[Leica] Re: Ergonomic shortfalls

[henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)]

At 7:30 PM -0400 9/13/06, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote:
>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
>>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>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?

Except for the problem of what to do with the baseplate I've had less 
problems loading M's than most other types of cameras and certainly 
can load them as fast. The main reason for that is that the 
flip-open-back design causes a long leader to lie across the back, 
and sometimes when you close the back the film doesn't advance. So I 
prefer the loading of the M4, M6, M7. I don't think I've ever 
mis-loaded one in thousands of rolls. Can't say the same for any 
Nikons, Canons, or Hexar RF or Xpan. Especially the latter, with the 
extra long back.

>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.

I find the location of the viewfinder ideal (right eyed viewing). My 
nose does not interfere with the camera, and for support I use my two 
hands. The left hand cradles the body and lens and focusses, from 
below, and the right hand holds,winds and fires. If a rapidwinder is 
used, the left is left with a bit more work, but supporting the 
camera is no issue. I can't think of a better viewfinder position for 
right  eyed users.

>3. Off center tripod mount - a never ending frustration for tripod users.

For those who do use a tripod with an M, the M8 has it fixed.

>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.

For those who do use flash with an M, use the hot shoe for everything 
from M4-2 on, and with the M8 that's all there is.

>5. Tiny controls - The small knobs and dials are impossible to 
>operate with gloves. As for mittens, fuggedaboudit.

The M6TTL, M7 and M8 have larger dials. The M8 has small buttons, 
just like all digital cameras. On the other hand, having used LTM 
cameras in 40 below weather, the M's do fine with gloves. Just don't 
let snow blow in when changing lenses.

I can't really think of any useful cameras that have large controls. 
Even the Nikonos has issues with the focussing/aperture knobs.

>
>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
>
>_______________________________________________
>Leica Users Group.
>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


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