Pick your favorite RFF Softy Design! [Archive]

Disaster_Area

01-29-2010, 15:36

OK people, the designs are in and I've posted them on my site for you to pick which one you like the most. Please vote for the number corresponding to the design you like best. And please remember to vote using the poll, we won't be going through the thread responses and counting up all the "I vote for the third one down!" replies :)

I've resized all the entries to give you an idea of what they'll look like at actual size. Tom has said that the laser engraver can actually engrave smaller than the eye can see... so all the designs are technically possible, they just might not be highly visible on the softy.

Check out all the designs here:

http://jbhildebrand.com/rff-softy-design-options/

The poll closes on Tuesday... that should give everyone a chance to get their vote in.

Keith

01-29-2010, 15:44

Definitely #8 ... it has the most class IMO! :D

#1 is OK but that aperture symbol gets way over used for this sort of thing ... that said it will probably poll the best.

axiom

01-29-2010, 16:10

None of them look very good IMO

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 16:10

Seeing them now at the real size, I like #1 the best. Anyway it's a shame it doesn't show the complete name, but that seems impossible with the design... I vote for #1, really neat at that size.

-doomed-

01-29-2010, 16:14

I liked #5 the best, but whatever the outcome is it's likely ill buy one

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 16:18

I would say #4 could be made only by microscopical engravers!

I'm no expert, though...

Pablito

01-29-2010, 16:20

None of them look very good IMO

i'd have to agree.

rbiemer

01-29-2010, 16:21

Voted. And thanks to Disaster_Area for hosting the designs!

And an aside: I looked through your site a bit and like a lot of your photos there. But I really appreciate the info on the bands you've photographed! I live where there is almost no live music to see/listen to and the radio is, as ever, a wasteland so it is very welcome to get leads to new( to me) music to check out. Thanks!
Rob

Trius

01-29-2010, 16:38

C'mon everyone ... vote for #6! With all due respect to the designer, #1 is SO cliche!

Keith

01-29-2010, 16:44

C'mon everyone ... vote for #6! With all due respect to the designer, #1 is SO cliche!

That's the word I was looking for to describe it ... thanks Earll!

#6 ... :eek:

Are you being facetious? :o

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 16:46

"Democracy... That abuse of statistics..." Jorge Luis Borges.

Disaster_Area

01-29-2010, 16:54

C'mon everyone ... vote for #6! With all due respect to the designer, #1 is SO cliche!

Cliche bah... I was going for classic, timeless and vintage ;)

EcoLeica

01-29-2010, 17:06

Im going to agree with Keith, number 8 is very classy, i would buy one of those!

leica M2 fan

01-29-2010, 17:14

I voted for #4 but also like #9, they probably won't win but whichever wins I'll go for 2 of them.

t.s.k.

01-29-2010, 17:18

And thanks to Disaster_Area for hosting the designs!

+1

#8 fer me.

kzphoto

01-29-2010, 17:23

c'mon #5! hahah! Love 'em all actually. Great job!

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 17:29

With all respect to #8's designer, it looks to me more like an indication on how piano or forte I should play an instrument... But, more important, the font is sooooo far from RF's logo...

Cheers,

Juan

DNG

01-29-2010, 17:52

Because it's simple, has the classic Leica rear VF outline. Although I like #8 as very close 2nd.

gilpen123

01-29-2010, 18:13

#8 here as well though I had a 2nd look at #1

photo4ls

01-29-2010, 18:13

Really like #5 and could also go for
#10. Thanks to all who took the
time to submit their design ideas.
Nelson

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 18:39

Keith

01-29-2010, 18:49

Wow! This is funny! #8 is winning!

I really can't find it classy in any way (sorry Keith, I appreciate you a lot) but I guess the reason is the cliche of considering that font in italics related to old style printing... It's ahuge chliche and that's why many advertisements use that font to look "elegant", but for classy, I would say #5, with few elements and a clear discourse a la Bauhaus, that's great, but I didn't vote it because I knew it couldn't get close to the final winners... It is a real shame if #8 wins because it has no photographic content at all and no relation to Rangefinderforum.com site or logo... Amazing!

That's alright Juan ... I won't take it personally! (much) LOL

I think I just like it because it appears to have the most amount of black on it but still says RFF unmistakably (sort of) ... and in reallity given my choice I would have a plain black one anyway.

No pressure or anything ... but I'll only be buying if #8 wins. :D

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 18:53

Thanks for your kind words, Keith!

FrankS

01-29-2010, 18:57

For me it was a toss-up between 1 and 8. I voted 1. I'll buy a couple of whatever is chosen.

Keith

01-29-2010, 19:01

Thanks for your kind words, Keith!

God only knows why I'm even getting involved in this because I already have a softie in the cupboard that I bought due to RFF peer presure ... used once, decided I didn't like it and put it back in the cupboard.

I was thinking of getiing a couple of these though ... as ear studs! :angel:

And I have to admit after having another look ... #5 is rather good! :D

Jaans

01-29-2010, 19:02

I really like number 8, with number 1 a close second.

FrankS

01-29-2010, 19:04

God only knows why I'm even getting involved in this because I already have a softie in the cupboard that I bought due to RFF peer presure ... used once, decided I didn't like it and put it back in the cupboard.
I was thinking of getiing a couple of these though ... as ear studs! :angel:

RFF body piercings?
No thanks.

Keith

01-29-2010, 19:09

RFF body piercings?
No thanks.

Actually Frank it's odd that you should suddenly appear ... I was just thinking that the only camera I ever tried the softie on that it actually made a noticable improvement, was the RF645 I got from you! :p

FrankS

01-29-2010, 19:12

I like a softy best on a CL, that seems to have a high shutter collar and long travel. Defintiely not a belly button piercing.

Ken Shipman

01-29-2010, 19:14

I have a suggestion: if no single design gets 50% or more vote, then take the two highest vote-getters and hold a run-off poll between just the two. Just a thought.

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 19:21

Like in politics!

Juan Valdenebro

01-29-2010, 19:59

I have a suggestion: if no single design gets 50% or more vote, then take the two highest vote-getters and hold a run-off poll between just the two. Just a thought.

Or maybe between three of them, as #5 is there too... Will they be big or small ones? Which ones are used with Bessas?

Cheers,

Juan

Rollmo

01-29-2010, 20:05

Well...if #8 were the choice, I'd like to make a suggestion.
For the ff, it would be great if you used a typographer's ligature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typographic_ligature).

See bellow...the bar across the two letter Fs is solid instead of each having one bar.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ligatures.svg/300px-Ligatures.svg.png

I think the softie would look great in all lower case italics with an ff ligature. Also...like the UK pound coin, it would be wonderful to have 'rangefinderforum' engraved around the edge of the softie. That is if it is thick enough. Not likely, I expect...just an idea.

Ok...I voted for #1 but I now vote #8 with a typographer's ligature.

I would even suggest Adobe Garamond Premiere Pro (http://www.adobe.com/type/browser/landing/garamond/garamond.html) as it has an exquisite italic member of the family.

Rollmo

01-29-2010, 20:48

Well...if #8 were the choice, I'd like to make a suggestion.
For the ff, it would be great if you used a typographer's ligature.

See bellow...the bar across the two letter Fs is solid instead of each having one bar.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Ligatures.svg/300px-Ligatures.svg.png

I think the softie would look great in all lower case italics with an ff ligature. Also...like the UK pound coin, it would be wonderful to have 'rangefinderforum' engraved around the edge of the softie. That is if it is thick enough. Not likely, I expect...just an idea.

Ok...I voted for #1 but I now vote #8 with a typographer's ligature.

I would even suggest Adobe Garamond Premiere as it has an exquisite italic member of the family.

http://www.sharemation.com//barsix/rff/rff1.jpg http://www.sharemation.com//barsix/rff/rff2.jpg

dcsang

01-29-2010, 20:49

Whoops.. I hit #7 - meant #8.

Dave

Keith

01-29-2010, 20:56

I like this! :)

http://www.sharemation.com//barsix/rff/rff1.jpg

Disaster_Area

01-29-2010, 21:47

Hey guys... it's cool to see the creative juices flowing, but I really don't want to get into changing designs or adding new designs at this point in interest of keeping the ball rolling. There was a whole week to propose designs. If we add new designs or start suggesting changes to already posted ones it's just going to get confusing... people already voted for design "X" and it wouldn't be fair to make changes to that design because that's not what they cast their vote for. Same with adding a new design... "oh... I voted for X but now that Y is on the table I'd rather vote for that"... please vote on the designs as they are now... and please no requests to add newly proposed designs to the poll because it's just not possible without scrapping this poll and starting a whole new one.

aizan

01-29-2010, 23:19

*sigh* i didn't even get to submit any designs. nobody answered my questions before further submissions were unexpectedly closed off.

anyhow, i like #8 the best, even though the 'ff' should really be replaced with the proper ligature.

mgd711

01-29-2010, 23:50

I like #5 the best but regardless who win's I'll buy a couple.

drewbarb

01-29-2010, 23:52

I like the one with the ligature, too- just as Keith posted above.

cnphoto

01-30-2010, 00:50

#8 with ligature is much nicer, my favourite is still #5. pity it wont win :(

Disaster_Area

01-30-2010, 04:40

Wow... I really expected #5 to be in the lead considering how many comments it got on the previous thread. I have to admit I did not see the number of votes for #8 coming... it looks nice but doesn't really have anything to do with cameras or the logo/font of the forum.

Ken Shipman

01-30-2010, 08:52

I suspect the #8 vote is due to the simplicity and understatement, which is apparent when you see all the choices together. I had no intention of choosing #8 until I saw them all together, and the others all looked so busy.

scottwallick

01-30-2010, 09:39

Exciting. After the design is selected, what turnaround are we looking to make the softies? I'd like to get two or three. Can we just go ahead and pre-order from Tom?

summar

01-30-2010, 09:52

I like #9 with the f-stops and shutter speeds, but perhaps in a bright red to suggest the trademark on certain expensive RF cameras. Class counts!

wayneb

01-30-2010, 10:24

I designed #8. The font, I believe is Palatino. It was designed very quickly just as an idea, so perhaps there is a similar, but better font. The ligature on the ff, I can imagine changing, but I don't like the r and ff's attached, and not the uppercase R. And I agree changing the design too much at this point isn't really fair.

As some have mentioned, the intention was understatement and a "secret club" feel. While the others are closer to the website logo and/or have direct camera graphics, sitting on top of a gourmet Leica kit that many of you carry around, I imagined a more subtle reminder of this online community.

Tom A

01-30-2010, 16:01

Exciting. After the design is selected, what turnaround are we looking to make the softies? I'd like to get two or three. Can we just go ahead and pre-order from Tom?

Scott, we have stock for 100 Classic on hand and 100 mini. Turn around time is probably 2-3 weeks as it depends on the engravers work load. Once the final design(s) are picked and the correct "file" for the engraver has been set up - I would know better. You will be able to get them either from Stephen or from us.

jmilkins

01-30-2010, 16:59

hmnn #1 has an 8 bladed aperture for a circular diaphragm = nicer bokeh so I gotta vote for it.:cool:

Juan Valdenebro

01-30-2010, 17:28

That's a real photographer's vote! :D

rbiemer

01-30-2010, 17:30

Scott, we have stock for 100 Classic on hand and 100 mini. Turn around time is probably 2-3 weeks as it depends on the engravers work load. Once the final design(s) are picked and the correct "file" for the engraver has been set up - I would know better. You will be able to get them either from Stephen or from us.
Tom, earlier I said I would take one. If you're going to offer Classic and
Minis, I'll want two--one of each size!
Any idea about price yet?
Rob

back alley

01-30-2010, 17:39

standard minis go for $20, iirc.

robklurfield

01-30-2010, 18:57

they're all great. I voted for #9, but it could have been a toss-up. I'll buy whatever wins.

degruyl

01-30-2010, 20:08

I was very torn between 5 and 8. In the end, I went with 8.

I like the ideas of 2 and 3, but they are way too fine for the size.

atlcruiser

01-30-2010, 21:12

like most all of thembut #9 did it for me.

finguanzo

01-30-2010, 21:14

I made 2 and 3, I was going to try and rework them to the correct size, but I didnt have time to do it before the pole went up. Im torn between 5 and 9..

Marsopa

01-31-2010, 10:27

#8 ... I'll pick two or three...

aizan

01-31-2010, 10:35

btw, are the softies going to be black or silver?

back alley

01-31-2010, 10:42

my favourite is not winning...

ChrisLivsey

01-31-2010, 10:46

my favourite is not winning...

Perhaps you should try the Irish voting technique : Vote early! Vote Often ! :rolleyes:

back alley

01-31-2010, 11:00

i DO have the key to the edit button...;)

Juan Valdenebro

01-31-2010, 11:01

The two I like are not in the first position, but... They're second and third! :)

robklurfield

01-31-2010, 11:01

"vote early and vote often" is the credo of Chicago elections (where I grew up). something of which we are justifiably proud. that and Chicagoans' penchant for "showing up at the polls" even in the after life... as several elections have possibly been swung by "voters" who were dead on election day. this gives the phrase, "raising the dead" special meaning.

Perhaps you should try the Irish voting technique : Vote early! Vote Often ! :rolleyes:

Juan Valdenebro

01-31-2010, 11:02

Go on and do it, Joe! (I mean, if you like #1 or #5...) :)

colyn

01-31-2010, 15:41

I like #1 but all of them are good..

Tom A

01-31-2010, 18:11

I am keeping the price at US $20/each +shipping/Paypal fee's. After all this is for RFf and I am supporting our community of Rangefinder addicts.
Tom

back alley

01-31-2010, 20:03

you're a good man tom!

Gary E

01-31-2010, 20:05

In any case or design chosen, count me in for 2.

naruto

01-31-2010, 20:43

#1 for me. The lowercase fonts on the #8 is not so good looking for me. I would have liked #5 too.

Tom, that's a great offer. I need two. :) standard and/or mini.

Tom A

01-31-2010, 21:40

I'm not clear if it was decided whether there will be only the regular size or both the regular and the mini. What's it gonna be, Tom?

I think we can make both sizes. However the #8 is the only one that would work with the mini as the surface is too small for a more elaborate design.
Tom

bean_counter

01-31-2010, 22:11

# 8 immediately reminded me of the old London record label (British Decca) with the "ffrr" logo; stood for "full frequency range respose"

very similar font

gotta get around to fixed that hum in my turntable....

Juan Valdenebro

02-01-2010, 00:26

I think we can make both sizes. However the #8 is the only one that would work with the mini as the surface is too small for a more elaborate design.
Tom

Now that you're planning both sizes, could we have two designs to choose from?

Keith

02-01-2010, 00:29

Go on and do it, Joe! (I mean, if you like #1 or #5...) :)

Yes why not Joe ... you or someone else messed around with a poll I started a while ago! :D

taxi38

02-01-2010, 06:28

surprised that no 8 is winning,its the worst one and has the wrong font,.i voted for no 2 which Ive just realised also has the wrong font so Im changing to no 7as the two circles are rather like a translation of the two oblongs of a rangefinder into "button".

Spavinaw

02-01-2010, 12:37

bean counter
As I recall "ffrr' stood for "full frequency range recording". Google seems to agree with me. Your record label may vary.
Anyway, I voted for #1 because I think it is recognizable at a greater distance than the others. Perchance you were at a large Disney amusement park and saw someone across the way with a camera (preferably a rangefinder) that had a softie on it. I think it would be healthier to be able to stroll by within a few feet, glance at a large, distinct pattern softie and see that it was rff, rather than have to walk up to the person and lean your head over with your forehead touching their chest so you could gaze down within a few inches to determine if it was an rff softie with a tiny engraving! However, if you like to live dangerously...

Juan Valdenebro

02-01-2010, 12:43

surprised that no 8 is winning,its the worst one and has the wrong font.

I couldn't live with it. From the very first moment I saw it, I (graduated musician) did read: "rff: really fortissimo! :eek:

I respect other readings anyway.

Cheers,

Juan

ChrisLivsey

02-01-2010, 12:49

Perhaps 1 could be merged with 8 as the font seems to be the attraction in 8 ?

Juan Valdenebro

02-01-2010, 13:12

LOL, #8 can be even worse! It can infect #1!

SteveM_NJ

02-01-2010, 13:59

i hit #8, simple,
lettering large enough to see? ( ha, can not imagine beaing able to read/noticing any engravings on a softie except when I am right next to the other person)
but will gladly buy a pair anyway.

back alley

02-01-2010, 14:39

Yes why not Joe ... you or someone else messed around with a poll I started a while ago! :D

not me, i have never messed with a poll here.

gb hill

02-01-2010, 15:55

Trius (Earl) said vote for #6 so I did! Don't look to have much of a chance @ winning but personally I don't really like any of them...sorry! I like the Mr. B softies!

coelacanth

02-01-2010, 16:06

Just to be super frank and honest, I don't like any of them. Busy elements, mixed typeces, etc put me off. I don't want to sound like a smart ass, but I (full time gui/graphic designer) think the KISS is the best approach for this.

Well, I didn't submit one or vote for one (voted "take 2" in the initial poll) so I guess I don't have the right to say much, but this is my bottom line.

I like the Mr. B softies the best...

Kudos to all designers, I'll just shut up now.

Juan Valdenebro

02-01-2010, 16:13

And the shot of all of them together facing us is very sweet... I have been living with a kitty, Ágatha, for ten years, since she was a cute baby with a big head, she's a siamese, and she never got interested in my photographs, but she's always interested in my shrimps! Before her I had several dogs from my childhood... Dogs are lovely and fine, but cats are, as Dylan says about women's hearts, like an ocean, mysterious and dark...

Disaster_Area

02-01-2010, 18:14

If you don't have anything nice to say....

I appreciate that the designs that were submitted might not appeal to everyone... but everyone had a week to submit designs of their own, so thank you coelacanth at least, for admitting that by not submitting a design you don't really have a right to complain. I don't want to get into an argument about "oh it's a free world, everyone's got a right to their own opinion" ... I agree... but if you went to an gallery opening and thought the work was crap, I'd hope you wouldn't walk up to the artist and announce that fact for the whole room to hear... I'd hope you'd keep that opinion which you have a right to, to yourself or at least out of earshot. Out of respect for those that did take the time to create designs to try and create something really cool for the members of this forum please try to keep any criticism constructive... blanket statements like "none of them are any good" don't help the conversation.

coelacanth

02-01-2010, 19:03

Disaster_Area

02-01-2010, 19:17

Disaster_Area,

I hope you didn't take my comment offensive. I, too, have no interest in getting into any argument. But as a potential buyer (again I voted for buying two and actually wanna buy some), I think raising a simple opinion while paying respect to the designers is not out of of place. And as I wrote, KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) is my constructive criticism.

Disaster_Area, I understand that you (we) don't want to go into expanding variations, adding and all the back and forth, but how about this? The poll will determine, say, 2 top designs. Then the owners of the designs can revise/clean up a bit based on what's been discussed/suggested here? We need to revise the designs several times, even for relatively small projects for clients. It's almost impossible to nail down the final design with one round.

Well, if you think this is also too much of work, complication, please do ignore this. It's just my 2 cents.

No... I was being honest, not sarcastic when I said thanks for your comment. I take no offense :)

And as for it being hard to nail down the perfect design in just one poll, I agree. I'm not sure how Tom will want to handle the final decision as to which design(s) get made... the poll is more just to determine the general feelings of everyone... which designs everyone likes the most... In the end I leave it to Tom's discretion as to which one(s) will look best on a softy or which one(s) he thinks will appeal to the most people. There isn't really a clear winner right now... the vote is pretty evenly split between #1 and #8 with neither in the majority... so I'll leave it up to him as to how he wants to interpret the results. He may want to do another poll... or he may decide to cast the final vote himself considering there isn't a single design that's gotten a majority... in then end it's his product so I leave it in his capable hands :)

bean_counter

02-02-2010, 10:54

bean counter
As I recall "ffrr' stood for "full frequency range recording". Google seems to agree with me. Your record label may vary

You're probably right; I'll have to pull one down off the shelf and take a look...

robklurfield

02-02-2010, 11:28

well, if we're going to lobby for a "full frequency range recording" softie, then I think we should also have both a "Living Presence" and a Living Stereo version. You know, one with Nipper, the RCA dog listening to his master's voice. This for all those vinyl vamps out there....:D;) And then, what about a "six eyes" for those Columbia recording fans out there?

You're probably right; I'll have to pull one down off the shelf and take a look...

Becoming

02-02-2010, 12:04

Juan Valdenebro

02-02-2010, 12:26

Hi Michael! When I saw that final shot showing all Mr. B softies together on wood, I remembered how the original drawing and idea and Mr. A's going through it 'till the final product, all came from that very special love cats get to make us feel for them, so for me it was special looking at the softies and feeling like seeing the real cats we've loved... Yeah, it was an unnecessary comment! I never heard "leftfield" before, so I don't understand your joke... (Excuse my poor english). Could leftfield refer to my heart?

Cheers,

Juan

bean_counter

02-02-2010, 12:29

well, if we're going to lobby for a "full frequency range recording" softie, then I think we should also have both a "Living Presence" and a Living Stereo version. You know, one with Nipper, the RCA dog listening to his master's voice. This for all those vinyl vamps out there....:D;) And then, what about a "six eyes" for those Columbia recording fans out there?

mmmm, nothing quite like an early pressing RCA Living Stereo.... stamper 001/001 for the 'fondlers'

Nipper might need a hearing aid to hear the M shutter, tho :D

taxi38

02-02-2010, 13:10

Maybe the top 5 say could be asked to refine their ideas after seeing the opinions of us all and then a final vote.

Disaster_Area

02-03-2010, 08:27

So the pole is closed!!!

#8 was the winner, followed by #1 and #5.

Tom has asked the designers of the three winners to contact him via RFF mail and he'll let you know what file format you need to submit your design in. If you have any problems with that I can probably help you out.

Further information will be posted once we have a better idea of when the softies will be available for ordering.