jaapv Posted January 16, 2007 Share #21 Â Posted January 16, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) One of mine had some grease spots but I didn't give it a second thought. As it was due in Solms a short time later I just cloned them out with (less than) fond memories of duststorms and tramrails on film. Rocket blower in the bathroom every day when on the road though, just like any digital body I hade before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Hi jaapv, Take a look here Bloom off the Leica rose. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
John Maio Posted January 16, 2007 Share #22  Posted January 16, 2007 Hi James, It is certainly nice that the 4/3 Olympus cameras and others have self-cleaning sensors but otherwise dust is just part of life with photography - film or digital.  Cheers,  Sean  The DigiLux-3 also has a self-cleaning sensor. One doesn't have to buy an Olympus to get this technology. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted January 16, 2007 Share #23 Â Posted January 16, 2007 The DigiLux-3 also has a self-cleaning sensor. One doesn't have to buy an Olympus to get this technology. Â True, that's why I said "and others". I suspect that the self-cleaning sensor in the DL3 was designed with Olympus. Â Cheers, Â Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eoin Posted January 16, 2007 Share #24 Â Posted January 16, 2007 It must be a Leica USA thing, I have had a very positive experience with Solms. Â I registered my Camera and a week later I received a call form the service dept to arrange shipping. I suggested after Christmas and January 3rd was agreed. Â The camera was picked up on the 3rd and delivered to Solms on the 9th, I received a works service order by post on the 15th and the Camera is being shipped back on the 16th arriving maybe the 19th. All in all about 16 days including weekends. Â So 10 working days is including shipping each way, I think that's not bad. Â I have also found Leica replied directly to my email regarding the error on the Noctilux price and to clarify the procedure regarding VAT on inter community purchases between vat registered parties. I had also only ordered 1 filter with my registration and when I decided to buy a 21 Elmarit Asph I emailed them asking that a silver filter be added to my order, the conformation email was quickly returned. Â For customer service and communication with me (after I bought my M8)10 out of 10. Â I hope you get your problems sorted. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammam Posted January 16, 2007 Share #25  Posted January 16, 2007 ONE Leica distributor for all of North America, and that's in New Jersey, and now they suck. They «lacked parts» for coding? Is this a joke or what?  No wonder I've been waiting for my M8 for more than two months now, and I don't seem to see the end of it.  It really looks like, no matter the wake-up calls, Leica is unable - or unwilling - to straighten things up, be it repairs, delivery delays, communication, lousy distributors, etc...  Sour, indeed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 16, 2007 Share #26 Â Posted January 16, 2007 From all these posts, it seems there need to be some cobwebs blown away in Leica North America. A pity, as Leica Solms seems to be on the ball allright. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest flatfour Posted January 16, 2007 Share #27 Â Posted January 16, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Why can't Leica put an impeller on the shutter motor to create a positive pressure in the camera. That would prevent dust getting in when changing lenses. The motor could be triggered by the rotation of the lens bayonet. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 16, 2007 Share #28 Â Posted January 16, 2007 Lol :D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted January 16, 2007 Share #29  Posted January 16, 2007 I read somewhere that the average American works 1900 hours a year, while the average European puts in only 1500. It could be that's why things take >25% longer to happen  Not in the UK, Europeans don't...   I know this may sound trite, but has anyone in this situation tried telephoning Solms directly? They have English speaking receptionists, from what I understand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted January 16, 2007 Share #30  Posted January 16, 2007 Wow, After spending 5k for a product like that, I really feel for you guys. I sure do appreciate all the heads-up I got about this Leica M8 fiasco launch from these boards. I can imagine that they are really overloaded with repairs etc. I almost sold some existing camera gear to get a Leica M8 site unseen. That would have been one of the biggest mistakes I could have made.  Not to mention the dust nightmares I have read about since the camera hs no weather sealing whatsoever. I am sure I will get flamed for being ultra negative, but this is kinda getting ridiculous.  Stephen, if you had bought (and received) an M8, I think you would have been very happy.  I ordered it (definitely sight-unseen) and started putting money away for it as soon as it was announced, and I received it on December 13th. Since then I have take more than 1000 pictures with no problems whatsoever (other than operator head space error, as usual).  The images from this camera are superior to those I have made with my M6 and M4, using the same lenses, over a period of 35 years. Those whom I have shown my pictures are stunned by the beauty this camera can create.  It's too bad that you have been alienated by complaints on the Forum. I confess to having been impatient in with Leica at times, but don't we all have similar tales concerning almost any other product.  I assure you that this is a superb camera. I have no spots on my sensor, grease or otherwise, I am happily using the profiles and advice of the many dedicated posters here, and if you check you will see that Leica's difficulties are normal growing problems.  You can certainly see the many, successful and beautiful images from the M8 that are posted on the Forum.  "Try it, you'll like it." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 16, 2007 Share #31 Â Posted January 16, 2007 John-- Since you sent your camera thru NJ, call or email them about its status. Â In my experience, they are fully on the ball. Current problems would arise from the fact that they have previously done almost all repairs in-house, while with the M8 they must send almost all repairs to Germany. Allendale generates their own repair number, Solms adds theirs, etc: New levels of handling. Â Just call Leica NJ, give them their repair number, and ask what's up. Â --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnelson Posted January 16, 2007 Share #32 Â Posted January 16, 2007 If I was Leica USA the number one thing I would do for the interim is throw out the voicemail. Hire someone to answer the phone so we the customers would not have to sit and wait wondering if the correct party got the message. Â Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 16, 2007 Share #33 Â Posted January 16, 2007 If I was Leica USA the number one thing I would do for the interim is throw out the voicemail. Hire someone to answer the phone so we the customers would not have to sit and wait wondering if the correct party got the message. Very good point, Bill. Â All the people at Allendale are trying to do the work of three people, and if you don't make contact when you first call in, it's probably worthwhile to call back. Â I was amazed to see that one Forum member talked to Brenda Olesin about repairs for his camera. I'm not surprised that she helped, because she pulls more than her weight, but she is head of the Order Department and should not be involved in repair matters. Of course, the original M8 instructions not only listed wrong address and phone for NJ, but also wrong names for the responsible parties, and her name was mentioned there. Â We do all want better service, and a quicker response would be a great first start. Â --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted January 16, 2007 Share #34 Â Posted January 16, 2007 In my experience, they have always responded to voicemails and emails. My guess is they are swamped with people contacting them, so while impersonal, this is probably the most efficient way to provide coverage. In fairness, they are not the people who designed, tested, and manufactured the cameras, and I am sure they are doing the best they can. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted January 16, 2007 Share #35 Â Posted January 16, 2007 Hi There I'm sorry that you're having grief. It seems to be different in Europe, so I can only assume that it is Leica NJ who is at fault (or perhaps the communication between the two). Â The tracking works fine with Safari (but not IE7 - I haven't tried firefox) I've just put in my serial number. Â Solms answer the phone fast, are helpful with reasonable english (much better than my German). My M8 was picked up efficiently, and is now marked as 'in repair' - I'm assured by Solms that it won't be there for more than 10 days. Â Seems to be the same experience as others in Europe - maybe a stiff letter to NJ is in order? Â Sympathies anyway, it must be frustrating. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scho Posted January 16, 2007 Share #36  Posted January 16, 2007 Sean Based on my own experience I believe that most of the dust is a result of manufacturing processes where lubricants etc have contaminated the sensor. I found that after two or three serious cleanings the dust was gone and now is no worse and perhaps better than similar cameras. I would specifically mention the Canon 1DsMKii which is the most dust prone sensor I have found. My NIKON D2X was considerably better and the R9/DMR the best 9 and the easiest to clean when dust does intrude. I agree that the intrusion comes when a lens is changed and particularly if the lens is changed with the power on. Turning the power off first assures that the capacitance is discharged and static charges are minimized thus the least chance of dust attraction. But having said all that, dust on sensors is a fact of life in our digital world. As always in an imperfect world for every step gained there is something lost.  Woody Spedden  Dust I can deal with, but grease spots from manufacturing processes or shutter lubrication is just inexcusable, poor QC - particularly for a 5K camera. Leica should be carefully inspecting every camera that comes off the line and if there is grease and gunk on the sensor THEY should clean it before boxing and shipping. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 16, 2007 Share #37 Â Posted January 16, 2007 The grease on the sensor gets there in the first 100 or so shots.It is ususally not factory-installed. I believe more titanium shutters do this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted January 16, 2007 Share #38 Â Posted January 16, 2007 Carl than you simply won't be using a digital camera with a mechnical shutter and moving internal parts. I have had at least 15 digital camera's in the last 12 years brand new that grease has been on the sensor from 4 different companies. it is just a break in period for the grease to settle into the parts. It goes away after a few hundred shots and that is just a fact of life. Clean it and it should simply go away. BTW most of them came from the factory with grease on the sensor. Several of them are on 8 k camera's price has nothing to do with anything Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisaccountisdeleted Posted January 17, 2007 Share #39 Â Posted January 17, 2007 AND WHERE'S MY 50 SUMMILUX? Â i received my coded 50 summilux today via UPS. i would have had it yesterday but it required a signature. Â i also had a voicemail message yesterday from Leica US saying that my M8 was shipping back to me today and i would have it by friday. Â any update on yours? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrc Posted January 18, 2007 Author Share #40 Â Posted January 18, 2007 Got a note today that said it would be shipped next week; and that my camera is back from Solms and will be shipped tomorrow. What a relief! Â JC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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