What you'd want in the M9

[maitrestanley]

The MP is now several years old. The M7 already has AE and the M8 SHOULD have just been called the M7d. Even though the MP is 'newer', it's still only a remake of the old MP (with a lightmeter added and tighter quality control).

I think it's time for a new MECHANICAL M body to come out: the M9 (Yes, I think it's time) Let's crunch our brains and hopefully Leica will see this and get some ideas.



What changes or features would you like to see in the M9?



Here are some things I'd like (take note that this is coming from a M6 Classic user):

1) Larger focusing patch for 0.72 viewfinder. An increase in size by 50%-100% would be great. The focusing patch on the 0.72 M's really are too small and slow me down at times. Even the focusing patch on my Zorki-4 is bigger (but then again, the viewfinder magnification is also higher).

2) Large-sized shutter speed dial that rotates in the TRADITIONAL Leica direction.

3) 1/2000s shutter speed. I know this isn't possible at the time being but I'm a wishful thinker 😛

4) Two strap lugs on each side of the body for vertical hanging.

5) Finger-print/scratch proof view finder windows. Actually, just finger-print-proof windows would be awesome. I tend to constantly fondle my M6 and leave prints all over the viewfinders. Even when I'm trying to be careful, I still leave prints. Cleaning prints is slowing me down from making them..

6) Frame-line preview lock (perhaps a little button at the pivot point?). This is for use with any lens that doesn't automatically bring up the correct framelines or lenses that don't have framelines built for them (eg. 40mm cron - A lock would let you choose whether to use the 50 or 35 framelines).

That's all I can think of..

 

[Ororaro]

10 fps, 16 MP FF sensor, 50 RAW buffer, Autofocus and a sepia mode. Leica, why aren't you listening?

(Actually, this is a dpreview and techy geek parody)

 

[BillBingham2]

No LCD (no fancy controls, only display the number of shots left on the card and my ISO I've choosen), Save only RAW files, Lower Cost, Shutter Speed dial going the right way, Lower Cost, Large RAW Buffer.

B2 (;->

 

[sf]

An even better sensor.

Perfect image processing and all the necessary measures to ensure that I would never have to apply batch filtering to my shots to get them to look close to proper.

weatherproof

An M9M - monochrome only, instead of using 3 sensor types or whatever it uses currently, it would use a couple types of B&W only sensors that would capture twice the dynamic range.

It would look like an M3 but with some added controls. No LCD. All controls on the body only.

nicer shutter mechanism. Silent.

 

[TJV]

I don't think the MP can really be improved upon, except maybe coming standard with a different kind of leather instead of that C*%* like on the M8. I'd love it to go to 1/2000th but I'm not prepared to have a louder shutter.

For digi, I'd like a traditional cloth shutter and a FAR quieter auto advance, leather grip like that of an M7, ISO displayed on top LCD and mini dial to fast select ISO's. I'd like a longer life battery, screen that sits flush with the body and I'd get rid of all plugs, such as USB etc, so that there is less parts etc to break. Most of all I'd like weather proofing.

Oh, and I'd prefer a more traditional base ISO of 100.

I often thought I'd like to get rid of the screen. That would really hone my skills. It wouldn't be hard to replace it with a very small screen that just displayed an RGB histogram so you could check basic exposure facts if needed. I'd have a different mechanism for the on/off switch, similar to that of an EOS system.

Megapixels aren't a big deal to me but the banding and IR are. Enough said.

Tim

 

[maitrestanley]

weatherproof

How did I forget this one! *smacks head*

I just want rubber seals at all joints, including the lens mount.

 

[jgeenen]

A finder with at least two selectable magnifications - 0.5 for wide angle, 1.0 for standard and telephoto lenses.

Hiding framelines - allowing bigger 75mm marks

An *intelligent* film loading mechanism.

A centered tripod thread

in other words - a Leica that uses the technical capabilities and knowhow of the 80s.

 

[Martin Horne]

M9

M9

Mrrp £199.99.

 

[Sparrow]

I would like to see it introduced without any controversy, no interminable discussions beforehand, and no childish bickering afterwards, and world peace….. and…..a non-drip wine bottle……………….and
:angel:

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[Nachkebia]

Full frame sensor and price of $2500, so more people will buy digital M and we still have film M`s 😀

 

[CJP6008]

I would like film in it. Also a more standard ISO setting thing and exposure compensation thing - more like the Ikon's one. That wheel thing ont the back i do not trust and setting exposure comp is a fiddle. But mostly I want film.

 

[Ash]

Interchangeable digiback with film back. Lift up the back door, remove it, replace with sensor, load gadgetty stuff into spool cavities => digi-M ... remove all that, replace the original parts => film-M. How awesome would that be?!

 

[Alex Shishin]

M9 Wish List

M9 Wish List

I assume we are talking about the improved digital M8.

Most importantly: Full 35mm imaging. While there are nice things about a 28 that frames like a 35, it is much nicer to have a 21 that acts like a 21 and a 15 that acts like a 15.

Secondly, a bigger focusing patch. The M8 is 0.68. It ought to be at least 0.072.

Thirdly, a manual rewind option. The M8 motor is a quiet motor. But it is still a motor. It rewinds whether you want it to or not. There could be a switch to from hand rewind to motor.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[DavidC]

How about getting rid of the red dot? Canon style quick loading, diopter correction lenses for a wide range!! An easier viewfinder to see with glasses!!
Frameline selection a la Canon 7

 

[Harry Lime]

- Weather sealing

- Exposure compensation lever, like on the R8/R9. Maybe place it where the selftimer was?

- AE lock button, where your right thumb goes.

- Weather sealing

- New RF that not only compensates for parallax in x and y, but also distance (variable area of frameline coverage).

- Super CDD like the Fuji S5 Pro uses for increased dynamic range.
Prevents blown out highlights and takes the "digital look" out of images.
More megaixels would be nice, but I will gladly trade dynamic range for resolution.

- Full frame if possible...

- True 16bit RAW files and pipeline from the sensor. I don't care if they are 50MB a piece. Maybe there is a menu where you can select your RAW to be 12, 14 or 16 bit?

- A cheaper 2/28, maybe even a 1.4/28, as a replacement for a 35mm lens if we have to stick with a x1.33 chip.

- A series of digital lenses with IR coatings , so you don't have to use a filter.

- slot for spare SD card under baseplate.

- Black paint finish? ;-)

- Lower price is always good, but I'm willing to play for top quality.

- Did I mention weather sealing?

 

[hth]

Why fix what is not broken, the MP is close to as what I want it. I like your idea with the strap lugs. What I would like to see are:

1) Self-timer. I use it from time to time and like the feature a lot. Ditch the lightmeter, it is a traditional mechanical camera.

2) The framelines since M6 (actully some M4*) are less accurate than M2-M4. It was made to make room for 28mm framelines. That problem is today solved using the 0.58 finder, so get back to same framelines as the old ones, and also provide something like the 0.58 for 28mm framelines that works for people with glasses.

Regarding your idea about the locking framelines lever, I think it would be better to provide a means for odd frameline modules and manual setting of current framelines. Like on the Bessas, but let the buyer decide. That would allow for uncluttered 28-40-50, 35-50-75 or some other combination of framelines. It would make using "odd" focal length like 40 and 75 more attractive.

/Håkan

The MP is now several years old. The M7 already has AE and the M8 SHOULD have just been called the M7d. Even though the MP is 'newer', it's still only a remake of the old MP (with a lightmeter added and tighter quality control).

 

[Diggin99]

For me it would be three things, a built in diopter adjustment, a spot meter, and a large focusing patch. But I am the first to admit that the only modern Leica I have axperience with is the CL, and its focusing area seems very small to me!

Nancy

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

I'd like to see all Leicas a la carte as standard.

And more finishes, as well as leather I'd like silk, carbon fiber, and aluminum options.