Re: [Leica] New shutter-speed dial

[John Campbell <jkcampbell@mmm.com>]

If Leica didn't "start screwing around with the design" we'd 
all still be using Leica screwmounts (no offence to those who are).
Maybe we should go back to the old shutter speeds (remember 1/25th)?

I for one think Leica needs to again step up to the plate to be the most
innovative camera designer in the world, instead of considering the M6
to be the pinicle of design. They have proven in the past they can improve
their own design without sacrificing quality or function.

Those of you who can't adapt to turning the dial the other way can relax,
between the M3, M2, M4s and the M6 Leica has produced tens of thousands
of cameras. If you ever wear yours out its almost certain you will be
able to find another one.

jc

At 02:17 PM 1/18/00 -0500, you wrote:
>Glenn Waterfield wrote, in part:
>
>> Curious that Leica decided to re-engineer the shutter speed dial
>> and associated gear train, top plate, etc. rather than reverse the
>> order of the LED's with a little change in the printed circuits.
>> 
>
>Sometimes the simplest statements are the most profound.  It never occurred
>to me, but if having the LEDs point in the direction you were supposed to
>turn the shutter dial, it would have been a simple matter to rewire the
>LEDs, as you say.
>
>Then again, I believe that if they'd done that, the LEDs would point in the
>opposite direction that you had to turn the aperture ring.
>
>Besides, I still don't believe Leica's cop out answer about having the
>shutter dial turn the same way as the LEDs point.  The shutter dial is
>horizontal, while the LEDs are vertical.  That means that depending upon if
>you consider the LEDs to refer to the FRONT of the dial, or the BACK of the
>dial, you actually get a reversal of the direction.  The existing LEDs must
>have worked just fine, if assuming that they referred to the direction of
>rotation of the rearward most part of the shutter dial.
>
>Changing the direction of rotation is akin to Micro$oft changing the damn
>menu layout between each successive version of Word they released.   If
>you've had an interaction device function in the same manner for over 40
>years (or even more?  Since 1925?) and an established base of a few hundred
>thousand users (more?  millions?) then you simply DO NOT start screwing
>around with the design.
>
>M.
>
>-- 
>Martin Howard                     | "Very funny Scotty.  Now beam down
>Interactive Systems Designer      | my clothes."
>email: mvhoward@mac.com           |
>www: http://mvhoward.i.am/        +---------------------------------------
>
>
>