Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I don't know exactly what it is, Frank, but I think it's a very thin piece of optical glass with (according to the Leica rep) the same coating that is used as the final coating on their lens surfaces. He wiped it off with your basic lens cloth - or Ted's underwear...I'm not sure which! ;) The surface of the sensor is NOT exposed to be touched - although you sure get a very good look at it! The rep opined that "you don't want to do this in the desert...or a sand storm!" I'd agree. There is a special tool to help remove/insert the pin on the back of the R8/R9 and to install the digital back. The charger comes with adaptor plugs for 5 different power systems. It plugs directly into the battery and takes about 110 minutes to charge. The battery form-factor is quite different from those used in either the R8 motor drive or the Canon or Digilux 2 systems. It's a long, slender brick. The power cord plugs directly into the battery. I think you can charge the battery in the camera as well as outside the camera. The "brick" plugs directly into the wall. I'm sorry Leica choose this because in many hotel rooms this is a pain and means carrying a short extension cord....digital folks carry enough cables without needing yet another one! On the other hand it is much less bulky than the R8 motor drive charger. Battery life was quoted as being "about 5 hours of straight usage at shows" although the indicator went to 1/4 life (or so) very quickly. There's also a different focusing screen that he showed but which wasn't installed in the camera. It comes in a small box with the installation tool. It has frame lines that show the cropping factor of the sensor. Adam On Thu, 11 Nov 2004 18:53:03 -0800, Frank Filippone <red735i@earthlink.net> wrote: > Thanks Doug and Adam.... good report. > > I really like the idea of the ability of the user to upgrade the > firmware... > saves trips to the shop. And the sensor being coated soounds interesting, > but personally I am not too sure about the viability of semiconductor > material being scrubbed by hand.......maybe there is a glass or quartz > cover > plate? > > I am a bit surprised at the problems that have been described. I would not > have expected these particular issues to still be coming up at this stage > of > development. Too bad about the swappability of the back being limited..... > > I don;t feel Leica is behind the curve with this camera, but we stil need > to > see some images created by a user, not Leica. > > Frank Filippone > red735i@earthlink.net > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >