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Excessive Vibration A Problem With M8?

Buzz Kanter

By Buzz Kanter
in Leica M8 / Leica M8.2

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Buzz Kanter

Buzz Kanter

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I am getting ready to ride an antique motorcycle 3300+ miles, coast to coast across the US and want to carry a decent camera with me. Wondering if I am being foolish to carry my M8 with me.

 

I suspect I will be wearing the camera around my neck inside my leather jacket for some protection.

 

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I am riding a 1915 Harley-Davidson on the Motorcycle Cannonball run for pre-1916 motorcycles.

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Buzz Kanter

Buzz Kanter

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If you carry the M8 under your jacket, your problem is going to be perspiration, not vibration. I'd prefer to carry it in a tank bag or back pack to keep it dry.

 

Thanks. Had not thought of that. Would perspiration (lots when kickstarting a bike this old) be an issue?

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Robinyuill

Robinyuill

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Hi there. I have travelled with my M8 in a bag rattling about in the pannier of my BMW across Scotland and never had a problem and the roads here are dire in places. Must admit I'm impressed with the bike and the journey you have planned. Very jealous!!! Best of luck with the trip. Regards..Robin.

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pico

pico

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Thanks. Had not thought of that. Would perspiration (lots when kickstarting a bike this old) be an issue?

 

Nah. There will be people begging to kick it over for you. :)

 

I carried a Leica M4 in a pocket under leathers while I crossed the desert. Put it in a ziplog bag. (Yes, leathers in the desert. One with vents. Just don't stop for long.)

 

I see you have the best saddle! We call it the 1000 mile saddle. If you ride at 500 miles per hour. :)

 

Best of luck on your adventure! Maybe I'll ride down to watch you all pass by. Any bets on how many actually finish? I'm guessing about thirty.

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Ronazle

Ronazle

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Hi, sounds like a really great experience. While the ziplock bag is a very, very good idea, make sure you don't seal in high humidity and then place it next to you hot body. best of luck, ron:)

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Buzz Kanter

Buzz Kanter

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Nah. There will be people begging to kick it over for you. :)

 

I carried a Leica M4 in a pocket under leathers while I crossed the desert. Put it in a ziplog bag. (Yes, leathers in the desert. One with vents. Just don't stop for long.)

 

I see you have the best saddle! We call it the 1000 mile saddle. If you ride at 500 miles per hour. :)

 

Best of luck on your adventure! Maybe I'll ride down to watch you all pass by. Any bets on how many actually finish? I'm guessing about thirty.

 

Sounds good. My seat should be fine - at least I hope so. Our route and dates can be found on www.MotorcycleCannonball.com

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hoppyman

hoppyman

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Buzz, I'm going to guess that this bike and that journey will subject you to continuous vibration over an extended period. That and any extended contact with perspiration could be bad for any camera. I think I might take a compact P&S instead or anything that won't break your heart if it is damaged. Of course you may well get away with it. I have seen some M8's that have survived horrendous treatment and one that developed corrosion inside the shutter release area when in use at beaches and bicycle rides around those environs. Actually the perspiration concerns me more than the vibration aspect. Depends on your own risk assessment naturally.

Do take something. You ought to get a lot of interesting shots, a P&S would be small to carry and whip out to use for snapshots and if it dies it dies.

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don_panko

don_panko

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Are you going to have time to stop for picture taking that justifies taking the M8? When my wife and I travel by car across the country she documents the trip using a small point and shoot camera while I take the M8 with lens kit for special shots where we have time to stop.

 

With a good small auto everything camera you could even take pictures using one hand while riding. You can't do that easily with an M8.

 

Finally there is the issue of theft or damage. When we took our kayaking gear to Alaska this past summer we purposely packed an older Panasonic camera and left the M8 safely in the car when we were in the boats.

 

We also ride (BMW R1200) and I usually don't have time or interest in taking the M8 as my attention is totally on the safety of the ride. When we stop for lunch the old Panasonic still does a good enough job of capturing a memory.

 

Check to see if there is a photographer going with you in the support vehicles. We attended track day on our BMW and the track pro photographer took amazing shots at 15 meg that he gave to us on a CD at the end of the day for a nominal charge. There really was no need to even take a camera that day.

 

Some thoughts for your consideration.

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Bert N

Bert N

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I suspect I will be wearing the camera around my neck inside my leather jacket for some protection.

I am riding a 1915 Harley-Davidson on the Motorcycle Cannonball run for pre-1916 motorcycles.

 

This is how cool you would look riding your 1915 Harley with the M8 around your neck. Sounds like great fun!

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jaapv

jaapv

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The only realistic possibility of vibration damage would be that the rangefinder adjustment might wander, specifically the vertical one. An easily correctable error that any camera repairshop can do for you at small or no charge. I would say take the M8 and have fun!.

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SJP

SJP

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As reported on previous threads the M8 can withstand vibrations quite well, or at least mine is fine in a tankbag on Ducati 916, stuffed between some gloves, socks or similar soft padding.

 

For safety reasons I would not advise wearing it while riding the bike (on your body, around your neck or whatever).

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Clook

Clook

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Had an issue with one of my M8's where the top-plate loosened on the right side after about six months. I could only attribute this to vibration when on aircraft. I used it for about another six months with black adhesive tape holding the top-plate to the body before sending it in for repair under passport warranty. If your camera is out of warranty this problem is easily fixed, or better still, easily prevented with regular tightening/checking with the correct sized (long) screwdrivers. Search the forum for 'top-plate' for instructions and photos. One screw is visible when the battery is removed on the left side. The right side screw is only visible after removal of the plastic cover that you see on removing the bottom plate. This is an easy fix/check but I didn't do it while the camera was in warranty so I sent it off.

 

I imagine that you will be treating that particular sickle with some respect and riding defensibly. If I were you I'd bring the M8 and keep it around my neck as planned, stop to shoot. From experience I know that if the camera is in a pannier it's sometimes too much hassle to stop and dig it out, especially if riding in a group, time is lost and you push yourself and your machine to catch up. Just my take...but then again I'm bonkers!

Enjoy the trip I'm very jealous.

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