On/Off Switch

[Joshua]

Is there anyone else that has extreme difficulty turning the camera on to *S* without cognitive thought. The way the switch is engineered, its almost impossible for me to turn the camera on without gliding the switch too far in to *C* or *TImer*. I've tried as hard as I can and it takes extreme care to make sure I get it right every time.

I think the problem is there is a ton of resistance in the switch between *Off* and *S* that it takes quite a bit of pressure to get the switch moving .... but once it gets past *Off* there is little to no resistance between each shooting mode which means the switch just keeps going with the pressure I've applied and passes *S*

Hopefully that rambling makes some sense but I'm really just trying to gauge if any one else has this problem or if its just me or maybe my Camera. I do have rather large hands (I'm 6'5") but still...

 

[Artorius]

Is there anyone else that has extreme difficulty turning the camera on to *S* without cognitive thought. The way the switch is engineered, its almost impossible for me to turn the camera on without gliding the switch too far in to *C* or *TImer*. I've tried as hard as I can and it takes extreme care to make sure I get it right every time.

I think the problem is there is a ton of resistance in the switch between *Off* and *S* that it takes quite a bit of pressure to get the switch moving .... but once it gets past *Off* there is little to no resistance between each shooting mode which means the switch just keeps going with the pressure I've applied and passes *S*

Hopefully that rambling makes some sense but I'm really just trying to gauger if any one else has this problem or if its just me or maybe my Camera. I do have rather large hands (I'm 6'5") but still...

My M8 has no noticeable resistance in any position. As a matter of fact, in my situation, there isn't enough. Many times I have shut off the camera, only to have it turn back on when placing it into the bag. I wish it was like the M6/P where there is a definite OFF position.

 

[tmfabian]

i'll post these again in case the other thread ain't around any more.
This is how I dealt with that annoying little on/off switch, i've heard word that someone is working on a wee device that does the job alot better though.

 

[Artorius]

i'll post these again in case the other thread ain't around any more.
This is how I dealt with that annoying little on/off switch, I've heard word that someone is working on a wee device that does the job alot better though.

I don't understand your post. What did/do you different?

 

[tmfabian]

I don't understand your post. What did/do you different?

little rubber bumper thingy so the on/off switch only goes to where i want it, then i can just slam it on till it stops which for me is always on S

 

[Joshua]

YES!!! That is the EXACT solution I was thinking about, just a sticky little rubber nub ... so glad to see that someone else was thinking along the same lines and its worked well.

Also good to know I'm not alone in finding the switch a bit of a pain sometimes.

tmfabian, Where did you pick yours up? I like that its clear and I'm just not even sure where I'd go about finding one...

 

[baycrest]

Yes you do need a deft touch on the switch. I imagine Surgeons don't have any problems with the ease one can overshoot the S and go directly to the C or Timer mode.

Maybe to be included in the M9 enhancements list on the M9 2 years away 😀, along with a dedicated ISO and white balance button, or perhaps sooner as a 😱US$100 enhancement after Leica finishes the shutter and LCD cyrstal program!

Best
Rob

 

[tmfabian]

YES!!! That is the EXACT solution I was thinking about, just a sticky little rubber nub ... so glad to see that someone else was thinking along the same lines and its worked well.

Also good to know I'm not alone in finding the switch a bit of a pain sometimes.

tmfabian, Where did you pick yours up? I like that its clear and I'm just not even sure where I'd go about finding one...

Picked them up at the Home Depot for my kitchen cabinets....i'm pretty sure that they were in the cabinet section...i was actually using them on the bottom of my macbook 'cause the little rubber things that come on the bottom of the macbook don't do anything to keep it from sliding around and i realized as i looked at them...hey this would be wonderful on the m8.

 

[Joshua]

So question for everyone that is annoyed with it....

Would there be any opposition for the future digital M to simply have the switch be "on/off" and then set the mode through the screen as a menu option?

 

[Amoment]

Thanks for the tip Thomas, great idea, the little stop, works a treat.

Stuart

 

[Digital Dude]

IMHO, the on/off switch is the worst aspect of the M8. It’s like a $5.00 lock on a $5,000.00 home entry door. Only Leica could do this and not be embarrassed.
Regards,😎

 

[jaapv]

So question for everyone that is annoyed with it....

Would there be any opposition for the future digital M to simply have the switch be "on/off" and then set the mode through the screen as a menu option?

Yes- there would be. I use the selftimer when I have the camera on a tripod. It would be very annoying to have to go through menus with a camera fixed at or below eye level. I have very few problems with the switch. Even if I accidentally shift it from s to c it goes unnoticed. Years of shooting with cameras with winders or drives attached have taught me not to keep the shutter depressed after exposing.

 

[Joshua]

Yes- there would be. I use the selftimer when I have the camera on a tripod. It would be very annoying to have to go through menus with a camera fixed at or below eye level. I have very few problems with the switch. Even if I accidentally shift it from s to c it goes unnoticed. Years of shooting with cameras with winders or drives attached have taught me not to keep the shutter depressed after exposing.

Why wouldn't you just set it to timer before you mount it on the tripod? Or do you have to switch back and forth while its on the tripod?

 

[jaapv]

If it is on the tripod for quite a while, I tend to switch it off to save batteries. I hate auto-shutoff. It always kills the camera just before I want to take a pictuer.

 

[Joshua]

If it is on the tripod for quite a while, I tend to switch it off to save batteries. I hate auto-shutoff. It always kills the camera just before I want to take a pictuer.

The on/off switch would still be on top in the normal location ... I'm talking about just switching the modes, from self timer to single. You mentioned you wouldn't like this because when its on the tripod its hard to use the menu, but I haven't seen too many people switch between modes while a cam is on a tripod.

 

[jaapv]

It won't happen. It would raise a howl of protest if yet another function were put in a menu. Leica M users don't like items in menus,and they don't like many buttons at the same time. A real quandary for Leica designers.

 

[Joshua]

It won't happen. It would raise a howl of protest if yet another function were put in a menu. Leica M users don't like items in menus,and they don't like many buttons at the same time. A real quandary for Leica designers.

Hehe, I know ... I'd be in favor of them moving that to a menu and putting an ISO dial on top 😀

We're a hard bunch to please I suppose!

 

[sam_m]

i'd rather no on/off switch, just always on. my nikon can be left on continuously for weeks without being used and have only minimal battery depletion, it's just basic power management, no reason it couldn't be implemented into an m.