M8 classic shutter broken, should I upgrade to new shutter?

[johnalex141r]

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Ok, so my M8 with the old 1/8000 shutter needs to go in for service to tighten some loose part, or something.

 

I'm pondering going for the faster shutter; as the shutter noise and 'kick' is the one thing that remotely bugs me about my M8.

 

Any thoughts on this? I figure from reading these fora that the minimum that the repair+one year warranty will be is circa $450 US, while the new shutter will be a bit less than 3 times that. (Am I right here?)

 

The extra would purchase a nice Voigtlander R4, or maybe a used Summarit 35, or a really nice weekend away for my wife and I. Also, I don't expect to move to an M9 anytime within 2010.

 

So, has anyone been down this path? Is the shutter replacement worth it for a "dead" prouct?

 

 

Thanks;

JohnS.

[andybarton]

The new shutter is slower than the one you have, don't forget.

[DerekF]

I'm pondering going for the faster shutter; as the shutter noise and 'kick' is the one thing that remotely bugs me about my M8.

 

Any thoughts on this? I figure from reading these fora that the minimum that the repair+one year warranty will be is circa $450 US, while the new shutter will be a bit less than 3 times that. (Am I right here?)

 

The "upgraded" shutter is quieter than the standard M8 shutter but has a slower top speed (1/4000 vs. 1/8000).

 

Also, when I checked with my dealer in December, the cost of the M8 shutter upgrade alone was $1300 US. I debated it for a while but don't use my M8 enough to justify it (as much as the shutter noise and feel bother me).

[jsrockit]

What type of photography do you enjoy? Do you need the quieter shutter or do you just want it? Personally, I would just get the old shutter unless the repair costs were too close to matter.

[JGW]

When was your M8 made? Many people were saying that towards the end of the original M8's run (and before the M8-2 arrived) the shutters were sounding a little more refined and slightly smoother/quieter than the earlier ones, though not as quiet as the upgrade. It's possible that Leica improved them a little on the later cameras. So, you might get this additional little bonus on your repaired camera.

[atufte]

Send in the camera for a shutter upgrade, don't mention that the shutter is broken, since they will be replacing it anyway it does not matter, then you will have a new and better shutter and 1 year extended warranty...!

[ho_co]

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Newer shutter has less kick, lower synch speed, lower top speed. And "it's newer."

 

 

What's the cost difference?

 

 

If they replace/repair the old shutter, you'll get a one-year warranty on the whole camera.

 

If they install the new shutter, you'll also get a one-year warranty on the whole camera.

 

Since you're asking here, you probably don't have a strong preference. If so, maybe cost would make a difference.

 

But my guess is they'll recommend the slower, newer shutter, and probably charge the same thing either way. Or maybe the faster shutter isn't available any longer.

 

Personally, I prefer the newer shutter, but IMHO it still has a 'kick,' even though it's reduced.

 

 

Let us know what the estimate is, whether they'll give you a choice, and what you decide.

 

 

Just curiosity--What happened to your shutter?

[johnalex141r]

What's the cost difference? .... Just curiosity--What happened to your shutter?

 

My M8 has never been that great at cold weather; used to be -15 to -20, the shutter would not properly arm itself (the "wind" after taking a picture).

 

Last fall, it started failing when temps were about +5 or a bit less, and it had been outside long enough to really reach ambient temps.

 

Now, it has trouble when it is +16 to +19 (room temps, at least here in my house during winter) and will fail about 95% of the time the shutter is fired when close to 0.

 

A new battery does not cure it, and the old standby of pulling out a film camera when things got cold was great, but with it failing at these temps; that means that i can only use it for a month or so of the year now! 8-)

 

I have called and have gotten the LeicaNJ service voice mail (they do not seem to answer emails; emailed Monday, no response) so will be sending it down there and we'll see what happens.

 

The issue about paying for the shutter upgrade is that, in some ways, it is putting good money down on a depreciating asset; even though this is really my only digital camera by choice.

 

JohnS

Ottawa.

[earleygallery]

Strange problem you've got there, might not be the shutter at all.

 

Just wait for the repair quote, if it does include replacing the whole shutter ask them for a second quote for a 1/4000 shutter instead.

[jsrockit]

The issue about paying for the shutter upgrade is that, in some ways, it is putting good money down on a depreciating asset; even though this is really my only digital camera by choice.

 

Yeah, I feel the same way... and even fixed I don't believe it'll be 100% perfect either.

[ho_co]

John, your analysis is right. I'm glad I updated to the new shutter, but I did so just six months before the introduction of the M9. Today I'd put the money toward an M9 instead.

 

Your case is more difficult.

 

James is right, it may not actually be the shutter.

 

I think your best next step is an estimate. Don't mention an upgrade, just send the camera with the description you've presented here. Let them decide whether it's the shutter or a circuit fault somewhere.

 

That will give another couple weeks to ponder.

 

Either way, the camera is worth more fixed. And if you decide to sell it without getting it repaired, you'll have the estimate to show the purchaser what repairs will cost.

 

If you decide to repair it, it will be better than when new, simply because Leica updates the camera to current standards, which are likely later than when you bought.

[johnalex141r]

Either way, the camera is worth more fixed. And if you decide to sell it without getting it repaired, you'll have the estimate to show the purchaser what repairs will cost.

 

If you decide to repair it, it will be better than when new, simply because Leica updates the camera to current standards, which are likely later than when you bought.

 

Latest status - I shipped it to Leica NJ from Canada; cost approx $80.00 surface. (up to $375.00 for quicker delivery)

 

Then, got a call; getting it across the border into the US is going to cost approx $150.00 with brokerage fees, and brokerage account setup and taxes.

 

I almost had to pay for duty, because the camera is made in Germany; even though it was going for repair, but because it does not do video, I managed to squeak past the "pay duty for import" requirement.

 

Then the cost of repair, then shipping back again. (I know, leica pays for the return shipping, but in reality the customer pays)

 

So I told the courier company to just return it; I'll put the camera on a shelf; purchase more Ilford film, and (probably, the way I'm feeling right now) call this digital leica experiment a failure.

 

JohnS.

[NB23]

Latest status - I shipped it to Leica NJ from Canada; cost approx $80.00 surface. (up to $375.00 for quicker delivery)

 

Then, got a call; getting it across the border into the US is going to cost approx $150.00 with brokerage fees, and brokerage account setup and taxes.

 

I almost had to pay for duty, because the camera is made in Germany; even though it was going for repair, but because it does not do video, I managed to squeak past the "pay duty for import" requirement.

 

Then the cost of repair, then shipping back again. (I know, leica pays for the return shipping, but in reality the customer pays)

 

So I told the courier company to just return it; I'll put the camera on a shelf; purchase more Ilford film, and (probably, the way I'm feeling right now) call this digital leica experiment a failure.

 

JohnS.

 

You used those UPS CROOKS, eh? Just ship Canadapost expedited or even express and you won't have to worry about any of this ROYAL BS that UPS put you through.

 

I stopped using UPS long ago. They are crooks beyond crooks, and they know it.

[johnalex141r]

Canadian info follows:

 

You used those UPS CROOKS, eh? Just ship Canadapost expedited or even express and you won't have to worry about any of this ROYAL BS that UPS put you through.

 

I stopped using UPS long ago. They are crooks beyond crooks, and they know it.

 

Hi NB23;

 

Agreed.

 

Canada Post will not insure for high-value parcels; there is a new company called "postnet" that now seems to front-end courier service (including Canada Post's stuff, at least here) that brokers shipping for most couriers.

 

I try to get things from the US shipped here via USPS; they'd forward to Canada Post. Last time I got a "Canada Post" please pick up parcel message, I was directed to go to the Postnet office down the street to pick it up.

 

I think that if I do eventually get it fixed I'll drop it off in person next August when I'm down that way, or ask Jean at Camtec Photo in Montreal how he manages to do it.

 

But right now, my camera of choice is my Olympus 35RC - cost $0.00; my Leica 50/1.4 and 28/2.0 and CV lenses are sitting waiting for a Bessa film body to fit to, and my Darkroom is getting a welcome workout; so although I'm not impressed right now in the total cost of maintenance/ownership of the M8, my photography is not suffering one bit.

 

Needles to say, an M9 or M10 is no longer on the horizon for me.

 

JohnS

[jaapv]

Latest status - I shipped it to Leica NJ from Canada; cost approx $80.00 surface. (up to $375.00 for quicker delivery)

 

Then, got a call; getting it across the border into the US is going to cost approx $150.00 with brokerage fees, and brokerage account setup and taxes.

 

I almost had to pay for duty, because the camera is made in Germany; even though it was going for repair, but because it does not do video, I managed to squeak past the "pay duty for import" requirement.

 

Then the cost of repair, then shipping back again. (I know, leica pays for the return shipping, but in reality the customer pays)

 

So I told the courier company to just return it; I'll put the camera on a shelf; purchase more Ilford film, and (probably, the way I'm feeling right now) call this digital leica experiment a failure.

 

JohnS.

From where I'm standing it seems a bit silly to just leave a 2500 $ camera and 1500 $ in lenses just lying around for the sake of a couple of hundred dollars.

[russell c. greenberg]

Dear John S.,

 

Last year, I bought a second hand M8 which had one of the shutter "leaves" bent. I knew that if I continued to use it in this condition, the whole shutter assembly would eventually warp and the camera would become an expensive paper weight. I had the shutter replaced with a refurbished original (1/8000 sec.) shutter, I think that my "new" shutter was taken from a camera that was sent in for the upgrade program. I paid $300 for the refurbished shutter and have never looked back. I also believe that the "new" shutter is slightly quieter than the original shutter. If you need the top speed of 1/8000, the sync speed of 1/250, ask for a refurbished shutter as a replacement to your current shutter. Hope this helps.

 

Sincerely,

 

Russell

[mikenic]

If you are favouring the faster lens types, then perhaps the faster older shutter may get you by without an ND filter wide open in bright sunlight.

Happens a lot here in Australia

Just a thought.

Mike

[mhoersch]

So, has anyone been down this path? Is the shutter replacement worth it for a "dead" prouct?

 

 

Thanks;

JohnS.

 

John,

your M8 is a "dead" product only when its shutter is broken and not repaired or replaced. If you want to make the most of the money you spent on it have it repaired one way or another depending on your preferences (quiet + garanty vs noisy + fast). I've had the shutter upgrade done on two M8s and haven't regretted it.

[johnalex141r]

John,

your M8 is a "dead" product only when its shutter is broken and not repaired or replaced. If you want to make the most of the money you spent on it have it repaired one way or another depending on your preferences (quiet + garanty vs noisy + fast). I've had the shutter upgrade done on two M8s and haven't regretted it.

 

Hi all;

 

Thanks for the words of advice on this list and off. So, what is happening is that FedEx are returning my M8 to me, and I'll approach Jean at the LeicaBoutique in Montreal to get it shipped out. My wife does not mind the trip to Montreal, even in winter. :-)

 

I guess the combined effect of:

 

1) coming to the understanding that my M8 was defective from day 1 in that it failed when cold, and that it was a specific camera issue and not a generic defect;

 

2) having to pay to set up a FedEx account and brokerage fees so that it can leave Canada; I'd rather that went into another Leica Battery;

 

3) potentially having to pay import duties to the USA to get this camera shipped; I'd rather that went into a new Zeiss lens or more from us for Haiti relief;

 

4) wondering if I'm throwing good money after bad, like trying to decide when fixing an old car is just not economical.

 

 

We'll see what happens in a couple of weeks after I get this camera back from FedEx and delivered (hopefully) to Montreal.

 

Of course, by the time it gets fixed and returned, the weather will be warmer, so I'll most likely have to wait until this time next year to give a final report. 8-)

 

Thanks for the advice and words of reason; much appreciated.

 

JohnS.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jaapv]

One point to consider is, after this camera has been repaired by Leica you will most probably have one year of full guaranty on the whole camera, which makes the repair rather worth while imo.