arthury Posted January 1, 2008 Share #1 Posted January 1, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, Before I start: HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME 2008! I have just sent in my M8 and 2 lenses to Leica USA. The main issue was to get the LCD cleaned on the inside and possibly replace the seal so that dust particles do not enter and cloud up the display. The lenses were sent in for coding and one for minor focus adjustments. I understand that the turnaround time was really bad in the first half of 2007. How long is the turnaround these days? Are all the backlog cleared and things are moving along fine now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 1, 2008 Posted January 1, 2008 Hi arthury, Take a look here Service/Repair Turnaround Time. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shootist Posted January 1, 2008 Share #2 Posted January 1, 2008 Got a M8 back in about 1 month as of the week before christmas. I don't want to upset you but Leica NJ needs a lot of work. I will be doing one of 2 things. 1) Sending that same M8 back to NJ with a LONG list of the problems I am having with the rangefinder, it is completely off (to larger to detail here) and ask that it NOT be returned to me until it is COMPLETLY fixed (which I think will take a replacement of the rangefinder). 2) Hand delivering it to Leica NJ and take my other M8, M3 and M6 with me to show them what the actual problems are, using my other M cameras as a reference. And if they can not fix it in NJ have them send it to Solms or REPLACE THE WHOLE CAMERA. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 1, 2008 Author Share #3 Posted January 1, 2008 Ed, So, you are, essentially, saying the Leica USA has no idea what they are doing? All, What about others? Are your experiences similar? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 1, 2008 Share #4 Posted January 1, 2008 Ed, So, you are, essentially, saying the Leica USA has no idea what they are doing? All, What about others? Are your experiences similar? So far that has been my experience. I have sent 6 things to Leica NJ. First M8 I bought had case damage right out of the box. I didn't notice it until someone posted about the base plate locking lug on the case shearing off and I looked at my M8 and notice that there was a chunk of the case right near that lug that had chipped off and then someone glued it back on and tried to cover the crack with some black substance. That same camera had something that looked like brass spots under the sensor cover glass. It took Leica NJ nearly 3 weeks and a phone call from someone close to Leica that did me a favor to send me a NEW camera. I also sent in a 24mm, 2-90mm and a 135mm lenses to be coded. The 24mm and one of the 90mm lenses came out fine and I had the 24 back withing 6 weeks. the one 90mm came back in about the same time. The other 90 and 135, which I only wanted coded, for some reason had to go back to Solms. I got the 135mm back in about 5 months but the lens is now perfect. The 90mm took about another 2-3 weeks before I got it back and when it showed up neither NJ or solms had done the coding. Then they said to send it in again. That is when the screaming started. After I made a call to NJ they did send a UPS call ticket and they had the lens back to me in about 8 working day coded. Now comes the second M8, a black unit . I bought it because the first one took so long for them to replace. Once I got the replacement and compared the 2 the black had a glare in the viewfinder that wasn't there on the replacement chrome unit. The black was a New camera from B&H. I didn't think much about it because it only showed up when there was a bright light above and in front of the camera. But one day I was out shooting towards the sun and the black unit was nearly useless. So I figured I'd send it in when I got the chance. It came back from NJ the week before Christmas and altho the glare was partly gone it was still there and you can see the difference between the 2 M8's. I shot with it for about 3 days and never downloaded the images. When I did download them none of them were in focus. Also the 135mm Elmarit that I just had fixed and working fine on my other M8 and my M3 shows that the vertical alignment of the black M8 is way off. Something is really wrong with the rangefinder. I would of expected Leica NJ to see this when it was there last month. I'm not sure whether they have no idea what there doing or they just don't want to take the time to do what needs to be done correctly. That is why I'm think of taking a trip to NJ and then to NY, my old state, when the weather gets warmer and hand delivering the camera to a tech and going over it with him/her. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C. Posted January 1, 2008 Share #5 Posted January 1, 2008 Ed, So, you are, essentially, saying the Leica USA has no idea what they are doing? All, What about others? Are your experiences similar? I don't know that I'd go quite that far, but here are my experiences to date: I've had my M8 for a year, and, thanks to the helpful members of forums such as this one, I was able to quickly learn how to adjust the body to infinity. After that was accomplished (and remember: be sure to use a celestial body – it does make a difference!), all of the lenses I had at the time focused very well, with the exception of a Noctilux which did back-focus a bit wide-open. During the course of the year, almost every lens I tried, including several Leica, a Zeiss, Voigtlander and M-Hexanon, matched up beautifully with my M8. The only exceptions were the aforementioned Noctilux, and a 75mm Summilux which I bought used. Both of those lenses were sent to NJ for service in September, with the instruction that they be calibrated to focus finely on an M8 while wide-open. I did not send the body in with the lenses. The result of this is that both lenses were forwarded to Solms (i.e. they were obviously unable to accomplish the seemingly straightforward job in NJ), and I should add that this was done without asking my permission! I have subsequently received the Noctilux, but have not yet received the Summilux. It seems to me that Leica NJ is probably both unable to deal with the volume of repairs at present, and not properly equipt to finely calibrate certain lenses. And if I had it to do over again, I would choose a reliable (according to many), faster, less expensive domestic option such as DAG or Sherry Krauter. Regards, Tony C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 1, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted January 1, 2008 You guys are scaring me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike prevette Posted January 2, 2008 Share #7 Posted January 2, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) They have had my cameera for over 2 months now, for the standard m8 update. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyp Posted January 2, 2008 Share #8 Posted January 2, 2008 I do not know if Kindermann Canada can do any repair work on DMRs or M8s, but any film Leicas [of mine] with a problem go directly to them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalippe Posted January 2, 2008 Share #9 Posted January 2, 2008 I have had various problems with Leica NJ, too many to detail. Here is the latest: Back in September, I sent some sample images from my Noctilux to Mark Brady. After looking at them with a technician, he agreed something was awry and had me send in my M8 and Nocti together. As usual, Leica NJ turned out to be merely a transit station on the way to Solms. In early Novemeber I received my M8 back but there was no Nocti in the box! I talked to Leica NJ and they claimed that Solms had decided they didn't need both camera and lens together and had sent back the M8. I pressed for details about the Nocti repair and was told I would soon have a repair estimate (that's right-- two months later and they still hadn't gotten so far as an estimate). I heard nothing for another month so I emailed in early December. On December 5th I got an email saying that by some "oversight" my Nocti hadn't yet gone to Germany and was just sitting in NJ! I was told it was now going to Solms and that NJ had "push a rush on it." I'm sure you can easily guess the current state of affairs-- I haven't heard anything back about the lens, despite three emails asking for an update. I can only guess that the next step will be a request for my M8 since apparently it was an outright lie that Solms decided they didn't need both camera and lens. Rather they never knew the lens had been sent in! One would be hard pressed to make up believable stories that rival the truth about Leica service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C. Posted January 2, 2008 Share #10 Posted January 2, 2008 I have had various problems with Leica NJ, too many to detail. Here is the latest: Back in September, I sent some sample images from my Noctilux to Mark Brady. After looking at them with a technician, he agreed something was awry and had me send in my M8 and Nocti together. As usual, Leica NJ turned out to be merely a transit station on the way to Solms. In early Novemeber I received my M8 back but there was no Nocti in the box! I talked to Leica NJ and they claimed that Solms had decided they didn't need both camera and lens together and had sent back the M8. I pressed for details about the Nocti repair and was told I would soon have a repair estimate (that's right-- two months later and they still hadn't gotten so far as an estimate). I heard nothing for another month so I emailed in early December. On December 5th I got an email saying that by some "oversight" my Nocti hadn't yet gone to Germany and was just sitting in NJ! I was told it was now going to Solms and that NJ had "push a rush on it." I'm sure you can easily guess the current state of affairs-- I haven't heard anything back about the lens, despite three emails asking for an update. I can only guess that the next step will be a request for my M8 since apparently it was an outright lie that Solms decided they didn't need both camera and lens. Rather they never knew the lens had been sent in! One would be hard pressed to make up believable stories that rival the truth about Leica service. David, I feel sorry for you. That is truly outrageous and inexcusable. Regards, Tony C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grober Posted January 2, 2008 Share #11 Posted January 2, 2008 I've only sent Leica lenses to New Jersey for 6-bit encoding. Thanks be to God that I only sent my M8 to them for trans-shipment to Germany for "the fix" thirteen months ago. Since "the fix" everything has operated as expected. (BTW: God uses a Leica IIIF Red Synchro with a variety of lenses and always gets great results.) My only comment about New Jersey is on the business side: I believe they would benefit tremendously from an upgrade to a more modern, barcode-enabled, work-in-process tracking system. I sense its still a considerable paper chase to find your camera or lens whenever you inquire about status. Whenever anyone ships me a FEDEX or UPS package I ask for its tracking code. Then I can watch the progress of the item online without needing to call and hold for any human. How is tracking a physical component through a service department any different? -g Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicabug Posted January 2, 2008 Share #12 Posted January 2, 2008 Just sent my 21 Pre-ASPH and 35 Pre-ASPH in for 6-bit coding before the year end. Anyone know how long it will take? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
adan Posted January 2, 2008 Share #13 Posted January 2, 2008 Anything going to Germany will take up to an extra 2 weeks, just for shipping, because LeicaUSA and Solms do one shipment a week each way, so an incoming or repaired camera may sit for several days at one end or the other until the next "bus" comes along. I haven't sent anything recently: Coding 2 lenses in March took 6 weeks - banding fix to Solms took 10 weeks in March-June. I hear the coding has sped up recently. I'm sending off a worn 1977 film body for CLA and cover replacement today - it will be interesting to see how long analog repairs take in the midst of all the digital mania. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted January 2, 2008 Share #14 Posted January 2, 2008 They have had my cameera for over 2 months now, for the standard m8 update. Sorry for my ignorance, but what do you mean for "standard M8 update"? Best Regards Maurizio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike prevette Posted January 2, 2008 Share #15 Posted January 2, 2008 Sorry for my ignorance, but what do you mean for "standard M8 update"? Best Regards Maurizio Mine was one of the original batch that needed a sensor board upgrade. I believe this was the first 1500-2500 cameras shipped. _mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted January 2, 2008 Share #16 Posted January 2, 2008 Mine was one of the original batch that needed a sensor board upgrade. I believe this was the first 1500-2500 cameras shipped. _mike Thanks! Maurizio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 3, 2008 Share #17 Posted January 3, 2008 They have had my cameera for over 2 months now, for the standard m8 update. Amazing - Solms did mine in January last year - twelve days with courtesy DHL pickup at my adress included. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauribix Posted January 3, 2008 Share #18 Posted January 3, 2008 A little OT but do you know guys how much does it cost the 6-bit coding for EU? And do you know if the local Leica is able to do that?(Leica Italy in my case) Best Regards Maurizio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_n Posted January 3, 2008 Share #19 Posted January 3, 2008 Doesn't it make more sense to send to Solms directly and cut Leica NJ out of the loop entirely? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthury Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share #20 Posted January 3, 2008 Doesn't it make more sense to send to Solms directly and cut Leica NJ out of the loop entirely? Then, the downside is that you have to pay shipping to Solms yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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