artyca Posted March 6, 2010 Share #1 Â Posted March 6, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi guys, Â Just stumbled across this forum and I must say it's really helpful and educational. I just got my X1 a few weeks ago to complement my D-LUX4 and I'm really happy with the images it produces. Â However, I've got some issues with it's supposed Made in Germany build quality. I live in the tropical island of Malaysia where daily temperatures hover around 32 degrees Celcius with 80% humidity all year round and the leather wrapping around the X1's body is starting to peel!! My dealer told me that the glue used does not suit the high humidity levels and he has promised to get it fixed and 'tropicalize' my camera. Â I'm just surprised that Leica did not specify the camera to be used around the world. Anyone faces the same problem? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 6, 2010 Posted March 6, 2010 Hi artyca, Take a look here X1 in Malaysia. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jsrockit Posted March 6, 2010 Share #2 Â Posted March 6, 2010 Wow, that's pretty bad. I can't imagine that Leica didn't think this camera would be used in humid climates. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
siangs Posted March 7, 2010 Share #3 Â Posted March 7, 2010 Hi Artyca, Â I'm facing the same problem as you. The leather wrapping around my X1 begin to peel starting from the edge near the eyelete fro strap. in my case i just stick back myself by gentle push back the leather so it will stick again to the X1 body. When you asked you dealer about it , Does it goes under the Leica warranty? and What does it mean by tropicalize the camera? by the way i live in Indonesia which has the same climate as malaysia. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
harryliem Posted March 7, 2010 Share #4  Posted March 7, 2010 Hi Artyca, I'm facing the same problem as you. The leather wrapping around my X1 begin to peel starting from the edge near the eyelete fro strap. in my case i just stick back myself by gentle push back the leather so it will stick again to the X1 body. When you asked you dealer about it , Does it goes under the Leica warranty? and What does it mean by tropicalize the camera? by the way i live in Indonesia which has the same climate as malaysia.  Don't worry. Leica is very good in taking care of customer. They believe customer is one for life time. I trust Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted March 7, 2010 Share #5 Â Posted March 7, 2010 I live in the tropical island of Malaysia... Â That is a worry, especially as Malaysia used to be a peninsula. Â Camera should be able to handle temps in the 30sC, though. Use silica gel when storing to absorb moisture. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 7, 2010 Share #6 Â Posted March 7, 2010 Sorry to hear about the peeling. No problems here, but it's been relatively cool the last two weeks. It will be interesting to hear if more people have the same issues as the X1 makes it into more hands and the summer months hit us in the northern hemisphere. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted March 7, 2010 Share #7 Â Posted March 7, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Get it back to your dealer - I"m sure Leica will fix it for you. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobQ5 Posted March 7, 2010 Share #8 Â Posted March 7, 2010 Perhaps threadstarter could be from East Malaysia which is actually part of the island of Borneo. Â Anyway, have been contemplating the X1 as well but this is indeed worrying. Â Pls contact Schmidt Marketing directly, if the dealer cannot sort things out expeditiously. Â Perhaps a drybox would help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgcd Posted March 7, 2010 Share #9 Â Posted March 7, 2010 Yes a drybox or aircon would be very helpful... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruhayat Posted March 7, 2010 Share #10 Â Posted March 7, 2010 Hi. I'm also from Malaysia and can (happily?) confirm it's not really a Leica X1 problem... I've had the same thing happen to my Olympus E1 (which is supposed to be rugged -- fully weatherproof and all that) and Digilux 2; a friend had the same problem with his Fuji S5 Pro. The humidity just makes the leatherette peel away from the camera bodies over time, especially if you tend to use it outside in the heat of the day. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest malland Posted March 8, 2010 Share #11  Posted March 8, 2010 I'm surprised about the E-1 because Tokyo in June-August is as hot and humid as Malaysia or Thailand, where I live, and I would expect that Japanese companies design their cameras with this climate in mind, if not that of tropical countries that have this weather all year round. I've had no problems with the M8, M9 and D-Lux-3 in the heat and humidity of Bangkok, but these cameras of course don't have leatherette covering. Ricoh cameras have no-slip rubber covering — or is it rubberized? — with which I've had no problem in the Bangkok climate, including the GXR. I wouldn't accept as "natural" that the covering of a camera starts to peel.  What are the operating specs of the X1? The ones for Ricoh cameras (GRDIII and GXR) show 0-40°C and humidity up to 85%.  —Mitch/Paknampran Bangkok Hysteria©: Book Project Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seemeng Posted March 8, 2010 Share #12 Â Posted March 8, 2010 It could be a manufacturing defect as my other leicas seem to be doing well in this weather so far. My X1 is a few days old and seems to be in good nic so far. I suggest that you send the camera back to Schmidt for them to look into the matter. Fionne is very helpful. Good luck. Â Btw, are you in KL? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
artyca Posted March 9, 2010 Author Share #13 Â Posted March 9, 2010 Hi seemeng, yes i'm based in KL. Have already passed my X1 back to Schmidt Marketing and they have promised to rectify the problem by using glue that is more tolerant to high humidity and heat. Keeping my fingers crossed that this will work! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbird Posted March 10, 2010 Share #14 Â Posted March 10, 2010 ........me from PJ too! Â Btw, how much and which shop sells the X-1? The shop in MidValley has " only a display set and will only sell when stocks arrive next month " Â CHEERS! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seemeng Posted March 10, 2010 Share #15 Â Posted March 10, 2010 Let's all meet up. Edwin just sms-ed me about his camera going through the same problem. I had better check mine as well. *darn* Freaking RM7k down the tubes! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seemeng Posted March 11, 2010 Share #16 Â Posted March 11, 2010 Let's all meet up. Edwin just sms-ed me about his camera going through the same problem. I had better check mine as well. *darn* Freaking RM7k down the tubes! Â Darn!!! Mine is pealing as well. All ends. I want a full refund as this is not what I expect from Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjöbjörn Posted March 11, 2010 Share #17  Posted March 11, 2010 Darn!!! Mine is pealing as well. All ends. I want a full refund as this is not what I expect from Leica.  Actually, when I looked at the X1 at a dealer in Stockholm (outside some degrees minus, but in the shop of course about 20 degrees C plus), the rubbering had started to peel of. The dealer told me it was a pre-production model...  Unfortunately I think Leica might have a slight problem here... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seemeng Posted March 11, 2010 Share #18 Â Posted March 11, 2010 The nice chaps at Schmidt offered to repair it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edshere Posted March 11, 2010 Share #19 Â Posted March 11, 2010 Hi all. Â Yes I confer that the "leatherette" on my X1 is peeling. Saw SeeMeng's earlier and it's about the same as mine with the peeling at the round edges and also on the plastic back penal where the buttons are. Â Schmidt Marketing (the official distributor for our parts) have offered to glue back the "leatherette" with stronger glue. I asked if this was a good idea as the stronger glue may not be a good idea especially if it contacts with the plastic bits. on top of that, if improper glue is used, what's to say that the interaction with the "leatherette" won't cause it to brittle and crack over time. Instead I have asked them to refer to LEICA Germany to advice on this matter. Â This is utterly un-acceptable quality standards from a company that has spent a good number of years making quality German cameras. Â I shall patiently await for a reply from the distributors on this peeling episode. Â Be well all. Â Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
seemeng Posted March 11, 2010 Share #20 Â Posted March 11, 2010 Ed, don't worry. You are in excellent hands with Fionne handling the matter as she is always professional and responsive to customer issues. Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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