[Leica] Design R8 Part 2(final)

[Erwin Puts <imxputs@knoware.nl>]

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Part 2.

The form.
The body is clearly haevier and larger than the R7. The R7 measures
138,5x94,8x62,2mm and weighs 670gr. The R8 has 158x101x62mm and  890gr.
During the design stage it was already known thet the optics department of
Mr. K=F6lsch was busy designing heavier (zoom)lenses. The design of the R8 i=
s
needed to balance and support these new and more future designs.Therefore
the bottom section is very large. From above the R8 has an assymmetrical
form, a bit like the old Exacta.  The classical pagode form of the R7 has
been abandoned. The large control wheels with are sunk into the topcover
have milled edges of a very elaborate form to ensure handlung in the dark,
with gloves or closed eyes. This simple demand is difficult to implement.
The form of the R8 is structurally influenced by the location of the
batteries, the several motoordrive attachments and the automatic
filmfeeding. Many gears and axes just demand space!
The form panels.
Early modelstudies used the wellknown wooden models. The designers realised
that this technique could not produce the required finesse of details. So
they switched to a 3-D computer technique that uses CNC to knive out the
form from a hardpalstic block.The designer demanded that all form parts
would be ideally curved whatever the production technological objections.
This technique generated finely modelled designstudies in hours. The wooden
models would take days. So a more intense interaction between designer,
user and the production technique could be ensured.
Students of the Leica Academy were involved in the testing.
The body then gets a very special form, characterised by so-called free
form panels, as moulded by a relentless and passionate designer who only
stops after the ideal form has been found. Only one company (in
Switserland) can produce these parts. The coverpanles are composed of two
parts. The injection moulded metal base and a poly-utherane cover that is
injected onto the base, not glued.
The chrome strip.
Subtle detail is the chrome strip. As the visual indication of the
bottomplate is gone (can be replaced by a motorwinder), the stocky contours
of the bodt need some visual space. This is the task  of the chrome strip.
This simple component is a nightmare for the production technicians as they
must ensure a very accurate matching of all parts to necessay tolerances.
The two-component technology of the body panels is really needed to give
the body stability and close fit!!
CAD/CAM support.
The 1200 parts are cdesigned from scratch, usingthe now ellknown technique
of Finite Elements Analysis , a computer model for stress analysis.  80
Engineers worked for 6 years at these tasks.
It is not easy to design these parts, it is even less easy to find
suppliers to build them in required quantities and tolerances. And can read
and interpret the computer lstings.
Suppliers.
Body parts are built in Switzerland and Germany. The printed circuits are
from Japan and Switzeralnd, but Solms designed.
The shutter is a full CPal product with Leica quality specs.
The body is metal, because of small production numbers. Plastics can be
made with very exact tolerances, but unless the numbers of production are
quite high the price is too high. Fotr the same basic price metalcan be
machined toeven smaller tolerances, as long as production runs are short.
Composite materials would be nice, but again too expensive. The small scale
of Leica operations has its own laws.
The matrix exposure metering technique is from Japan, with Leica
algorithms. Leica insists on this part as they calibrate the algoritms for
transparancies and according to their interpretation of what a good
expurure should be.
Production.
Several building blocks are put together: metal chassis, shutter and rwind
mechanism, lensflange and focusing screen craddle, topcover,backpanel and
cover panels.
The design is tuned for a speedy assemblage with numerous controls during
montage. All checks are digital. The total time to build an R8 is less than
to build a R7 even when the R8 is much more complex.
The philosophy: new simplicity.
The R8 is an excellent example of a complex technique that is shielded from
the user by a humane interface. BMW' s also follow this imperative. Mostly
technical development starts simply (Ur-Leica) overshoots itself in
complexity (Nikon F5) and then settles for a new kind of ergonomics: the
R8. Technology can easily build into any procuct a vast array of additional
functionality. The intelligent use of this function overload is not easy.
It takes some conscious designing to support the required level of
simplicity without burdening he user. From this perspective the R8 is more
modern than the F5 (reputedly being changed in this year).Photography as a
cultural act.
Leic designers feel the weight of history. Classical photography with its
composition, rapport to the object, and exposure are very important. Any
distraction from this prime directive are suspect. Focus aid is technically
a piece of cake. But they wonder how the signals of this FA would interfere
with the view and vision of the photographer.
All functions of the R8 now support this type of photography.
The R8 invites you, no induces you you take pictures as the great masters
did. There is harmony between instrument, goal and action.
The R8 is a unique instrument asnd it is quite remarkable that it could be
built and designed in Germany at the closing period of this millenium.
Erwin


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<fontfamily><param>Geneva</param><bigger><bigger>Part 2.


<bold>The form.

</bold>The body is clearly haevier and larger than the R7. The R7
measures 138,5x94,8x62,2mm and weighs 670gr. The R8 has 158x101x62mm
and  890gr. During the design stage it was already known thet the
optics department of Mr. K=F6lsch was busy designing heavier
(zoom)lenses. The design of the R8 is needed to balance and support
these new and more future designs.Therefore the bottom section is very
large. From above the R8 has an assymmetrical form, a bit like the old
Exacta.  The classical pagode form of the R7 has been abandoned. The
large control wheels with are sunk into the topcover have milled edges
of a very elaborate form to ensure handlung in the dark, with gloves or
closed eyes. This simple demand is difficult to implement.

The form of the R8 is structurally influenced by the location of the
batteries, the several motoordrive attachments and the automatic
filmfeeding. Many gears and axes just demand space!

<bold>The form panels.

</bold>Early modelstudies used the wellknown wooden models. The
designers realised that this technique could not produce the required
finesse of details. So they switched to a 3-D computer technique that
uses CNC to knive out the form from a hardpalstic block.The designer
demanded that all form parts would be ideally curved whatever the
production technological objections.=20

This technique generated finely modelled designstudies in hours. The
wooden models would take days. So a more intense interaction between
designer, user and the production technique could be ensured.=20

Students of the Leica Academy were involved in the testing.=20

The body then gets a very special form, characterised by so-called free
form panels, as moulded by a relentless and passionate designer who
only stops after the ideal form has been found. Only one company (in
Switserland) can produce these parts. The coverpanles are composed of
two parts. The injection moulded metal base and a poly-utherane cover
that is injected onto the base, not glued.=20

<bold>The chrome strip.

</bold>Subtle detail is the chrome strip. As the visual indication of
the bottomplate is gone (can be replaced by a motorwinder), the stocky
contours of the bodt need some visual space. This is the task  of the
chrome strip. This simple component is a nightmare for the production
technicians as they must ensure a very accurate matching of all parts
to necessay tolerances. The two-component technology of the body panels
is really needed to give the body stability and close fit!!

<bold>CAD/CAM support.

</bold>The 1200 parts are cdesigned from scratch, usingthe now ellknown
technique of Finite Elements Analysis , a computer model for stress
analysis.  80 Engineers worked for 6 years at these tasks.=20

It is not easy to design these parts, it is even less easy to find
suppliers to build them in required quantities and tolerances. And can
read and interpret the computer lstings.=20

<bold>Suppliers.

</bold>Body parts are built in Switzerland and Germany. The printed
circuits are from Japan and Switzeralnd, but Solms designed.

The shutter is a full CPal product with Leica quality specs.

The body is metal, because of small production numbers. Plastics can be
made with very exact tolerances, but unless the numbers of production
are quite high the price is too high. Fotr the same basic price
metalcan be machined toeven smaller tolerances, as long as production
runs are short.

Composite materials would be nice, but again too expensive. The small
scale of Leica operations has its own laws.=20

The matrix exposure metering technique is from Japan, with Leica
algorithms. Leica insists on this part as they calibrate the algoritms
for transparancies and according to their interpretation of what a good
expurure should be.=20

<bold>Production.=20

</bold>Several building blocks are put together: metal chassis, shutter
and rwind mechanism, lensflange and focusing screen craddle,
topcover,backpanel and cover panels.=20

The design is tuned for a speedy assemblage with numerous controls
during montage. All checks are digital. The total time to build an R8
is less than to build a R7 even when the R8 is much more complex.=20

<bold>The philosophy: new simplicity.

</bold>The R8 is an excellent example of a complex technique that is
shielded from the user by a humane interface. BMW' s also follow this
imperative. Mostly technical development starts simply (Ur-Leica)
overshoots itself in complexity (Nikon F5) and then settles for a new
kind of ergonomics: the R8. Technology can easily build into any
procuct a vast array of additional functionality. The intelligent use
of this function overload is not easy. It takes some conscious
designing to support the required level of simplicity without burdening
he user. From this perspective the R8 is more modern than the F5
(reputedly being changed in this year).<bold>Photography as a cultural
act.

</bold>Leic designers feel the weight of history. Classical photography
with its composition, rapport to the object, and exposure are very
important. Any distraction from this prime directive are suspect. Focus
aid is technically a piece of cake. But they wonder how the signals of
this FA would interfere with the view and vision of the photographer.=20

All functions of the R8 now support this type of photography.

The R8 invites you, no induces you you take pictures as the great
masters did. There is harmony between instrument, goal and action. =20

The R8 is a unique instrument asnd it is quite remarkable that it could
be built and designed in Germany at the closing period of this
millenium.

Erwin

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