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Dropped My SL


BCMielke

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I don't drop a camera very often, but earlier today the SL came off the strap system that I have it on and it fell about a foot to the cement road.  Just as I was getting back to my car.  

 

First the good news.

 

I have done a pretty thorough check and the camera and the 24-90 appear to function without any issues.  However(you knew that was coming)  The camera landed on the corner nearest to the SD card flap.  The flap at first wouldn't come open and then it didn't finally slide and I was able to remove the card.  The slider does move back and forth, but it is very difficult.  I have a few questions.

 

1.  I assume this isn't covered by warranty, but is it repairable?

 

2.  If so is it worthwhile or will the camera be gone for a long time and I will have a rather large repair bill for something that with a little light sanding I might be able to live with?  

 

3.  I really don't want to be without my camera, but maybe I should also just have it checked out anyway since a lot of stuff can happen with impact problems.

 

 

 

 

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1. Probably not the standard Leica warranty. If you had one of the Passport variety then yes. You'd need to check your own documentation. What about your home insurance?

2. If I were you, I would get it done, and be prepared for a long wait. I suspect the body is unlikely to have been bent off-true, but can you be sure?

3. Yep! Especially if the body or lens develop unrelated problems later, Leica can (and will - there's a thread about it) disclaim responsibility under warranty because there is obvious impact damage.

 

To help us all out, tell us about the strap: what brand/model, and how did it fail?

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It's a Peak Design plate attached to the camera.  The strap is a Black Rapid strap, but I have added an Acratech plate to the bottom of it.  I must have just bumped the release system perfect as I was getting into the car since I had just hiked for 2-3 hours without issue.  I have used this system for 2-3 years without issue as well on many different cameras.  Probably just luck of the bad kind.

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A camera breakdown through a technical fault = guaranty

A camera broken because of external causes = insurance.

 

I'm sure Leica will be able to return the camera to you as new. They nearly always are. The price and turnaround time might be a bit disappointing, though. You can request express service to speed things up, provided spares are available. Call Customer Service, you can request a pickup on the Leica website.

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I don't drop a camera very often, but earlier today the SL came off the strap system that I have it on and it fell about a foot to the cement road.  Just as I was getting back to my car.  

 

First the good news.

 

I have done a pretty thorough check and the camera and the 24-90 appear to function without any issues.  However(you knew that was coming)  The camera landed on the corner nearest to the SD card flap.  The flap at first wouldn't come open and then it didn't finally slide and I was able to remove the card.  The slider does move back and forth, but it is very difficult.  I have a few questions.

 

1.  I assume this isn't covered by warranty, but is it repairable?

 

2.  If so is it worthwhile or will the camera be gone for a long time and I will have a rather large repair bill for something that with a little light sanding I might be able to live with?  

 

3.  I really don't want to be without my camera, but maybe I should also just have it checked out anyway since a lot of stuff can happen with impact problems.

 

 

Hi BCMielke,

 

Please keep us posted. Of special interest is how long it takes and what it costs.

 

dgktkr

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I looked on the website and saw that they offered DHL service for camera's within warranty.  It wasn't clear to me how this worked so I called Leica.  I got the push button tree and when I selected service there wasn't any mention of it at all and the Leica address in PA was provided.  I will send it there when I return from a business trip on Friday.  

 

After it arrives in PA do they then send it out to Germany?  I for some reason thought all repairs were in Germany.  

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The procedure is as follows:

 

1. You download,print and fill out the repair form.

http://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Repair-Maintenance

2. You pack it with the camera.

3. You call Leica CS and speak to a person (not the computer) and give your email address.

4. Leica mails you a label which you print and stick to the package.

5. You call DHL and ask for a pickup.

 

*disclaimer: outside Europe  some details may differ slighty.  Leica will inform you.

 

This is for all repairs, not just guaranty.

 

In the USA most repairs are done locally. Only some special repairs are sent to Germany.

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Didn't drop my SL per se alone but dropped my **SL with the 90-280 zoom attached** :-( :-( :-( while riding a bicycle and falling off the bike. Stupid me. Shuttered the B+W protect filter, thanks god it was there!!! as I had no hood at the time attached, so the filter took the impact. Dented the front area of the lens of course where the thread is. Sent the lens to the local repairer in Melbourne for the initial assessment, then the lens travelled to Wetzlar for repair. The damage was all up A$800 to fix. Thanks to Leica Australia good old friend Connor who helped in the process and ensured I got the lens back from Wetzlar two months and two weeks after the accident!!

The lens is as new ! And I'm loving it.

Here is a sample from today.

https://flic.kr/p/NW6SLt

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  • 2 weeks later...

I am finally getting around to sending the camera out.  Frankly I haven't wanted to for a couple of reasons.  

 

1.  I hate being without it.  

2.  I am never comfortable sending expensive gear through the mail.  

 

I attempted to use the DHL pickup since that gave me some sort of comfort, but upon calling Leica US I found that that service is only available in Germany.  In the US they have a different form and no pickup.  So that diminished my comfort level.  (For the record I have this same discomfort with my Nikon gear).  The receptionist though pleasant also wasn't very helpful.  She told me first I had the wrong website, directed me to a new one  www.leicacamerausa.com which then led me to the same support page I was on for the previous site I found. This page clearly states that DHL service is available.   

 

Either way it is going into the original box and will be on it's way shortly.  I figured I would let the USA customers know that if they are wanting to use the Pick-up service that stateside it isn't available.

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Had my SL and 24-90 knocked off a table onto concrete floor - bent outer rim and some small fissures on the edge of the lens and the barrel when extended wobbles :-(  Can only get the battery out with a nail file wiggling it....... Never ever had an accident with my cameras. I'm stressed about how long it will take to repair - if they can - think the lens is buggered - insurance will deal with it but really worried and annoyed - don't like being without and it works fine with the other M lenses I have ..... Anyone any idea of how long it'll take.....Tempted to buy another whilst being repaired and then sell when comes back - thoughts

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My camera has arrived, but I am unsure how to see where it is in the process.  I know that it will take awhile, but it would be nice to know that it has at least been received.  When I call them to ask do I just provide a serial number or is there some other way to have them identify that my camera has arrived?

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You should be able to check the status of the repair here: http://repair.leica-camera.com/service/repairtracking/. The page will not be regularly updated (not for the repairs/adjustments that I have had) - but at least you have some sort of feedback. You can also phone or e-mail Leica. Irrespective of the status information, it is always good to be patient... And you can expect to get your gear back in perfect working order; this has, at least, been my experience over the years.

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  • 2 weeks later...

As an update to my repair.  I sent quite a few emails to the repair and never got a response to my inquiry.  The main reason for the inquiry was to make sure they had received the camera.  I didn't expect a quote for awhile.  That changed today.  In the mail I received today a quote for the repair to the camera.  

 

It was a little higher than I thought it would be.  Interestingly my wife was thinking pretty close to the quote.  There wasn't any mention of the lens either damage or no damage.  Would that be in a separate repair?

 

Regardless I will call Leica tomorrow and accept the repair and also check on the 24-90 to see if there is another surprise coming in the mail at a later date.

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I called Leica today and gave them my credit card # to pay for the repairs.  I also checked on the 24-90 which I sent in on the same time.  The Customer Care person was a little surprised that I hadn't receive confirmation back that they had received the items, she also was surprised by the amount.  Like I told her, it's still cheaper than a new camera.  

 

She said the 24-90 had some repairs, but would be covered by warranty.  

 

The SL repairs of course aren't.  She let me know that when the repairs are finished the card will be charged.  She seemed to indicate that it would only be a couple more weeks before my camera would be sent back.  That surprised me so I hope it's true.

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