Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/01/21

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Subject: [Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware
From: dstella1 at ameritech.net (Dante Stella)
Date: Wed Jan 21 18:36:00 2009
References: <E2C3B2FE-3B3E-4FEF-B466-E0DF0A87832F@mac.com><36172e5a0901201415r11fd39c0k14ca8efb9f33c169@mail.gmail.com><6af76ca00901201531j70e140bcpf7037b6c9e2f8bb1@mail.gmail.com> <012120092316.27480.4977ACB50001318900006B58223045151403010CD2079C080C03BF970A9D9F9A0B9D09@mchsi.com> <98B896D1BE224F39BC0703463BB67F89@precisionm50>

There is no technical problem except approaching potential menus from  
the wrong direction.

Most users do not have, and will never own, 64 lenses.  In fact, I  
would bet that five lenses is probably the median collection.  Put a  
feature in the host software where you can define which lenses appear  
on the camera' s optimization menu (i.e., the ones you own).  Set up  
the camera so that if it can't read a bar code, it pops up the menu  
when the lens is mounted.  If the user fails to pick one of the  
options and starts shooting pictures instead, tough luck - no  
optimization.  This is amazingly easy.  The popup menu already exists  
for the Tri-Elmar.

Calculating the appropriate vignetting and color correction strength  
for any lens out there - and maintaining menus of presets - is not  
rocket science, even for end users.  It is something Kodak did with  
the SLR/n and SLR/c cameras - and it did not even require host  
software to do.  See it here:

http://download.kodak.com/professional/software/dcsproSLRn/Pro_SLRn_Lens_Optimization_Overview.pdf

Leica might do well to open-source the M8 like Google has with Android  
- rather than try to push purely proprietary solutions.  You can still  
make money off of that.  Leica does make money on M8s even if they are  
never used with Leica lenses.

How about a simple RFID chip that is adhered to some accessible  
noncritical part of the back or inside of the lens?  Leica could sell  
them for a massive profit at $50; it would obviate shipping, insurance  
and delays; and Leica could actually make money off people's using the  
chips for third-party lenses.  And any competent camera repair shop  
could install them.  It would be even easier than AI coding in the old  
days.

I have always been puzzled by the 6-bit coding's use of optical  
detection and frameline lever position.  Why not just make it 8 bits  
and call it a day?

Dante


On Jan 21, 2009, at 6:21 PM, Bob W wrote:

> This is not a matter of being smart or of being lazy. It is a natural
> consequence of modal interfaces, which are almost always undesirable  
> because
> they lead to operator error. Bad designers then blame or insult the  
> users.
> Leica are correct to reject the request on these grounds.
>
> Bob
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: lug-bounces+leica=web-options.com@leica-users.org
>> [mailto:lug-bounces+leica=web-options.com@leica-users.org] On
>> Behalf Of grduprey@mchsi.com
>> Sent: 21 January 2009 23:16
>> To: Leica Users Group
>> Subject: Re: [Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens
>> identification in firmware
>>
>>
>>
>> This petition has been presented previously to Leica several
>> times, 3 or 4 times now, by other users and user groups.
>> Leica has turned this option down on the grounds that users
>> may forget to change the settings when they change lenses and
>> get potentially detrimental results.   Many feel this is a
>> foolish reason as Leica users are smart enough and ready to
>> make these adjustments.  On the other hand, I think they have
>> a good point as many users have complained about having to go
>> into the menu to make exposure adjustments, such as EV
>> corrections and ISO changes.  So I can see many operators
>> forget to make the proper adjustments as they are too lazy to
>> make other adjustments.  Personally, I do not see another
>> petition on this subject doing any more good than the
>> previous petitions on the subject.
>>
>>
>> Gene -------------- Original message from Christopher
>> Birchenhall <crbirchenhall@googlemail.com>: --------------
>>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information


Replies: Reply from drodgers at casefarms.com (David Rodgers) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)
Reply from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)
Reply from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)
In reply to: Message from mitcha at mac.com (Mitch Alland) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)
Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)
Message from crbirchenhall at googlemail.com (Christopher Birchenhall) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)
Message from grduprey at mchsi.com (grduprey@mchsi.com) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)
Message from leica at web-options.com (Bob W) ([Leica] Petition for initiating M8 lens identification in firmware)