Re: [Leica] Leica is Listening!

[Paul and Paula Butzi <butzi@halcyon.com>]

At 10:27 PM 5/11/98 , you wrote:
>
>LUG:
>
>With over 600 Leica enthusiasts on this list, I'm certain Leica is listening.
>So here are my requests for the new M7, as follows:
>
>1.  Same size as the M6, but with a contoured ergonomic body.
>2.  Electronic shutter with 1/4000th top speed.
>3.  Aperature prefered exposure mode (only shutter speed info in the
>viewfinder).
>4.  Same manual exposure mode as the M6.
>5.  No DX or any other auto goodies.  Keep the simple spirit of the M line.
>
>And what ever you do, don't discontinue the M6.
>
>P.S - Leica employees!!!!  Stop hiding, make yourself known!
>
>Cheers,
>
>Arturo             
> 

It seems to me that any changes to the M6 should be ones that
play to the camera systems strengths.  I see those strengths
as:
	1. a lens line that features large maximum apertures and performs
		well wide open.
	2. Rangefinder focusing, which performs well in poor lighting.
	2a. A viewfinder that lets you see *around* the frame as well as in it.
	3. The camera and lenses are small, unobtrusive, and quiet (except
		for the red dot :-)
	4. Because it has no reflex mirror, vibration is minimal, and it's
		possible to make exposures with shutter speeds that are surprisingly
		slow.
	5. Because there's no reflex mirror, nor a metering cell to swing out of
		the way, the time from button down to shutter open is very short.

All of this adds up to a camera system that is ideal for candid photography,
and photography in 'available darkness'.

To me, that's the essence of the M series.  If I wanted to improve it,
I'd:
	* make the camera even more discreet: replace the shutter with one that
		is even more quiet and vibration free.  I don't care about flash
		sync, nor do I care about speeds above 1/1000.  I'd be willing
		to put up with an electronically timed shutter.
	* make some provision for some automated film advance that was,
		unlike the current power winder, completely silent.  I don't care how
		quickly it advances the film as long as it's as fast as the lever 
		advance.  I'd like it to rewind the film, too.  
	* I'd do something to make the film loading a bit faster.  rewinding faster
		than the little crank would be a big help.  Autoloading would be another
		help.  Extra bodies and an assistant would be even better.

And to address my personal pet peeves:
	* put some sort of a rim around the viewfinder windows, to let me
		know by feel when I'm about to smudge them with my fingertips.
	* improve eye relief on the viewfinder.
	* I'd replace the current two triangle meter readout with some indication
	  of under/over exposure in  1/3 stops.
	* I'd like the shutter to have1/3 stop increments.

- -Paul