Base plate failure,

[georg]

With all the new information technology we need to learn to handle and filter information, wether it's political or dealing with base plate failures...

We have to differentiate true information, a singular isntance and sometimes even internet trolls...

It's possible that the die-cast breaks but after handling several M8s, knowing Leica and seeing how well this camera is crafted that's an information I filter...

I used my M8 in heavy rain (when I had to), I use the tripod mount quite often and I didn't experienced any problems! Of course not, it's a really expensive camera - when the tripod mount would break, Leica would have to deal with it (and pay for it), that's for sure!

Don't buying a M8 (instead a prosumer with much more cheap materials!?) or don't using it on a tripod because some people in the forum told horror stories? Come on...

That's all I'm going to say and I hope we can forget this thread...

[ho_co]

Hear, hear, Georg!

And despite Steve's and others' repeated requests for more information from the thread reviver, we've seen no response. That raises questions in my mind in regard to the accuracy of his initial formulation.

Certainly this is a matter to keep in mind, but so far I don't think we've got enough information to think there's a problem.

[AlanG]

Originally Posted by ho_co

Hear, hear, Georg!

And despite Steve's and others' repeated requests for more information from the thread reviver, we've seen no response. That raises questions in my mind in regard to the accuracy of his initial formulation.

Certainly this is a matter to keep in mind, but so far I don't think we've got enough information to think there's a problem.

Well you never know for sure but his report sounded credible. And wasn't there a total of 4 reported failures?

I recently had some problems with the steering on a car and didn't get a very good response from my dealer. I went on line to research it and found I wasn't the only one. I made one post on the site to state I had the same problem. Then I downloaded the other reports along with info about the defective part and insisted on a free repair and got it. I never went back to that site or posted again but I certainly wasn't a troll.

[PeterP]

If I may interject some humor:

For all those reluctant to mount the M8 on a tripod - here is an easy fix !!

[morffin]

Is that the Luigi clamp?

Thanks for all the tips folks...about filters and stuff.

Off to scenic NJ tmrw to see if I can get this thing fixed.

[farnz]

Originally Posted by morffin

Is that the Luigi clamp? ...

No, that looks like the Thumbs Down.

Pete.

[fotografr]

Small problem:

[diogenis]

Originally Posted by diogenis

Godfrey,
Do you have any pictures taken prior servicing of your camera?
Do you also have the receipt if in the end you DID serviced it, with those $700 asked?
Because if you do, then Leica simply lies... And tbh, I can't believe this is even thinkable for a German gmbh company.

At last the sound of logic!
I had specifically asked for more info, because Godfrey has simply made one post in this forum only one, and that one was about that baseplate breaking... sounds a bit suspicious, but you can never tell after all. However henever replied as well either which to my eyes means 0 credibility. Still expecting for his answer...

On the other hand, Peter is giving us an excellent and safe grip

[wlaidlaw]

Unless I missed it while going through the more recent posts on this thread, we do not seem to have received a response to Andreas' query to Leica for a formal response/advice on using the M8 on a tripod. Disappointingly slow on what is a pretty vital matter to us M8 users. I want to use my M8 on a tripod today to take some interior shots of the basilica at St Maximin La Ste Baume. Can I or can I not use it in the portrait position with a 35 Lux on it, especially on the balcony? Did Bill ever get a technical report on his failure - fatigue, casting flaw, over-stress etc?

A failure rate of 0.02% is possilby acceptable. As someone else calculated, the chances of this happening and injuring someone are pretty low. In the same post, he asked if anyone would insure a car against being hit by Skylab. When I was an insurance underwriter, I should have been delighted to offer such a quote. With a book of such business, I could have made lots of money.

IMHO a report of a casting flaw would be what would give me a greater level of comfort, rather than a design flaw giving all of us a problem. All components may have a failure rate due to incorrect manufacturing. it is the rate and the consequences that matter. My brother had a wheel come off his Lola 292 at the Old Timer GP at the Nurburgring last week end, luckily on the slowest corner on the GP circuit. We found that the brand new half shaft had failed. When we checked the other side, we found that was also on the point of failing. We assume a faulty batch - now that is a wholly unacceptable failure rate with potentially serious consequences.

Wilson

[diogenis]

Wilson, if I was you, I would go ahead and use that tripod without second thoughts tbh.

[mhoersch]

Originally Posted by earleygallery

Are you talking about the socket on the base plate which is for attaching a case? Someone didn't try to fix a tripod to that did they??

Yes, I did. I'm so embarassed! Thank you James, for clearing that up!

[Ru_di]

The Solution with the Screw clamp is the most easy one. Maybe Leica can add this into their a la carte portfolio for the owners who just "want to make sure".

Vulkanit sleeve and black or silver chrome as material goes without saying. (do not use magnesium as material )

299€ should do the trick pricewise.

I am also interested in the "official" answer Andreas promised.

Regarding the "flaw", easy test obviously would be that every owner puts his M8 with lens on a tripod, facing towards earth and then we will see if this is really technically bad engineered or just "tough luck".

[fotografr]

Originally Posted by wlaidlaw

IMHO a report of a casting flaw would be what would give me a greater level of comfort, rather than a design flaw giving all of us a problem.
Wilson

If this was a design flaw, we'd have seen considerably more failures than have been reported. For certain kinds of work, I always have the M8 on a tripod, shooting both horizontal and vertical format. I've never even felt the slightest hint of flexing in the camera body. I'm shooting a job Saturday which will involve having the M8 & Noctilux on a tripod for several hours and I'm not at all concerned about it.

[marknorton]

That G-clamp can't be an official Leica accessory, no red dot...

[Shootist]

After looking at my present M8 I noticed that there is a slight cutout/recess in the body right under the locking lug. Leica has recessed this area so the lock on the base plate doesn't hit the body when you are turning it to lock the base in place. This is exactly where the failures occur, at that recess.
Why on earth did Leica weaken the body when all they had to do was reprofile the locking tab on the base plate.
I suspect we will have more of these failure in the future because of this body cutout/recess.

[diogenis]

That cutout was there since ever.
The problem usually lies with light alloys like this or aluminum where, they just break, not bend, but fo this to happen you need to apply a good amount of shock force. They are very hard materials... and light

[jrc]

Originally Posted by fotografr

If this was a design flaw, we'd have seen considerably more failures than have been reported.

I'm less worried now than I was a few days ago, as we've seen few additional reports. However, if the break was a design flaw, rather than a bad casting, it's possible that what we've seen are "early breakers." If the problem is caused by repeated stress (like bending a wire back and forth to break it) then its *cumulative* flexing that would cause the problem, and we could be in for a plague of breaks. I'm personally tending toward optimism...or maybe it's just that I don't often use a tripod. People who use neither a tripod or a hand grip should have no problems, I would think, as there would be no particular stress on the weak point.

JC

[Shootist]

Originally Posted by diogenis

That cutout was there since ever.

Yes THAT is the POINT I was making. If you look at the original post to this thread that is exactly where the failure occured. From the seem in the case halfs to the end of cutout/recess, no more no less.

Originally Posted by diogenis

The problem usually lies with light alloys like this or aluminum where, they just break, not bend, but fo this to happen you need to apply a good amount of shock force. They are very hard materials... and light

But whenever you weaken any material, by recessing part of it, you limit the strength of that part of it.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by jrc

I'm less worried now than I was a few days ago, as we've seen few additional reports. However, if the break was a design flaw, rather than a bad casting, it's possible that what we've seen are "early breakers." If the problem is caused by repeated stress (like bending a wire back and forth to break it) then its *cumulative* flexing that would cause the problem, and we could be in for a plague of breaks. I'm personally tending toward optimism...or maybe it's just that I don't often use a tripod. People who use neither a tripod or a hand grip should have no problems, I would think, as there would be no particular stress on the weak point.

JC

I don't think light alloys are as susceptible to repeated stress failure as for instance mild steel (but am prepared to be corrected by any engineer ) I think the part is underengineered in the sense that it is fine when nothing goes wrong in the production process, but that there is little reserve strength in case of a minor flaw in the casting process like a small bubble or microcrack. Which means that we should not be worried about using our cameras normally, but be prepared for a small number of failures over the years.

[fotografr]

I think we've been taken for a ride here, folks. This was Godfrey's only post here ever and he's never come back to answer any questions or participate further in the discussion. I'm kissing this one off as a troll.