Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/01/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ah, I would not have known that it is the press release (from 2002) that contains the absolute truth. All the best! Raimo K Personal photography homepage at: http://www.uusikaupunki.fi/~raikorho ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Lee" <jwlee01@gmail.com> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 9:04 AM Subject: Re: Was RE: [Leica] DSLR choice - now Zeiss-Ikon - now Leica is non-Mg > Seth, > > Your information for the Leica R9 from the Leica website is incorrect! > The information in the LEICA R9 is also incorrect. > > My source: Leica, Press Release, September 2002, Nr. 40e, 02, page 1 > > "At photokina 2002 in Cologne, Germany, Leica Camera AG introduced the > LEICA R9, > a single lens reflex camera that incorporate numerous enhanced > characteristics that > are important photographically. Thanks to the use of new materials > such as magnesium, > the new camera is 100 grams (just over 3.5 ounces) lighter than the > top-of-the-line > model LEICA R8, yet it retains the same rigidity." > > page 2, page 3 > > "Weight reduction by means of light metals: Weighing only 790 grams > (less than 28 > ounces), the LEICA R9 is 100 grams (more tha 3.5 ounces) lighter than the > LEICA > R8. The lion's share of the weight reduction was achieved by paring 70 > grams (2.5 > ounces) from the weight of the top cover. The magnesium top cover now > weighs only > 40 grams (less than 1.5 ounces) , which is only about one third of the > weight of the > previous top cover, which was made of die-cast zinc. The rigidity of > the new top cover > is identical to that of the previous cover. Magnesium, the same > material used for > Formula 1 engines, was ideally suited for this weight reduction. The high > Leica > standard of longevity, however, required a research project in which > Leica explored > new technological domains. > > Magnesium is particularly difficult to manage with respect to > corrosion resistance > and scuffing. Leica for the first time employs a plasma-chemical > process for coating > the light metal. This transforms the surface of the magnesium into a > thin ceramic > layer. In this process, special demands are placed on the magnesium > alloy and on > the preparation of the surface. Special lacquers are then applied to > achieve an extra- > ordinary long-lasting finish. A greater fabrication effort is also > required for casting the > magnesium in the molds, because this takes place temperatures of 700 > degrees C > (1292 degrees F) as compared to 400 degrees C (752 degrees F) in the > die-casting > process." > > > Cheers, > John >