Winding down support for DMR at Solms?

[Posto 6]

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Yesterday I called Solms Customer Service to enquire about DMR repairs, and was informed by Gabrielle that Leica are no longer able to repair the electronics components of these due to the lack of availability of parts. For the time being, it would seems, mechanical issues and parts remain available.

 

Although I suppose this has been well-flagged and is no real surprise, it would be rather nice if one of the independent Leica specialists were able to find a way of assuming this work, possibly in agreement/coordination with Leica as has been the case with DMR batteries. I am pretty certain that this should provide a good revenue flow and market niche for the right technician to expand his business.

 

It would really be a pity to see all the DMRs slowly finding their way onto the scrapheap....

[Krauklis]

For quite a long time my thoughts about that have been varying from selling my DMR as soon as possible to buying a second one/a spare one - and I haven't really found a solution yet.

(Selling a good DMR is easy, but finding a good one is a problem).

 

-krauklis (at a loss)

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[adan]

If there are no electronic parts, how is an independent specialist going to do any better than Leica? Install a silicon-wafer forge in his workshop?

 

http://www.afestlouis.org/Scrapbook/mjl300.jpg

[Posto 6]

Actually, it is surprising how well local techs here in Rio can "restore" damaged and dead computer motherboards and other ancillaries. I am sure that the electronics are not that cutting-edge- and that a good technician, once he has familiarized himself, will be able to keep things operational without breaking the Bank.

[Nick_S]

So how many years has it taken for this high tech. adaptation of the R cameras to reach the status of a paperweight if a unit breaks. This increases my anxiety about investing in a digital M body --- it seems that users cannot to expect long-term support of their camera electronics.

 

Nick

[k_g_wolf ✝]

>> Nick

 

Don´t worry, go for the M9, things should be quite different in the world of

the digital LEICA-M !

 

You can´t expect a 50 year-support in regards of the M 8/ 9 but

it should be MUCH longer than the DMR. The DMR was build by IMACON

for LEICA and the IMACON people didn´t want to continue with more

batches, as was requested by LEICA, AFAIK.

 

I would guess, the M9 will be "supported" at least by another 10 yrs ...

hopefully. Think about your ten year old car. Isn´t it nice to have a change

after a while ?

 

 

Best

GEORG

[Posto 6]

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To be fair, Leica have been very open with the expectation of eventual DMR service limitations following the problems with Imacon. However, a workable solution should be feasible if Leica throw their weight behind an ad hoc solution which centralized service work by a third party, thereby rendering such specialization economically viable.

 

This would obviously also reassure anxious owners of other Solms digital products.

[adan]

Always keep in mind that the digital Ms are a CURRENT Leica camera line for which Leica CURRENTLY makes and sells cameras and lenses. The M cameras are also their core product, and will be discontinued only when Leica closes its doors for good.

 

None of which applies to any part of the R system, which is deader than film as far as Leica's corporate goals are concerned. That's what really concerns some people - if there were an R10 with an ongoing line of lenses, very few would worry about the early demise of the DMR.

 

The DMR is further complicated by the fact that it was almost totally made outside of Leica, by a company that has since been purchased by a competing camera company (Hasselblad).

 

If Kodak is purchase by Canon, or Jenoptik by Fujifilm, I might worry about future support of the M8/9. Call me when that happens.

 

That being said - I never assumed that my M9 (and previously my M8s) would be supported much beyond 10 years after end of production. Fortunately, all of them paid for themselves within 18 months, leaving me 8.5 years (plus however much longer they keep working all on their own) of adding money to the bank to save up for a replacement if needed.

 

If that increases anyone's anxiety, they probably aren't ready for digital.

[Posto 6]

True, Andy, but from a professional's perspective. As in my case the equipment is not for money-making purposes, any extensions in lifespan are very much welcome as I prefer to delay supplementary outgoings as far as possible.

[adan]

I take your point - however, I wasn't counting professional income in saying that my digital Ms paid for themselves, just the savings in film and processing.

 

It is a given that digital products are dependent in very tightly specced components that cannot be replaced in the future as easily as a 2011 screw can replace an M3's 1958 screw. The same is true for today's computerized autos - it will be difficult (if not impossible) to keep a 2005 Honda running in 2105 if one of the ancient controller chips fries, whereas anyone who can bend metal can probably keep a 1905 Aerocar running until oil reserves run out.

 

In the general run of things, one just replaces a digital camera with the next (or next-but-three) model once it breaks and cannot be fixed. The trade-off being that the camera saved enough money over its limited life to pay for the replacement - repeat ad infinitum.

 

The DMR is almost unique in having no "next model" (the Contax N Digital and digital-capable 645 being in a similar boat) - and even more unique in having the parts chain cut short by a corporate dispute. A historical oddity.

 

That being said, many DMRs will last the 10 years (through Feb. 2017) that anyone can reasonably expect of a digital camera - and beyond, with no need for parts. And some won't.

[Posto 6]

I agree overall- but am also unusual in just having gotten mine rather recently. I think I will start doing something that could be silly, but may be useful, namely start buying up a few damaged units to keep as donors in case of need in the future. Hopefully they will not all have the same faults, especially if I manage to get salvaged accidented and mishandled ones. Any offers from anyone?

[Guido]

I think I will start doing something that could be silly, but may be useful, namely start buying up a few damaged units to keep as donors in case of need in the future.

Being an expert in doing silly things myself, I can relate to your falling in love with a DMR.... one DMR.

 

But to buy several of them... uh... I hope you know what you're doing!!

[stuny]

Posto 6 -

 

Some of us have had to have the motherboard replaced. As you gather non-working DMRs hopefully at least one will have a good motherboard.

[Posto 6]

It would be very interesting to know what the main sources of failure have so far been for DMRs. If anyone has had major repairs, what were the main cause(s)?

Edited April 29, 2011 by Posto 6

[Solar B]

Well i have to say that i think this is seriously bad news for DMR fans ...

 

having almost bought one a couple of weeks ago with a 6 month warranty ... i,m now

 

wondering how such a warranty could ultimately be honoured.

 

Brian

[Posto 6]

I would not worry too much as I think that there is bound to be a suitable solution to keeping these wonderful units on the road. If it packs up (I would hope this is unlikely) and the sellers are unable to repair it, get your money back and buy another one!

 

I have spoken to my computer hardware tech yesterday in Rio, and he is confident that even a motherboard can be salvaged with the right degree of patience. The product-specific knowledge eventually gained and accumulated would enable a specialized repair center to be maintained only if the market were of sufficient size, hence the need for Leica to (ideally) identify and designate a third-party service facility in a similar approach to that taken by them with DMR batteries.

[andybarton]

Who is going to give you your money back?

 

There is a relatively small number of DMRs in existence (4,000?), not all of which will need electronics replacing or repairing. Thus the market for the repairs will most likely be measured in the hundreds.

 

If I were still a DMR owner, I wouldn't be counting on there being any service anywhere in the world to put right something that went wrong electronically. Batteries are easy - sourcing exactly the right chips and boards isn't.

[stunsworth]

Not very many DMRs were made, and only a few are going to have mother board problems, so I doubt that it's worth anyone's while to learn how to fix them.

[andybarton]

I am very worried that Steve has some sort of key-logging thing installed on my Mac...

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[Posto 6]

I agree that nobody will get rich repairing DMRs... but then, most techs are not in the business of getting rich. If an aftermarket specialist becomes recognized for specializing in DMRs, he should see sufficient business to make it worth his while. An added benefit would be wider recognition for his specialist skills, which could also bring supplemental business his way.

 

I can see no downside in such an arrangement, which is in any event likely to be of quite a lot of assistance to the remaining DMR users. Who knows- maybe because of their rarity and unusual provenance and functions, they even start being sought after by collectors in the future?