a. would you even want one b. what price would you be willing to pay for one c. at that price, how many do you think the market could support in sales?

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), May 28, 2002

Answers

Never felt the slightest need for an on-off switch (M6 classic=set shutter to "B", M6TTL=set shutter to "B" or "OFF"). But I wonder if the on-off switch on the M7 could be retrofitted to the M6/M6TTL by a good repairman?

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), May 28, 2002.

whatever the merits of a battery switch for the 6/ttl, you'd better investigate whether such a thing is safe to use. some solid state electronics like/need to be powered up in a certain way (or, more accurately, a certain sequence). you mite do damage. the m7, for example, obviously has some power-up routine that accounts for the 2 sec delay, special display functions, etc. when you turn it on. you are not dealing with a simple circuit.

-- roger michel (michel@tcn.org), May 28, 2002.

In the case of more complicated circuits... where there might be some problem if the circuit was was engergized the middle of some cycle, there would be a problem. In a circuit such as the M6's, you can take out and replace the battery at any time, no matter if the meter was on, or off, or off thru the "off" setting. With the M7... you might be in trouble if you take the battery out during some long exposure, or in the middle of a winding cycle... I dont have one to test those contingancies.

-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), May 28, 2002.

The M6TTL has to be set to "OFF" to be off. When set at "B", the flash circuits are still powered (if the shutter is depressed such as when you put it in a bag).

-- John Collier (jbcollier@shaw.ca), May 29, 2002.

I guess this switch is not to store your camera, or just to put it away, but to keep working without the distulbing ligths of meter on, but still having the comfort of puting meter on at the push of a switch.

-- r watson (al1231234@hotmail.com), May 29, 2002.