Please help on M8 serial num confusion~

[zhangsiliang]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi Everybody,I'm a new one to the leica world especially to digital leica camera.

I got a used leica M8 camera on ebay about a month ago with around 5000 shutter counts and Firmware 2.014. Camera comes only with charger and battery,no box or other accessory.Seller said he has no problem since owned it.

 

After I got the camera I checked the shutter num directly in the body debug data in the service menu and it did have around 5000 exposurecounts and the camera seems works fine.I registed the camera in leica.com and even got 2 UV/IR filters with the serial num on the hotshoe(3104318 which seems an early products...) since the previous owner seems didn't apply for them.

 

But recently when I was playing with the camera,I occasionally entered the service menu and played with all the options in the menu other than just the debug data,and that's where I thinkg the problem starts:when I entered the firmware info option in the service menu(please see attached pic),I found that the serial num didn't match the one on the hotshoe(3103771)!!!!!

 

I'm so confused and nervous now,I paid almost $1500 for the camera... Anybody have any idea on this?Could it be the previous owner cheated on the camera? Why the serial num didn't match?Could it be the top plate including the hotshoe was not the original one(3103771) due to serious damage? And thus was replaced from another dead camera for parts(3104318) ?

 

 

 

 

Please help me out,any idea or suggestions will be really appreciated~~~

I'll need to contact the seller to see if we can work something out if this is really a big problem although I've left positive feedback for him....

Edited September 9, 2014 by zhangsiliang
add pics

[zhangsiliang]

anybody have any thoughts on this?Have any one had this experience before?

Please help me out:(

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

It wouldn't bother me at all. There is no difference between bodies of this camera.

They are made in batches, so I can easily see numbers being mixed up.

So what does it matter if Leica (because it cannot realistically have been anybody else) made a numbering mistake.

Even if the body did sustain damage and the top plate were replaced Leica would reinstate the correct number.

You could inquire from the factory or even have them check the camera out for you.

 

Anyway, the debug program is not meant for the consumer to play around with.

Edited September 9, 2014 by jaapv

[Guest]

....

 

It might be safest if you inquire at Leica, whether perhaps the top plate has been replaced.

[zhangsiliang]

It wouldn't bother me at all. There is no difference between bodies of this camera.

They are made in batches, so I can easily see numbers being mixed up.

So what does it matter if Leica (because it cannot realistically have been anybody else) made a numbering mistake.

Even if the body did sustain damage and the top plate were replaced Leica would reinstate the correct number.

You could inquire from the factory or even have them check the camera out for you.

 

Anyway, the debug program is not meant for the consumer to play around with.

 

Thanks very much for your thoughts~I really appreciate that! hope that it was mismatched in the leica factory but not from repair.And I think the seller should have mention it if he know it because it'll will be difficult for the next owner like me to re-sell this camera with a un-matched S/N when I want to upgrade in the future...

[zhangsiliang]

It might be safest if you inquire at Leica, whether perhaps the top plate has been replaced.

 

Thanks~I'll contact leica for that~thanks a lot!

[satijntje]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Interesting.

I just checked the engraved serial with the one in the Memory, and they are identical. So the topplate was most likely replaced. Nothing to worry about. Just enjoy shooting:D

 

John

[jaapv]

Yes, but it is normal procedure to swop the hotshoe out when swapping top plates.

I cannot see this having any impact on resale value, though.

[J M Hughes]

The hotshoe on a Leica M is not easily changed, so it would normally be retained - even if the top plate were replaced. If/when Leica engrave a replacement serial number on a camera or lens, they always add an asterisk * to the number to indicate this. As this is not the case here, the hotshoe serial number must be original.

[jaapv]

I have had my top changed, Leica changed the hot shoe. It is no big deal, it is fixed by four small screws...

Nor has my M9, which was changed from black to chrome an * engraved.

 

 

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/customer-forum/239839-a.html#post2079041

Edited September 10, 2014 by jaapv

[zhangsiliang]

thanks for the reply/discussion on this topic.

some update on my side:

 

I emailed leica service center both in Germany and in USA and they said both serial numbers in my camrea does not have any record in their system.So they believe the top plate was replaced.

 

I also emailed the seller that I bought from:he said he probably is the 2nd owner,so I guess he also don't know where is this camera original purchased.

 

I think if it was purchased in asian and serviced/repaired in asian,then the germany/usa center probably don't have the record because the germany center asked me to checked with usa center becuase they don't have the access to their record which is interesting---I thought they would shared the info worldwide.

 

Or there's a possibility that the mistake was made when the camera was new but I guess the leica company will probably not admit that.

 

Anyway I would push myself not to let this issue bother me that much and focus on shooting more good pics with this tool:p

[Everywhen]

But you say you were able to claim the IR filters when you registered the camera on line?

In this case there must be a record of whatever serial number you used?

[fotoism]

But you say you were able to claim the IR filters when you registered the camera on line?

In this case there must be a record of whatever serial number you used?

 

Is it possible Solms gives out free filters to whoever registering their M8 with a serial number as long as (1) no one registered that number before and (2) the number falls within the beginning and ending serial numbers ever produced?

 

Just a wild guess.

[lct]

Is it possible Solms gives out free filters to whoever registering their M8 with a serial number as long as (1) no one registered that number before [...]

Leica ask for the warranty card normally, at least they did so for me.