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Faulty M9 Returned... This is my letter to Leica

Snapper UK

By Snapper UK
in Leica M9 / M-E

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andyb

andyb

Posted
Posted
Did you read anything after doing these searches? The very

I went to DPReview and looked through the Nikon D3-D1/D700 forum and didn't find many complaints by 4 pages in. (Only some complaints about fogging of the LCD cover on the D3 and one guy complaining about some noise in his zoom lens that otherwise works fine.) I'm sure Nikon and Canon cameras and lenses break but I don't see the same types of recurring consistent issues that are reported here. However, I haven't done a scientific study either.

 

This rental house has done a statistical analysis of lens failures:

 

LensRentals.com - Lens Repair Data 3.0

 

IMHO electronic components are prone to failure without any relation to a specific camera brand. It happens to a M9 as often as to any other camera.

Talking about mechanical failures, I'm convinced that Leica still produces in the top league as they did in the past. They simply cannot afford many unhappy customers and that's why they are interested in an excellent after sales service.

They even can offer a 1 year warranty on refurbished cams because they know they won't fail.

If we forget for a moment the Lenses, Leica is still in the camera-business thanks to their mechanical quality and not their prestige. ...and obviously because they still produce the last professional rangefinder camera.

 

I'm not a professional, but I've taken pictures with Nikons (FM2, F3), Canons, Blads (CM 500) and Leicas for 25 years and the only brand with no failures was the last one I mentioned... :)

 

Andreas

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wattsy

wattsy

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And on my M8 on upgrade also. Additional warranty certificate returned with the camera. According to Stefan Daniel in one of the interviews that has long been Leica Camera's policy.

 

I thought an extension to the warranty only applies to paid-for upgrades or other service work (e.g. CLA) not for standard in-warranty repairs. Andy's experience suggests otherwise but I've never received an extended warranty as a result of an in-warranty repair to any of M6TTL, M7, M8 or M9 bodies (all of which have had to take trips to Solms or Milton Keynes).

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andybarton

andybarton

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My 1 year additional warranty came back when they changed the DX sensor from the old version to the new one. They did a CLA at the same time (gratis) and, obviously, didn't charge me for the DX upgrade.

 

I am pleased to say that the warranty hasn't cost them anything, as the camera has performed flawlessly since then.

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diogenis

diogenis

Posted
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With all the posts here about defective M9 cameras, regarding basic functions and especially focusing issues, I know that I will neither purchase one nor recommend one.

 

Why does this poor quality happen after so many decades of good manufacture?

 

Leica has to answer that.

 

Obviously, you are free to do as you wish, but please don't judge their quality. Have you EVER seen an M camera? And then, what focusing issues are you referring to?

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Guest mc_k

Guest mc_k

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...Without doubt the camera is a lot better than it ever has been. Every SD card I have tried works faultlessly, including cards that never worked previously.

I am just happy that I can now get on with using the camera without any qualms or concerns.

 

So what did Leica think the problem was, and what was the fix ? thanks

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bill_murray

bill_murray

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Advertisement (gone after registration)

I've never received an extended warranty as a result of an in-warranty repair to any of M6TTL, M7, M8 or M9 bodies (all of which have had to take trips to Solms or Milton Keynes).

 

Might the names Ian Watts, Bill Palmer and a few other generally truculent peoples be at the top of a "do not extend" leica list?:rolleyes:

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Rick

Rick

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Might the names Ian Watts, Bill Palmer and a few other generally truculent peoples be at the top of a "do not extend" leica list?:rolleyes:

 

Just me, but I'd have used the word, "obstreperous," it has more syllables.

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bill

bill

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I hate to remove Russian aeroplanes from* my ''fans'', but my M7 recently returned from Solms as good as new with a new optical reader and a 12 month bit of paper...;)

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

 

 

 

*dis-Ilyushin...:D

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jonoslack

jonoslack

Posted
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I hate to remove Russian aeroplanes from* my ''fans'', but my M7 recently returned from Solms as good as new with a new optical reader and a 12 month bit of paper...;)

 

Regards,

 

Bill

 

 

 

 

*dis-Ilyushin...:D

 

Thus proving that their QA, although much improved, hasn't yet reached peak performance . . . they're still offering extended warranty for one or two obstreperous characters :p

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bill

bill

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Moi?

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

I am sure I don't know what you mean...:D

 

Regards,

 

St. Bill

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hoppyman

hoppyman

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I thought an extension to the warranty only applies to paid-for upgrades or other service work (e.g. CLA) not for standard in-warranty repairs. Andy's experience suggests otherwise but I've never received an extended warranty as a result of an in-warranty repair to any of M6TTL, M7, M8 or M9 bodies (all of which have had to take trips to Solms or Milton Keynes).

 

I reported my experience (M8 upgrade), as did Andy (M7 repair). Perhaps the OP may report if he has seen anything on this. With the M9 model only ~9 months old the number of cameras requiring repair would be small and some proportion of those were replaced apparently. Perhaps some other people who have had M9's repaired will report on whether they saw a warranty extension.

In my case I referred to an upgrade performed at Solms on a camera with standard international 2 yr warranty and I quoted from the Stefan Daniel interview (introduction of the M9) on Luminous Landscape. It is definitely the case that all camera functions are checked and the whole camera guaranteed in the case of any repair. As has been reported by the OP, Leica Camera have also performed additional restoration to his camera to better than when sent condition (as well as correcting the card fault, obviously). Tina whose M8s were actually immersed in river water sent a very battered camera and got back one that looked as new as well.

 

In the case of the UK the Passport warranty system is very different (and very generous). I can't speak from any personal experience there. I'm extremely surprised to read that you have had M6TTL, M7, M8 or M9 bodies that all needed repair though. Using all of those models as an amateur I have never seen any faults personally.

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thrice

thrice

Posted
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I had a memory card issue today, seems to have arisen because of too much reviewing and switching between images, wanting the camera to work faster than it can.

 

Luckily I picked up on the problem early and the shoot wasn't in any way urgent. I do think the firmware has some bugs still to be squashed though.

 

http://aeos-photo.com.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/M9_Card_Woes.jpg

 

Interestingly I got the immediate review after the exposure, but when wanting to go back to check out some detail, the shot is nowhere to be found!

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thrid

thrid

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Was Leica able to determine the reason for the problem with the SD cards?

 

Bad SD slot? Issues with certain cards? Firmware bug? Damage due to dust or moisture intrusion?

 

Inquiring minds would like to know.

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Rick

Rick

Posted
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Was Leica able to determine the reason for the problem with the SD cards?

 

Bad SD slot? Issues with certain cards? Firmware bug? Damage due to dust or moisture intrusion?

 

Inquiring minds would like to know.

 

Sorry. The OP never said. This thread obviously wasn't started with the intention of shedding light on this issue. It would have been nice if the OP let us know what Leica fixed.

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erl

erl

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In my (limited) experience, Leica do not acknowledge a fault, but rather fix it and return the gear with the 'fault' clearly fixed with a message to the effect that the equipment is functioning correctly, which of course it usually is because they 'fixed' it! Because I was never charged for such work, I did not query it, despite my curiosity wanting to 'know'.

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Snapper UK

Snapper UK

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I am over seas at the moment and have been pretty much since picking my M9 up last Friday just before leaving for airport. So I can't confirm exactly what they did in Solms as I don't have paper work to hand. I am pretty sure that there wasn't anything explicit described on it as I think the only paper I had was actually from MK not Germany.

Similarly i am pretty certain there was nothing about extending the warranty on the entire camera for 12 months.

Am back in London around the 3rd so could check it then and will be in touch with David Humphries in MK to ask about warranty and details on what they did if it is not on the paperwork.

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