Re: [Leica] (long) R8 Motor shutter buttons and more

[Ted Grant <tedgrant@home.com>]

Rick Dykstra wrote:
> Hello R users and R8 motor drivers,
> 
> I've got another question on the R8 motor if you don't mind.  About the
> 'feel' of the motor's two shutter buttons.  It's a bit touchy-feely, but
> please bear with me.
> 
> The R8's top plate shutter button feels quite mechanical to me, although
> it certainly has electronic characteristics. >>>>  

snip!.

The normal in camera shutter release feels like it has a slight two
stage feel, the initial pressure to a point, then slight pressure and
click!  I'm not aware of this when I'm shooting as my finger comes down
quickly and smoothly without thought.  Purely instinct release.

> Q.    How do the R8 motor shutter buttons 'feel'?  I've imagined they'd
> be similar to my description of the F5 button, although with three
> stages instead of Nikon's two.>>>>>>>>

Not at all, I squeeze, it goes  click as smooth as silk!  I really don't
have any feel of pressure staging at all only when I try the spot meter
to lock the reading, then it's mind over feel and eye at view finder
watching for the spot meter lock to take place.

But in the general sense of shooting the feel is as it should be... an
electronic button slightly pressured to make contact and release of
shutter.  And both vertical and horizontal buttons function exactly the same.
> 
> Now, to get a little more touchy-feely, I've noticed something very
> interesting with my R8 and R6.2 shutters.  They have three stages, yes?
> No! Mine have four!>>>>>>>>>

Rick you either have a weird wired camera and motor if your feeling
this, or a super sensitive finger tip to pick-up all these various pressures..
 
> I find the effect described for the R8 to be quite useful and consistent
> from shot to shot.  But it takes a gentle finger.  With the R6.2, it's
> more something to simply keep in mind, because the effect changes if the
> shutter is nearly fired.
> 
> I've noticed this effect on a number of R8's.  It's there on the two
> R6.2's I've used.  I'm not imagining this!  One Leica technician I
> discussed this with couldn't feel it, so maybe it's just my wiring.>>>>>>>>

Rick this must be your wiring, as I do not  appear to have any kind of
feel as you describe, but then I don't think too much when I'm shooting,
I'm merely reacting and squeezing off frame after frame.  So it's quite
possible I just miss it. The only time I'm aware of shutter release
pressure is when I'm locking on a spot meter reading and re-aligning the
camera for composition where I hold the pressure an the release until
the second pressure is required to complete the exposure. 

Be interesting to hear what other R8 users come up with.  Me, I just
shoot away without much thought to feel of the camera, I'm more
interested in what I see in the viewfinder read out and whether I'm
hitting the moment for maximum picture capturing effect.

ted