Shutter speed dial turning direction difference: Why?

[boarini2003]

I've noticed that the shutter speed dial turning direction is different on the Leica MP (clockwise is faster) than the M6 (clockwise is slower.) Does anybody know why? One would think all cameras in the M line would be the same in that respect. It may seem like a small detail, but to me it's important, since one gets to know a camera so well that the changing of shutter speeds is done intuitively.

 

[john neal]

I thought all M cameras were the same, except the M6 TTL which has an extra gear between the speed knob and the mechanism - this makes it turn the other way, even compared to "classic" M6's. Certainly my MP and M2 are the same, as was my M4-P.

I don't know about the M7 - could be the same as the M6 TTL

 

[markinlondon]

John's right, the M6TTL (and the M7) are the odd ones out. See www.cameraquest.com for details of all Leica bodies.

Mark

 

[Fred]

M7 dial is the same larger dial as the M6 TTL. They rotate the same way also.

Allegedly It was the addition of the larger dial that moved the dial center forward that such that it gears against the center of the original dial shaft. The larger dial is supposed to be easier to turn with a single shutter finger from the front of the camera. You also move the dial in the direction of the meter arrow to get the correct exposure.

Finally to quote the M7 manual "...the shutter speed dial is erganomically perfect... ", I guess the say have to say something different in the manual for the MP 🙂

 

[john neal]

Finally to quote the M7 manual "...the shutter speed dial is erganomically perfect... ", I guess the say have to say something different in the manual for the MP 🙂

Hmm, I seem to remember something similar in the MP maual......

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I thought they changed the turning direction to make the shutter change direction the same way as the lightmeter arrows in the viewfinder.

 

[ywenz]

Give thanks to smart german engineering..

 

[mad_boy]

In my humble view it has to do with the ages changing; follow this 😛

Have you ever notices that mechanical valves, knobs, buttons always
turn anti-clockwise to open. 😱
this holds for nuts, bolts, scews, fawsets, gas valve on your stove etc.

in contrast :bang: , Electrical knobs/buttons, etc turn closkwise to open 😱 .
(stereo amplifier, iron, light dimmers etc).

Up to the M6 clasic Leica's were truly mechanical devices made by mechanical engineers.
Hence to open (longer exposure, more light) need to turn anti-clockwise.
Same thing done for the lens.
- To remove it (open the camera) turn anti-clockwise
- To open diafram turn anti-clockwise
and the bottom cover.

With the M6 TTL the electronic engineers had their way 🙂 (TTL = electronics).
They took the clasic and fitted it with electronics.
To leave their mark they changed the dial to their standard. 😛
Luckily they did not fiddle with the lenses (no autofocus) 😀

Mad_boy On the electricians side.

 

[Fred]

mad_boy, you should be writing conspiracy novels 🙂 I really like the style. I'd by em.

I love this sort of sideways view that may well be spot on accurate. Nice one.

 

[ywenz]

mad-boy, the M6 classic had electronics and so did the M5...

 

[Tim]

Jon is correct AFAIK.

The M6TTL's larger dial can be reached from the front of the camera with the forefinger while you have the camera up to your eye, and it rotates in the direction that the lightmeter arrows go.
This is all perfectly logical, and makes absolute sense, BUT it means the shutter speed dial rotates opposite to "traditional" Leicas. Cue howls of protest from the purists.
Hence, the MP went back to the "correct" way.

Owning both an M6TTL and an M3, I have to say that the M6TTL is more intuitive and practical, unless, of course, you have years experience with earlier M's and can't adapt.

That said, personally I don't seem to have an issue with changing between the two cameras, mostly I think because it's not really easy to change the M3's smaller shutter dial while the camera's up to your eye, and with no meter in the finder you're not doing it that way anyway......

Of course, YMMV.

 

[rool]

Why didn't they just keep the same rotating direction for the dial and designed the direction of the arrows accordingly?!

 

[Tim]

Why didn't they just keep the same rotating direction for the dial and designed the direction of the arrows accordingly?!

You know, I never thought of that..................

:bang:

a good question indeed!

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Also I think they wanted to make it the same as the R cameras.

Odd for the users, because not many people use M and R. But maybe they were using R electronic viewfinder displays?

 

[principe azul]

Why didn't they just keep the same rotating direction for the dial and designed the direction of the arrows accordingly?!

The problem also involves the direction of the aperture ring.

Nikon manual focus cameras seemed to have it perfect even before they were metered: pull left on the aperture ring to open up, and push left on the shutter speed dial to drag the shutter. The Nikon cameras I've seen that had shutter speed dials, including the AF F4, all have overexposure indication on the left hand side of the viewfinder.

Using Soviet lenses, which open up the Nikon way, will throw this off again.

 

[principe azul]

Ah, mad_boy brought up the aperture issue...

 

[peter_n]

Jon is correct, it was changed so the speed dial control/display relationship was ergonomically correct with the meter indicator. Of course, it causes all sorts of harrumphing from the Leica users of many years, there was a rather well known photo writer who was a member here and he used to get his knickers in a right old twist over it. 😉

I actually like the bigger dial much better than the earlier one, just a personal preference. I like the direction of turn too.

 

[boarini2003]

Hmmmm. Interesting answers guys! Thanks for the discussion. I am used to cameras like my Bessa and my FM2, which rotate the same way, so if I had the money for a Leica (someday in the distant future) I would definitely go for the MP, and even more so since I love completely mechanical machines.

 

[matt fury]

I think the meter in the M7 goes the way it does because Europeans read left to right, and so if you're writing out a series of numbers, they usually get bigger left to right..so "right equals more."

 

[Palaeoboy]

My CLE's go both ways.

Ohh have I just left myself open to smutty remarks?