Re: Thoughts for Solms on a new M7 [Leica] Leica-Users List Digest V2 #160

[Thomas Kachadurian <kach@freeway.net>]

Howard:

From your keyboard to (Leica) god's monitor.

Tom

 At 06:52 PM 2/11/98 +0800, you wrote:
>Now that we have someone on the list from Leica (yes!), and perhaps someone
>from Leica USA as well, could we start a discussion on what we would like to
>see in the Leica M 7? On the Rollei Users Group the rep from HP Marketing
>(Rollei Distributor) comments from time to time and this is very
>informative. I think the M6 Hm or 0.85 is a good start. Yes, I am going to
>buy one! I met the Leica Marketing Manager (sorry can't remember his name
>and can't find his card) at the Hong Kong Photo and Electronics show several
>years ago and he patiently listened to my comments that for eye glass
>wearers the 28mm viewfinder in the M6 couldn't be seen entirely - not enough
>eye relief. That was one reason that separate 28 mm view finders still have
>a market. (This we all know). I went on to say that by the time one had
>enough money to buy Leicas you usually needed glasses and Leica should
>recognise the market segment made up of "old guys with bad eyes and
>purchasing power." With the introduction of the M6 Hm I am glad to see that
>they were listening.:>)). 
>Concerning the yet mythical M7 I would like to see an updated M6 (similar
>sized body please) with a shutter running to (at least) 1/4,000 and a flash
>sync speed of at least 1/250. Like in a Nikon FA, FE2, FM2. The exposure
>system should be centre weighted (spot metering as an option) - as is the
>meter on the M6 (which works very well in my experience). Aperture preferred
>automatic (like on the CLE) should be available (you set the aperture and
>the camera chooses the shutter speed) and manual shutter preferred as well
>(as in today's M 6) - not like the CLE where when you turn off "A" the meter
>stops working! The flash should also be TTL of course with some ratio
>adjustment(like the R 7?).  The clarity of the viewfinder / rangefinder
>should remain as good as it is now - with the addition of shutter speeds
>indicated in the finder. The best way of doing this without cluttering the
>finder I leave to the designers in Solms.  I  don't see any need for auto
>focusing or any way to incorporate it usefully. Now that the R8 has been
>developed and marketed, hopefully Solms can turn its development team on to
>the design of the M7. I am sure many others have their own thoughts as to
>what should be incorporated into the next model. Let's share those thoughts
>with Solms.
>Howard Cummer
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