Actually they they're not saving money. Starting with the M series of cameras, that I'm aware of at least, (maybe earlier, I seem to remember something similar on the ESII, but I don't have one available to look at right now). Pentax incorporated a switch in the hot shoe, usually on the right side which interrupted power flow to the electrical contacts when a flash was not mounted. The rational for this was that a user wouldn't shock themselves when using a flash attached to the PC connection, which was possible with a number of cameras IIRC. That switch is missing on the *ist D, which has a PC connector, (probably the same function is done electronically), and though it doesn't serve the same function since the Ds doesn't have a PC connector, the the switch is present on the Ds. The cutout is to keep from stressing the spring on that switch.
mike wilson wrote: >> From: "Shel Belinkoff" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Date: 2007/03/27 Tue PM 11:03:32 GMT >> To: "PDML" <[email protected]> >> Subject: The "Thingy" in the istDS >> >> I've been using the istDS for about two years and today I noticed a little >> thingy in the flash attachment. It looks like it's designed to cover and >> protect the contacts. That's pretty cool. This is my second DS, and I >> don't recall this protection cover being on the first camera. Is this a >> standard item, or maybe an optional piece that was installed by the >> original owner of my second camera, which I bought used? >> >> > > Standard fitment in most new cameras of quality. Even my Zenits had one. > The one for the Z1-p was a most bizarre shape, due to the location of the > shoe. The DL/2 has cutouts on the locating rails (in fact, on one side the > rail is almost completely missing) to save a farthing's worth of plastic. I > think you can get a Leica one made in precious metal and set with gemstones. > It's an optional extra on the Paris Hilton Sex Tape Commemorative model. > > > ----------------------------------------- > Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email > Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam > > > -- Entropy Seminar: The results of a five yeer studee ntu the sekend lw uf thurmodynamiks aand itz inevibl fxt hon shewb rt nslpn raq liot. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
