to turn it back on? scott When you switch the camera on at the switch it shows a menu which says would you like to take some pictures... [NO] - (yes) or something like that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted September 27, 2009 Share #16 Posted September 27, 2009 Yes, but I'm looking for an easy solution to avoid the "on" switch being knocked when I put the camera in a bag and jump on and off a bus or a plane etc. Doesn't the camera turn itself off after a given amount of time (unless specifically set to 'never')? I'm not quite sure what the problem is. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noah_addis Posted September 27, 2009 Author Share #17 Posted September 27, 2009 When you switch the camera on at the switch it shows a menu which says would you like to take some pictures... [NO] - (yes) or something like that? This would be horrible in my opinion. To me, running down a rechargeable battery by leaving the camera on is an acceptable risk. Any pro will have extra batteries and in any event the camera does go to sleep after a while if you set it to do so. I've killed countless M6ttl batteries by leaving the camera on and having the button pressed accidentally in my bag. It's a risk I'll take to make sure the camera is on and ready to go when I need it. And shooting frames by accident in the bag is no big deal either, especially with digital since you can delete them. Losing the ability to turn the camera on and shoot right away would be a disaster. The M9 I tried out seemed to have firmer detents on the switch than my M8s did. Losing images because the ISO or RAW/JPEG setting changed is not an acceptable risk, which is why I suggested a lock. SHOOTIST--how did you get the washers to stick over the buttons? Sounds like a good interim fix. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted September 27, 2009 Share #18 Posted September 27, 2009 Doesn't the camera turn itself off after a given amount of time (unless specifically set to 'never')? I'm not quite sure what the problem is. It reactivates if the shutter release is touched. I'm looking for a fail safe way to turn the camera off and shove it in a camera bag... without having a loose on switch which can drain the battery. Sometimes even the menu buttons can get pressed when in a tight fitting bag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted September 27, 2009 Share #19 Posted September 27, 2009 Also a firmware "disable camera" function so that it can be switched off during travel regardless of the "on" switch position. It already has this option. Take off the base plate and move the white switch by the battery. Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bybrett Posted September 27, 2009 Share #20 Posted September 27, 2009 This would be horrible in my opinion. To me, running down a rechargeable battery by leaving the camera on is an acceptable risk. Any pro will have extra batteries and in any event the camera does go to sleep after a while if you set it to do so. I've killed countless M6ttl batteries by leaving the camera on and having the button pressed accidentally in my bag. It's a risk I'll take to make sure the camera is on and ready to go when I need it. And shooting frames by accident in the bag is no big deal either, especially with digital since you can delete them. Losing the ability to turn the camera on and shoot right away would be a disaster. The camera would work exactly as it does now! It would be the same as the Snapshot mode - it only comes up to exit the mode if you have chosen the mode earlier... or the same as disabling the self timer. It's a user option. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.