X1 skin ailment

[Douglasco]

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Since I had my X1 replaced I have had no problems with the vulcanite.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[hector_jorge]

Leica is able to capitalize on its legendary name very effectively. Most new people buying a Leica today believe they are buying the ultimate quality product in the world of photography. Those of us who have some experience with Leica since the advent of the digital age, know it's a whole new ball game now. Leica products are no longer the robust indestructible works of engineering that they used to be, yet the products are priced as if they were, and then some. It would appear that quality is being sacrificed for profits by whatever means necessary. This not only burdens the consumer, but in the long term, it is hurting the Leica brand name. The older generation of Leica users have a grounded experience of the product. The newer generations are having to deal with idiotic issues like the one's discussed here and this is putting the Leica brand name in jeopardy. I for one regret these issues. Leica is a legendary name in the world of photography for good reason and the legacy of the photographers that gave credence to Leica is endless. I would hate to see the Leica brand name go down the tubes because of stupid profit driven corporate strategies. Leica, if you are listening, I say go back to basics, make the best possible quality product, and resist cutting corners for the sake of profits. The Leica brand name will only survive if it lives up to its legendary status.

 

The same from me.

[hector_jorge]

I`m thinking to buy an X1 in the near future to replace my D Lux 3, but after reading this chain I`ve decided to wait after Leica improves the camera and solved all the troubles I saw here.

[Guest badbob]

I`m thinking to buy an X1 in the near future to replace my D Lux 3, but after reading this chain I`ve decided to wait after Leica improves the camera and solved all the troubles I saw here.

 

The "problems" that Leica is having are exaggerated. The skin peeling happened to me with a film M4-2 and M6, so that's 25 or more years old. The other so-called problems aren't really, when you consider that Leica's three main cameras now are all state-of-the-art, and so what's being compared isn't necessarily comparable.

 

The bottom line is this: If you put a Leica X1 in your hand and don't immediately sense that you just "have to have" it, then you probably don't need it anyway, because you're not appreciating what most of the cost goes towards.

[ChiILX1]

i like the skin on the X1, and it feels worthy to me, Leica cant produce a camera that hit the taste of everybody, always a few who complain about something

Sounds like they already have- if you notice all the new serial numbered ones don't have any issues. If the one you get has an old serial number (unlikely) then they will swap out for one with newer serial when the skin peels.

[RichardM8]

The "problems" that Leica is having are exaggerated. The skin peeling happened to me with a film M4-2 and M6, so that's 25 or more years old. The other so-called problems aren't really, when you consider that Leica's three main cameras now are all state-of-the-art, and so what's being compared isn't necessarily comparable.

 

The bottom line is this: If you put a Leica X1 in your hand and don't immediately sense that you just "have to have" it, then you probably don't need it anyway, because you're not appreciating what most of the cost goes towards.

 

 

Well put badbob...

[fotografr]

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I`m thinking to buy an X1 in the near future to replace my D Lux 3, but after reading this chain I`ve decided to wait after Leica improves the camera and solved all the troubles I saw here.

 

I felt the same way. Then my dealer called to tell me he got an extra one in stock, so I went in to look at it and give the camera a test drive. After handling it and looking at the images it produced, I changed my mind and bought it. That was about a month ago and I have no regrets. It's a very fine little camera. Try shooting something like this with any other compact digital camera.

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[Danielsan]

I received the X1 today, it arrived at my dealers shop yesterday. So far the bottom flap looks nice and the skin looks also ok but lets see how fast it peels off. Serial number is 03829xxx

 

The wheels feel pretty light, i remember somebody said its not so light anymore but on this camera the wheels are going pretty light. But i feel a click at every step, dont know if the early models had that.

[JeTexas]

I bought mine used, serial 3813xxx. The skin is lifting up along the left edge of the LCD and the battery door bulges when closed. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to go about trying to get it fixed under warranty. Can the warranty be transferred by the original owner?

[Guest badbob]

I bought mine used, serial 3813xxx. The skin is lifting up along the left edge of the LCD and the battery door bulges when closed. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to go about trying to get it fixed under warranty. Can the warranty be transferred by the original owner?

 

Since the camera hasn't been available for sale for one year yet, it seems to me that Leica should fix that peeling regardless of who owns it. Unless there is some obvious problem caused by the new owner.

[JeTexas]

Since the camera hasn't been available for sale for one year yet, it seems to me that Leica should fix that peeling regardless of who owns it. Unless there is some obvious problem caused by the new owner.

 

You'd THINK that would be true, but here's the response I was given.

 

Dear Mr. Facker,

Please be advised that Leica warranties are not transferable and the personal registration/benefits page that the previous owner created can not be made available as well.

Best regards,

Mark Brady

Leica Camera Inc. / Technical Advisor

1 Pearl Court, Unit A / Allendale, NJ 07401 / USA

www.leicacamerausa.com / mark.brady@leicacamerausa.com

Telephone: (+1) 800-222-0118 dial 1, then ext: 9942 / Fax (+1) 201-995-1684

This message contains privileged and confidential information. IF IT WAS SENT TO YOU BY MISTAKE, DO NOT READ IT. Instead, please notify the sender by reply e-mail, and delete this e-mail. Unauthorized dissemination, forwarding or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

[Johnny_Johnson]

You'd THINK that would be true, but here's the response I was given.

 

Dear Mr. Facker,

 

Please be advised that Leica warranties are not transferable and the personal registration/benefits page that the previous owner created can not be made available as well.

 

 

Best regards,

Mark Brady

 

Mr. Brady is referring to the USA warranty but I'm sure that the camera is also covered by a Leica international warranty that will be honored by Solms if the peeling ever gets bad enough to warrant returning the camera to Germany. You will need to have received certain paperwork from the original owner though.

 

Later,

Johnny

[Hythe]

Just got my second replacement X1. The first one (February) skin peeled. Second one - skin peeled. This third one I got on Friday. It has the slightest peel in a corner but I've pressed it (Leica forgot to do it).

 

I'll keep an eye on this one. Can't keep going back there. Although this time they offered me a full refund. How sad to have to offer a refund.

 

Apparently I'm the only person to report peeling skin on an X1.

Oh, my new Ultravid binoculars are nice- but yes, it had peeling skin. So they replaced it.

 

I think that lady you were mentioning in Solms must have weak fingers - she's not pressing hard enough.

[Guest badbob]

Just got my second replacement X1. The first one (February) skin peeled. Second one - skin peeled. This third one I got on Friday. It has the slightest peel in a corner but I've pressed it (Leica forgot to do it).

I'll keep an eye on this one. Can't keep going back there. Although this time they offered me a full refund. How sad to have to offer a refund.

Apparently I'm the only person to report peeling skin on an X1.

Oh, my new Ultravid binoculars are nice- but yes, it had peeling skin. So they replaced it. I think that lady you were mentioning in Solms must have weak fingers - she's not pressing hard enough.

 

First of all, sending replacement cameras that also peeled is ridiculous. I'd expect that of a fly-by-night Sony repair shop in Florida, but not of Leica. Very bad practice.

 

There's a lot of propaganda going around about how you can glue things like the camera skin with glue and hand-pressure only. I don't believe it. If you don't clamp it, and you don't get all of the air bubbles out first, it won't stick forever.

[JeTexas]

I keep pressing down the peeling edge on the left-side of the LCD, and it seemed like just the edge was lifting. But then I spent the weekend at the marina. I guess the humidity did the glue because when I slid it out of the case when I got home, it had lifted all the way from the LCD down to the left edge of the camera.

 

Once again, I've pressed it back down, but I'm now seriously considering trying to contact Leica AG about the warranty.

[ivsphoto]

I've got my X1 back in February, and only several weeks ago I noticed the peeling issue. I keep pressing the skin and delaying the hassle to send it back to Leica. I'm sure they will replace the camera but a post from Hythe makes me think if I should do it. Resending it back to Leica would be very annoying. I guess I should try it once. May be I will get lucky with the replacement.

[Nicoleica]

You could always try using a bit of glue yourself to stick the 'skin' back in place. I know it's not something that one should expect to have to do, but it is only a cosmetic detail, and it's a lot easier than having to keep sending cameras back and forth across the world.

[ChiILX1]

This is always one of those instances where people tend to make things worse than they are. I've done it to many times to not warn you. You may end up with a glue that seeps through and leaves a stain and your warranty is voided- or seems past the edges....

 

I would send it back in. Seriously. Write a letter to go with it as well and be sure to get some great results- call and talk with them if nothing else.

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[ivsphoto]

Nicole, this is definitely one could do. The camera is under warranty and I was told not to by Leica service.

[dkCambridgeshire]

You could always try using a bit of glue yourself to stick the 'skin' back in place. I know it's not something that one should expect to have to do, but it is only a cosmetic detail, and it's a lot easier than having to keep sending cameras back and forth across the world.

 

Actually, it might not be quite as easy as it might appear to stick vulcanite back once it has become detached. As soon as you start applying glue and then press the vulcanite back in place it tends to distort and stretch a little. Far better to send it back to Leica.

 

I had a similar problem with a non-Leica camera after having it converted for infrared photography. The covering started to peel off where it had been raised during the conversion. Eventually I stuck it back using contact adhesive but was not easy and I had to remove all the existing spent adhesive first ... it really needs a complete new covering.

 

dunk