LeicaMSeattle Posted January 21, 2011 Share #1 Posted January 21, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I've recently sent in my M8 and 21mm Elmarit lens to Leica in New Jersey for service. I've sent the 21mm Elmarit in every year for the last three years in January or March for attention to the focusing mechanism of this lens. Most recently it developed a focus stop at .08 ft. This eventually worked itself out, but there is still a faint "click" there. I've also sent the M8 in for sensor replacement (fluorescing pixels) and the complete upgrade package over a year ago. Most recently after taking my camera to a trusted camera repair shop for sensor cleaning, the technician identified a chip or spall on the sensor surface, which he pointed out to me under the microscope. Yikes!! I've never used anything but the Rocket blower with Sensor Swabs and Solution on this before, so who's to blame? Frigid cold weather shooting conditions?? Yesterday I received an estimate from NJ for $450.00 where they have listed for the M8: - Perform pixel/column restoration - Replace and clean all switches, - Check complete metering system - Check and adjust for good working order And the only part they listed was the Vulcanite. Can I be cautiously optimistic that they are replacing the sensor because it was defective, OR will they ding me for big $$$$ later for a new sensor? The 21mm Elmarit estimate received stated that it is to be "Repaired Under Warranty"!!! What a pain!!! Hopefully it'll be done correctly??? They asked that I look for this sometime in February... Anyone else here experience this much frustration with their equipment???? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 21, 2011 Posted January 21, 2011 Hi LeicaMSeattle, Take a look here Leica Frustrations. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shootist Posted January 21, 2011 Share #2 Posted January 21, 2011 Yes I suffered extreme frustration with Leica service on my M8's. To long to go into. The only thing I can say now is I have one perfectly working M8 along with proper focusing lenses. One of the big things for me when the M9 came out was not only the price but the thought of having to go through with a M9 what I went through with the M8's. No Thanks. The M8 I still have, I use to have 2 of them, still takes great images. Now there will be replies that the M9 doesn't have the faults the M8 had. I'm not sure of that reading the forums. Cracked sensor glass, red edge (different from camera to camera) misaligned rangefinders (right out of the box), dead cameras (right out of the box), cameras that needed major repair within the first few months. what really gets me is the fact that if I buy camera for $7000 and it breaks within the first few weeks/months that I have to send it in for repairs, that could take 2-3 weeks to 2-3 months. That camera should be replaced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted January 21, 2011 Share #3 Posted January 21, 2011 LMS-- 1) From your list, they're not replacing the sensor, period. 2) For questions about your equipment, the best thing is to call them. I don't know anything about a chip or spall, but if it had to be shown to you under a microscope, it must not be causing you too much trouble. Again, call Allentown and talk to them about it. My personal experience with Leica has been excellent. Usually the job is done right the first time. The forum is a good place to air your gripes, but talk to Leica first, to make sure you're on the same page. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
uptong Posted January 21, 2011 Share #4 Posted January 21, 2011 I would totally agree with Hoco. Speak with Leica. I recently had an issue with my M8, spoke to leica and they were exceptionally helpful and went into great detail on how they could assist me and get my M8 sorted. Net result was M8 shipped off to Solms, fixed and returned to me in just a week, inc shipping time to/from the UK. All it took was a chat with them. Granted the fix was a warranty covered repair so no delays in estimates etc going back and forth, but they went that extra mile, which they obviously did not have to do and off their own back, in my book this is what I call real service. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaMSeattle Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share #5 Posted February 10, 2011 A quick follow-up on my equipment. After talking with Shirley DeSilva and Sara Mayville at Leica in New Jersey, they were able to expedite the repairs to my lens and camera body. I received a notice yesterday that a UPS overnight package was enroute. This morning, UPS was at my doorstep before their 10:30a.m.delivery time. Inside the box was my 21mm Elmarit with a repaired focus mount, cleaned shutter blades sealed in a plastic bag. In a separate sealed bag was my M8, where they performed a pixel/column restoration, meter check, AND they REPLACED the old sensor with NEW SENSOR GLASS. They cited that the sensor was defective and proceeded to charge me for what I think might be the replacement of the Vulcanite. However, I did get the black Leica dot back on the camera so the rangefinder must not have needed to be adjusted. Leica NJ stepped up and got me back to work with my equipment in a relatively short period of down time. I'll just have to expense the $450, knowing that my faith has somewhat been restored! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 10, 2011 Share #6 Posted February 10, 2011 Bravo, LMS! They do a great job with the customer always foremost. Sometimes you need to call their attention to a detail, but they've always come through for me. I'm glad you spoke to them, glad everything worked out, and glad you've got the camera and lens back and ready to go! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted February 10, 2011 Share #7 Posted February 10, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Replacement of the sensor cover glass means that the complete sensor assembly and its matching circuit board have been replaced. You cannot replace the cover glass without the sensor as they are bonded together and the circuit board is matched to the sensor as well (delivered that way and optimised together). A sensor assembly replacement means that they must have then calibrated its position to confirm focus accuracy/flatness to spec too. The body covering material is normally replaced after the camera is opened since it has to be removed. I don't know about the breakdown of your bill with lens and camera body. They do not appear to have charged you for the new sensor assembly and circuit board. You should now have a new 12 months warranty period on the complete camera body as servicing all functions to specification is a normal part of a service like that. At least that is how Solms does business. If the work has been performed by Leica USA and you have those contact names, why not ask for a more detailed breakdown if you are unsure and confirm the warranty conditions too? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 10, 2011 Share #8 Posted February 10, 2011 New Jersey has the same warranty as Geoff describes. It has always been Leica's policy to bring any repaired equipment up to current standard and to give a one-year warranty on the full function of the item. All work done by Leica is treated the same, no matter which branch of the company performs it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaMSeattle Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share #9 Posted February 10, 2011 I spoke with Sara Mayville at Leica today to get a better understanding to what my $462.50 invoiced covered. She said it was for 4 hours labor@ $100/hour, the replacement Vulcanite and overnight return shipping. Since the invoice stated that the sensor was defective and that it was replaced at no charge, I asked her just for curiosity sake and for the knowledge of those here, what the cost of the M8 sensor was. She looked up the part number and said the sensor glass, sensor and circuit board was $1000.00! So, for those curious to know how much it's going to cost to replace their sensor because of a non defect related cleaning accident would be around $1500.00 U.S. (February 2011) Oh, and Yes, I did receive a lovely test certificate card signed and dated officially beginning my one year warranty period. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted February 10, 2011 Share #10 Posted February 10, 2011 Does the warranty cover the whole camera? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 10, 2011 Share #11 Posted February 10, 2011 Yes. It's spelled out on the estimate form one gets from Leica. For all billed repairs, Leica does everything necessary to bring the camera up to latest production standard and gives a one-year warranty on the whole camera. See Geoff's and my statements above: ... You should now have a new 12 months warranty period on the complete camera body as servicing all functions to specification is a normal part of a service like that.... ... It has always been Leica's policy to bring any repaired equipment up to current standard and to give a one-year warranty on the full function of the item.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted February 11, 2011 Share #12 Posted February 11, 2011 Yesterday I received an estimate from NJ for $450.00 where they have listed for the M8: - Perform pixel/column restoration - Replace and clean all switches, - Check complete metering system - Check and adjust for good working order And the only part they listed was the Vulcanite. Can I be cautiously optimistic that they are replacing the sensor because it was defective, OR will they ding me for big $$$$ later for a new sensor? The 21mm Elmarit estimate received stated that it is to be "Repaired Under Warranty"!!! What a pain!!! Hopefully it'll be done correctly??? Let me get this right. You were quoted $450 for a complete CLA and new Vulcanite on your M8, and Leica provided a new sensor worth $1,000. And this work was completed in around three weeks. Yet this is still some cause for complaint? And you are also questioning whether work done under warranty will be done correctly? Am I missing something here? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpalme Posted February 11, 2011 Share #13 Posted February 11, 2011 I'm still researching Leica... so let me get this straight.. If I buy a used M8 and something goes wrong where they have to make a billable repair ... they give you a new 1 year warranty on the whole camera? That would be a great deal.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaMSeattle Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share #14 Posted February 11, 2011 Andy, I think you've missed the point in my original post. I've had to send the 21mm Elmarit back to Leica each year for the last three years (documented). It's not even a lens that I use daily but it was DOA when I traveled to Shanghai. I was however fortunate enough to be able to find a tech in Hong Kong to fix it enough so it would even work for that trip. The M8, I sent back for the complete upgrade (shutter, vulcanite, sapphire glass, and rangefinder lines) as well as a new sensor for fluorescing pixels a couple of years ago now. Somehow a chip showed up on the sensor recently, so off it went to NJ. It's mainly the lens that I was "put off " by, then the spot on all of my images. I am grateful that Leica NJ was able to expedite the repair as I do use this equipment daily. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted February 11, 2011 Share #15 Posted February 11, 2011 I'm still researching Leica... so let me get this straight.. If I buy a used M8 and something goes wrong where they have to make a billable repair ... they give you a new 1 year warranty on the whole camera? That would be a great deal.. You're not the only one! It's a common question. The answer is "yes." Leica has always done that, since most repairs require pretty much a full disassembly of the camera. While they're inside, they might as well check everything. In other words, if there has been a change in a gear or a circuit board so that your M8 isn't like the latest ones produced, they will install that update as a matter of course and give you a full year's warranty on the camera. The problem comes when some parts are no longer available: For example, as I understand it, wind mechanisms for double-stroke M3's (from the mid-1950's) are no longer available. Leica will offer you the option of upgrading the double-stroke to a single-stroke mechanism. You pay for the modification, of course, and they can warranty the whole camera. It's just part of the service Leica offers their customers. Not cheap, but it's nice to know that the entire mechanism is under warranty. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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