Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/11

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Subject: Re: [Leica] How could the R8 be bettered?
From: "David W. Almy" <dalmy@mindspring.com>
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 09:45:46 -0400

Pascal wrote:
> 
> It would be interesting to know of other people's experiences with the
> current incarnation of the R8.
> 
> How could it be bettered in the future?


Pascal,

Good question. I hope Solms is taking notes.

The frame counter should be live regardless of whether the camera is on
or off. The G2 does this, BTW. If you really want to go hog wild, either
move or duplicate the LCD panel to the top of the camera. You'd destroy
the design purity but make a more useable camera. There's a lot of real
estate up there for this addition, which could be completely flush with
the existing surface, retaining its elegance while adding to its
functionality. And the information you COULD "publish" could be very
useful and comprehensive. Could also be a dramatic update (8.2) feature.

Eric is right about the mode selector being too easy to turn, especially
inadvertently. Yesterday, I, too, was shooting outside (great Spring day
here in Maryland!) and noticed strange readouts through the viewfinder,
only to learn that I was on "F." How the hell this happened I do not
know. 

And the motor drive is coming, when?....

Fix Leica's marketing strategy. The full page R8 ad says, "...You're a
serious amateur photographer...." I've been doing this for 25 years,
have a B.S. degree in photography, have $30k worth of Leica stuff in my
car right now, and have an exhibit up at the Smithsonian (BFD to all,
eh?). Probably am a tad past "amateur" here. Why not just say "serious
photographer", which covers the waterfront? This is a minor point but
symptomatic of amateur advertising work. Who's writing this stuff,
anyway? Photographers should at the very least highly contribute to the
ad and marketing copy! That's not happening now. How about a testimonial
series of "Great photographers & the Leica R8"? Create the perception
that leading edge shooters are using Leica. Eric, are you up for the
inaugural ad? THIS is really broken at the moment.

The R8 is an under-rated camera, IMHO, overall. One example: I use an F5
and going back and forth to the R8, viewfinder to viewfinder, is
startling. The F5's finder is like looking through a ND filter. 

Bottom line, aside from the reliability issues, autofocus and the above,
there's not a great deal to fix about this camera. Now, Leica, SELL the
thing effectively!

Cheers,

David W. Almy
Annapolis