[Leica] Leica SL and maybe the design inspiration?

[Frank Dernie]

As an engineering designer used to designing for small production runs (but much smaller than Leica) I doubt a stylist has been used. The SL looks to me something which has entirely been designed to be inexpensively NC machined from solid since the projected production volume almost certainly would not have been able to fund the tooling for diecasting.
The shape looks to me orientated around simple machining with only a minimal look at styling, such as the nameplate which looks like a R4 to R6 part.
The body seems to have a simple knurled finish.
Frank D.

> On 21 Oct 2015, at 15:09, Frank Filippone <red735i at verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> I am a bit haunted by the exterior design of this camera. unusual for me,
> because I usually do not care..
> 
> 
> 
> After a night of thinking, I came upon an idea, and went on the WEB to look
> up the old, Leica S1..
> 
> 
> 
> http://www.bhphotovideo.com/find/newsLetter/Leica-S1.jsp
> 
> 
> 
> I think that this 1996 camera, popular among museums for early recording of
> artworks, may have been part of the inspiration for the exterior design of
> the SL.
> 
> 
> 
> Slab body, smooth front, tall, built for "business", no frills,
> minimalistic....  Certainly less busy than a Sony A7 or even Leica's recent
> compact cameras.
> 
> 
> 
> Could it be that the original designer of this camera is still working at
> Leica? 
> 
> 
> 
> I think there is an interesting story here.. 
> 
> 
> 
> Frank Filippone
> 
> Red735i at verizon.net
> 
> 
> 
> 
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