M9 broken while using tripod

[Bundestrainer]

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Today I used my M9 on a tripod. Unfortunately, I had an incident so that a small part of the bottom of the main (mid) body broke. The bottom plate doesn't lock into place anymore.

 

I know this is a problem that has a few times occurred to other M9 users. I couldn't find the thread though where the problem is discussed.

 

I'm wondering how much the repair will be and if an exchange of the outer mid body is required. Can anyone help, please?

Edited March 2, 2015 by Bundestrainer

[jaapv]

Contact Leica. I cannot recall anybody being charged.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/236763-m9-tripod-bottom-part-broken-anyone.html

Edited March 2, 2015 by jaapv

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[Orient XI]

Contact Leica. I cannot recall anybody being charged.

 

 

I broke the base of my M8 by using the central screw on the body when attaching a Visoflex complete with an f/5 400mm Telyt and was charged €1200 by Leica for the repair!

[pico]

It is impossible for me to know how hard you screwed it to the tripod head, but in my experience of repairing and building all sorts of things I've found that a fastener over-tightened is already half-broken.

 

If you could post a snapshot of the parts broken it would be appreciated.

 

I use the RRS baseplate for the grip, but it also adds a robust base to the M9. (And admittedly defeats the compactness of the cameras.)

Edited March 8, 2015 by pico

[Jean-Michel]

I, too, use an RSS bottom plate. I purchased the L version but only use the bottom plate, the L part is much too cumbersome but the bottom plate is perfect for regular or tripod use. The rss is definitely stronger and easier to use than the original Leica plate and really adds almost nothing to the size or weight of the camera. My only heavy lens is a 135 Elmarit and that lens has its own tripod screw, I never dared putting that one on a film M and a camera on tripod unless using the lens tripod mount. With the RSS I occasionally will put it on the tripod using the camera plate.

Jean-Michel

[HeinzX]

I use a Novoflex plate together with a Novoflex Q Base. Not only for my Leica but for my heavy Canon equipment too. This solution is quick and safe.

[jaapv]

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I broke the base of my M8 by using the central screw on the body when attaching a Visoflex complete with an f/5 400mm Telyt and was charged €1200 by Leica for the repair!

 

But the Visoflex has it's own tripod screw as has the lens?

[BerndReini]

If they try to charge you, please "kick and scream." I do not think that if you talk to the right people they would charge you for this. I know you didn't have a Zeiss Otus on the camera when this happened and it is clearly a manufacturing or design defect.

[pgk]

Has anyone tried these (I have no connection whatsoever - just intrigued): Quick Release L-Plate Bracket Hand Grip Holder For Tripod Ball Head Leica M8【UK】 | eBay price is somewhat lower than the competition to say the least!

[250swb]

Even if cheap they are just as hideous as the RSS brackets.

 

But generally speaking I think the OP is talking about breaking the actual magnesium casting of the main body, so it would have made no difference how tight the tripod is mounted to the camera because the tripod socket is in the brass base plate, not the main body. Without some sort of confession it would seem the tripod has fallen over or some such thing. In which case it is hard to know who is to blame, Leica for tipping the tripod over, or the owner for not catching it. It's an accident, and running to buy horrible gizmo's just because somebody else has an accident is absurd.

 

Steve

[Bundestrainer]

Even if cheap they are just as hideous as the RSS brackets.

 

But generally speaking I think the OP is talking about breaking the actual magnesium casting of the main body, so it would have made no difference how tight the tripod is mounted to the camera because the tripod socket is in the brass base plate, not the main body. Without some sort of confession it would seem the tripod has fallen over or some such thing. In which case it is hard to know who is to blame, Leica for tipping the tripod over, or the owner for not catching it. It's an accident, and running to buy horrible gizmo's just because somebody else has an accident is absurd.

 

Steve

 

Yes, I'm talking about the magnesium casting of the main body, please see the photo attached. No, the tripod didn't fell over. Maybe the camera "bent" a bit while sitting on the tripod but that was all that happened.

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[250swb]

Not a pretty sight. I think I remember a thread about broken castings related to M8's. The catch should have broken or the base plate warped before the main body casting cracked so it's another blow for Leica reliability and 'designed for life'. Send it back through your nearest dealer for an assessment but it's clearly not a small job.

 

Steve

[earleygallery]

There have been a number of threads in the past about this problem. The design was changed for the later M which should tell you all you need to know about whether it was a design flaw or not.

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/236763-m9-tripod-bottom-part-broken-anyone.html

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/72207-base-plate-body-failure.html

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/170276-bottom-plate-attachment-concerns.html

[Vieri]

... I use the RRS baseplate for the grip

, but it also adds a robust base to the M9. (And admittedly defeats the compactness of the cameras.)

 

Second that. It works great, puts no strain whatsoever on the body and it actually adds just a few mm to the camera, I have to disagree on "defeats the compactness of the camera"

[250swb]

The only thing the RSS plate does is make the bottom of the camera rigid, unlike the thin brass of the original. I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume an even more rigid base plate is going to put even more stress into the body casting. My M9 has been blown over by the wind and in hitting the ground the base plate bent (and I bent it back into shape again). That was lucky, it could have broken the casting instead, but it certainly absorbed some of the impact by bending. Take away the slight flexibility of the 'crumple zone' and every bit of force goes into the body whether by impact or regular use. This does not apply to the M240, it is a unique problem with poor design and manufacture of M8 and M9 castings and also the mounting of the tripod bush in the baseplate itself.

 

Steve

[Vieri]

The only thing the RSS plate does is make the bottom of the camera rigid, unlike the thin brass of the original. I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume an even more rigid base plate is going to put even more stress into the body casting. My M9 has been blown over by the wind and in hitting the ground the base plate bent (and I bent it back into shape again). That was lucky, it could have broken the casting instead, but it certainly absorbed some of the impact by bending. Take away the slight flexibility of the 'crumple zone' and every bit of force goes into the body whether by impact or regular use. This does not apply to the M240, it is a unique problem with poor design and manufacture of M8 and M9 castings and also the mounting of the tripod bush in the baseplate itself.

 

Steve

 

True, except the RSS doesn't put any stress on the tripod mount screw, which would solve the OP's conundrum

[BerndReini]

I have an Arte Di Mano case for my M9. It has a screw built-in. I haven't used a tripod for the camera in many years, but after reading this I would definitely keep my case on.

[arthurgalvao]

It happened to me too. Had my M9-P a tripod, thought I had loosen the head and tilted down, broke like plastic. The problem is that its part of the body, so it would be expensive to replace. I just chose to let it go and let the base plate be a little loose, since the camera is still completely functional.

 

Had to send it to Leica because of corrosion though

[Erik Gunst Lund]

.... I think it's perfectly reasonable to assume an even more rigid base plate is going to put even more stress into the body casting....

Steve

 

Not quite, if you look at how the design is, the very simple locking points, the stress will be applied closer to the body by a stiffer plate/design, so the leverage is shorter which gives less bending stress and therefore a stronger and stiffer connection, basic engineering.

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