M9 conceptual sketches

[Dante_Stella]

How about adopting the Hexar's top-mounted EV comp dial? And the front-edge mounted shutter speed wheel that can be turned with the right index finger without displacing one's grip?

Originally Posted by amateriat

Given that the closest existing film-based analog to the M8 is Konica's Hexar RF (which had a stillborn digital prototype), I think the M9's controls could be similarly streamlined without diluting the camera's "Leicaness."

- The Hex has exactly one (tiny-but-legible) LCD, on the top panel. This provides both frame-count and always-on battery-condition readout, so there's never a question of how much juice is on hand. (I like the idea of a charge indicator on the M9's battery packs; we had them on both AA and NiCad packs for the Nikon F2 and Minolta XK motor bodies, and most any laptop computer battery has 'em as well.)

- Getting a Grip: The Hex uses neoprene for the touchy-feely parts of the body, which, quite coincidently, can be (and, in the case of the HRF, were) shaped for better handholding. Just as effective as sculpting the metalwork thusly, and obviously cheaper. (Hell, you could even offer an "a la carte" custom molding option for the covering, which could be changed if and when the camera was sold to someone else.)

- Titanium covers. No excuses.

- Any color you like, as long as it's black epoxy. Warm to the touch, unobtrusive, and tougher than lacquer or enamel. The mark of a camera that's meant to be used, not merely ogled.

A few other non-Hex-centric things came to mind just now:

- Bluetooth. Given the relative difficulty of removing the SD card from the M8, it would be nice to tether the M9 "live" to either a laptop or external storage device when one is in the middle of a serious shooting jag that makes confetti out of even 16GB cards.

- A dust-cleaning regimen that doesn't induce psychosis (i.e. does not involve Service Dept. intervention).

That's all. But, Harry, you're really on the right track here, IMO


- Barrett