[Leica] Re: Ergonomic shortfalls

[lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

On Sep 13, 2006, at 4:08 PM, Alan wrote:

> ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, 
> ,
>> 3. Do I want to put up with many of the ergonomic shortfalls inherent
>>   in the Leica's 50 year old design?
>
>> Larry Z
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> --------
>
> I'm not in line; have the cameras I want. I use older Leica M's (and a
> IIIf) more for the bodies than the lenses; I find the ergonomics of M
> Leicas very nice.  Never lusted after another camera once I got my M3.
> (Well, maybe my '59 Rolleiflex).

Ergonomic shortfalls:

1. Film loading - do I have to say more?
2. Viewfinder location - Looking at the camera from the back, the  
left hand location of the viewfinder means that to use the right eye  
the camera has to be held unsupported on the right side of the face.  
This promotes camera shake. This was acceptable with the M3 since  
the .92 rangefinder permitted the photographer to keep the left eye  
open. With the lesser magnification of succeeding models this  
advantage disappeared. Those fortunate enough to be left eyed can  
brace the camera against the face to achieve added support at the  
cost of getting nose oil over the backside Vulcanite.
3. Off center tripod mount - a never ending frustration for tripod  
users.
4. Rear flash contact - most civilized cameras have the flash contact  
on the front. Leica flash users risk jabbing an eye with a protruding  
flash plug.
5. Tiny controls - The small knobs and dials are impossible to  
operate with gloves. As for mittens, fuggedaboudit.

 From a ergonomic point of view, the CL was the best Leica made. Even  
though the viewfinder was still on the side, the camera body is short  
enough so that the overhang is tolerable. The tripod socket is center  
mounted and the flash contact is in the hot shoe where God meant it  
to be. The back removes for easy film loading. This has the added  
advantage that the camera does not have to be partly disassembled to  
remove a film chip. There are some ergonomic problems with the CL of  
course. The meter turns on only when the winding lever is extended.  
For a left eyed photographer this puts the extended winding lever  
directly into his right eyeball. Even Leica recognized this problem  
after the camera was released and would fix the camera at no charge  
so the meter was always on. The downside was a shorter battery life.

None of these ergonomic deficiencies matters a whit to photographic  
quality but they do make the camera harder to use. The biggest  
ergonomic problem, the needle threading film loading procedure is a  
moot point with the M8 but most of the other problems will still be  
there. Most of the design compromises on the older camera were  
mandated by the internal arrangement of the mechanical components,  
mandates which are no longer necessary in this electronic age. Leica  
could have taken the opportunity to refresh the 50 year old design of  
the M series - but then it wouldn't be a Leica, would it.

Larry Z