Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/10/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Isn't the additional height in some way connected to the fact that a full sized hot shoe is for the first time fitted to an M on the M6ttl? As opposed to the 3/4 length one we have had up to now which leaves the back 3-4mm of a flash hanging off and would probably not fit the new TTL contacts. Since the RF/VF module underneath is largely unalterable the only way to fit this on top of the camera was to make it taller. At least the wide-angle finders might stay on better... My guess is that the additional height would make a new faster shutter feasible in any future M. They need such a shutter and Leica people have said as much to me privately. They are in a quandary though since practically speaking this means outsourcing to Copal who are the only shutter makers in the running these days. Perhaps the viewfinder would also be difficult/unfeasible to upgrade to show more framelines and or information, another ambition: I don't know, but I have my suspicions. What I would most like to see from Leica is a decent electric motor which is quiet, fast and as small as Tom A's excellent Rapidwinder: I have three of these and they are very useful but still no substitute for a modern motor. I have the Winder M too and this is not wonderful and even less of a substitute for a modern motor IMHO: noisy, huge, slow, plastic and with a kick. A swing open back door would make rapid film changes much more convenient: no more juggling baseplate attachments... So what is the M7 I envisage? New shutter, new VF, new body profile, new wind mechanism... Somehow doesn't seem likely given the size and strength of Leica Camera AG. Nor some say is it desirable: why is it many of us suspect any change to any of these basics of M Leicas is likely to be courting disaster??? It seems to me that part of the charm and yet part of the problem with M Leicas is that they were basically designed in an era when they had a strong market position and could afford to design and build a camera as good as their engineers could (then) imagine. Nowadays they probably could not take on a project as complex as the total redesign of the VF/RF so are forced to tinker and make incremental changes or buy in large chunks of aging technology - as they have for the SLRs. Whatever it is I expect to want an M7 and I expect many others to feel betrayed and disappointed! Best of light to you all from Taiyuan - one of the most polluted places on earth. I have been shooting for Coca-Cola in China's capital of coke (the black-er stuff) Adrian