If I drop a film camera...

[itsjakob]

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Ok, like a fair few people that post here I was thinking about scooping up a film M but decided to shoot my M8 manually for a bit longer to better prepare me for the jump (leap!) to film.

 

In the excitement of xmas I've managed to drop my M8 and have shutter failure (I'm crying...). My 50mm Summicron is also a bit stiffer when using the focus ring so it looks like things are getting worse. Happy holidays.

 

Anyway, my question is, if you drop a M6/7/MP is there a better chance of survival than the M8? I am not a pro, just take pics to capture life. It's my golf! Of course the idea is to not drop these things but even so I'm interested cause I dropped it from a fairly low height imo and now it's going to probably need a trip to Germany,

 

Thanks,

Jake

[farnz]

Jake,

 

It's hard to say because it depends what you drop it (them) on: grass - survivable, concrete - less so.

 

With any M camera the thing that's probably going to be most affected by a drop is the (fairly delicate) rangefinder so a film or digital M would probably be equally affected although I'm led to understand that some film M rangefinders are more straightforward to adjust yourself.

 

Pete.

[aymoon]

I agree with Pete about the rangefinder mechanism. That would be a worry. Otherwise, I'd feel more comfortable if say an MP got a knock due to the lack of electronics (esp. motherboard), lack of screen to crack etc. etc.

[gvaliquette]

Jake,

 

There are so many factors, whether it's an M3, M2, M4, M4-2, M5, M6, M7, M8, M8.2 or M9, that the best advice is simply,...

 

Don't drop them!

 

Guy

[lincoln_m]

Perhaps I'm just too anal but even in my carpeted house I use the neck strap that comes with these expensive photographic instruments? Only if I trip up and fall flat on my face would I effectively drop the camera.

 

Now I'm jinxed and will probably drop it taking it out of the bag before it goes on my head the next time I use it.

 

I would have thought the M2 should be quite rugged. It may also depend on the weight of the lens and how this extra potential energy PE=mgh is dissipated into the camera body. It will of course hit the ground at the same speed whether it is a black or chrome lens but the extra mass will mean a bigger impulse on the body.

 

Regards, Lincoln

[Xmas]

Hi

 

Damage normally less & repairs cheaper if the camera was in a Luigi half case (or imilar) and the lens with a metal lens hood (like the Ch knock offs).

 

I additionally always use a wrist strap or neck strap tied around my wrist

 

Noel

[aymoon]

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I was just reminded that my first camera (a nikomat slr given to me by my father) was actually dropped from a moving tram (onto concrete!) before I was even born (probably circa 1973). I think it careered down a hill at the time. It still bears the scars of this accident along with the 50/1.4 Nikkor that was and still is on it, but it has remained fully functional to this day. All metal, mechanical... very sturdy!

[JBA]

I dropped my black paint MP on a granite staircase when I stumbled while going up with the camera strap slung over my shoulder. The clip-on lens hood on my 50 Summilux ver. 2 took the brunt of the impact and got stove in, and the camera got some brassing and a small dent above the right strap lug.

 

Got the MP's rangefinder checked for good measure but it was fine. A new hood for the 50 'Lux cost me around $150 equivalent. These cameras are tough.

[Frank Black]

I was just reminded that my first camera (a nikomat slr given to me by my father) was actually dropped from a moving tram (onto concrete!) before I was even born (probably circa 1973). I think it careered down a hill at the time. It still bears the scars of this accident along with the 50/1.4 Nikkor that was and still is on it, but it has remained fully functional to this day. All metal, mechanical... very sturdy!

 

 

 

My Nikon F2 fell from my backpack, while driving on a motorbike on slow speed, and the rest is like you describe it....

[masjah]

I have a similar experience even of the humble Minilux - still worked fine after such an accident. I dropped mine on a rock and it still bears the scars (the rock that is).

[Stealth3kpl]

Mine was fine after being dropped from waist height onto a rock in Yellowstone.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/8842-i-love-my-mp-90.html#post1483232

 

Pete

[jaapv]

I dropped my M4 from about 1 m high on the tarmac about twenty years ago. Rangefinder way off.... It did work for scale focussing, but the Summicron 35 was blocked. When I got home Leica charged the insurance company 2000 Deutschmarks...(new rangefinder unit, new bottom plate, new top plate, new bodyshell....)

[DavidStone]

Those M-series cameras that have the angled rewinder are vulnerable to even a modest bump on that corner of the body. This happened to my M6, which was inside a canvas bag, that knocked against some hard surface. I thought nothing of it until I rewound the film, and found that the mechanism was stiff. The body was fortunately only a year old, and was repaired free of charge.

 

So my choice would be the M2, which feels like it's carved out of a solid block of brass.

 

Brings to mind Don McCullin's smashed Nikon F, which I once saw displayed at an exhibition of his work. It stopped a bullet, which would otherwise have made a nasty hole in Mr. McC.

 

David

[wildlightphoto]

I've dropped my R8/DMR twice, once from about 1 meter onto a gravel river bank (with 280mm f/4 attached) and once from the kitchen counter to hardwood floor. It has a little ding on the hot shoe from the gravel, otherwise no functional or cosmetic problems. The floor is OK too. The SL2 didn't fare as well when dropped with the 280: top cover dented, prism chipped, meter non-functional.

[JBA]

My 1962 Nikon F got yanked off a cafe table by its strap and hit the ground rather violently. The release for taking off the back turns a bit hard, but otherwise it was unfazed.

 

The SL2 was accidentally dropped from about 6 inches and fell flat on its bottom on an even concrete floor with no cosmetic damage. The meter needle disappeared entirely, but it badly needed a CLA anyhow.

 

Seems not many people have never dropped a camera.

[Guest srheker]

Anyway, my question is, if you drop a M6/7/MP is there a better chance of survival than the M8?

 

Dropping your camera is a weird lottery.

 

It's unlikely to drop two cameras in the same exact way.

 

And you'll find people who will tell you about cameras that were dropped from 10 feet without any damage and people who completely wrecked their cameras with less than 10 inches of height.

[smkoush]

The OP also mentions that the lens is slightly stiffer after the drop.

 

Jake, do you have another lens? If so, do you experience stiffer focusing with the non-dropped lens as well? In that case, it is a rangefinder mechanism effect as both lenses would show the same effect. If the other lens (that has not been dropped) does not exhibit stiffer focusing, then it may be a misalignment in the lens itself.

 

Savvas

[Stealth3kpl]

Ouch:

tokyo camera style - The other night I watched in slow-mo horror as my...

[itsjakob]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Much appreciated. The M8 has some time left on the passport so it'll get sent away and fixed hopefully!

 

 

The OP also mentions that the lens is slightly stiffer after the drop.

 

Jake, do you have another lens? If so, do you experience stiffer focusing with the non-dropped lens as well? In that case, it is a rangefinder mechanism effect as both lenses would show the same effect. If the other lens (that has not been dropped) does not exhibit stiffer focusing, then it may be a misalignment in the lens itself.

 

Savvas

 

Well it seems stiffer at both ends. Being precise at under 1m & infinity is tough. I suspect the retracted hood summicron could have taken some of the impact. I'll have to take it to a dealer and see what can be done I suppose. It feels the same on and off of the M8 so I don't think it has anything to do with the way it's mounted.

 

Thanks again though to everyone. I typically am very careful and have the strap round my wrist or something. I had the camera on my lap while sitting down and stood up. Bang, roll, roll & tears... so it wasn't a huge fall but a decent impact for sure.... no case on...

 

I think I'll switch to a minilux, X1 and M6 classic once I get the lens and camera back, and invest in a half-case!!

 

Cheers

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Xmas]

Hi

 

One of the Ch e-bay screw in 39mm hoods offser better protection to a 5cm cron with the telescopic hood, than the telescopic hood.

 

Noel