earleygallery Posted January 26, 2011 Share #21 Posted January 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) The bigger concern is availability of film and processing. This is a non-issue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 26, 2011 Posted January 26, 2011 Hi earleygallery, Take a look here Leica Film Future. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
AbbeyFoto Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share #22 Posted January 26, 2011 Don't hesitate, don't faff, just do it. Regards,Bill Thanks for all the responses. I will note that the confidence is largely based on the mechanical foundations and that I fully understand. I guess my question was not well founded. Truth is I have had my fingers burnt on two faulty M7s but on reflection I have had no problems with meters in other wise mechanical Leicas such as a SL2 and M6. So Bill you are right, life is too short. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2011 Share #23 Posted January 26, 2011 Thanks.I feel I can survive if my meter goes on my M6, but is it really that susceptable or hard to fix the meter? and how often do they malfunction? Hi You seemed to have asked for a failure mechanism..Ths is on the basis that Leica cease to exist... normally the repair people would buy al factory stocks, like the band on the Taitanic playing nearer my god to thee as their last tune ths side of the water. I believe some of the early M6 have been updated to later electronics after failure, note they are old cameras now. The famous quote about Leicas is 'there is nothing inside them (sic to go wrong)', the electronics is merely another thing to go wrong. But I'd not worry about an M6 if you have a M8 or M9, eek.. If the camera meter failed completely you might have to remanufacture in the absence a cannibal/parts body... The meter is a flex rigid printed circuit board (PCB), if the repair man could only do rigid PCB he could use thin normal wiring, not impossibly difficult. I've seen M5 that han been bodged in various ways... If there is an integrated circuit in the meter then that is more difficult as they can be un- obtainable after decades. If it is a custom chip earlier difficulties. The LEDs should not go wrong,... Donno about the ISO dial but a cannnibal is easy, parts body detach back... With other system cameras the all mechanical ones (i.e. easily repairable) seem to be holding their price beter then the more sophisticated ones e.g. custom LCD displays can be intractable. So M6 (and MP) will last a long time, but M2s etc easier. The MP is sort of a M6 in drag, but it is noticable that its addition 'a clutch in the rewind mechanism' can go wrong, another piece part that the marketing people must ave insisted on. My key board does not have asterisks, so I canno explain this properly.... I've bought spare bodies for my SLRs, not worried about my M2s or M6, My Fed 1s from pre WWII easy to maintain. late Barnacks and Ms more difficult dont like ball bearing shutters... I'd not worry. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2011 Share #24 Posted January 26, 2011 This is a non-issue. The only issue with film is it will get more expensive, the selection will get smaller and some types will only be available by post. Processing will not be availabe as locally. I have several fridges full of bulk and 35mm cine reels... Five decades ago local mini labs did not exist, we are slowly reverting. Raw chemicals are easily available, e.g. Rodinal can be cloned from drain cleaner and pain killer tablets. Even C41 chemicals can be made up if the color developed (or a near clone) is available.. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 26, 2011 Share #25 Posted January 26, 2011 Just so you know, I have put my money where my mouth is and bought a brand-new a la carte .85 MP4 at the back end of last year. Couldn't be happier. Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted January 26, 2011 Share #26 Posted January 26, 2011 I'm buying nothing but film cameras these days. No idea what the fuss is all about. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2011 Share #27 Posted January 26, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm buying nothing but film cameras these days. No idea what the fuss is all about. Hi Bill has sold his M2 and replaced by a MP, we dares not ask about his soul. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted January 26, 2011 Share #28 Posted January 26, 2011 Hi Bill has sold his M2 and replaced by a MP, we dares not ask about his soul. Noel Funnily enough I'm thinking about adding an M2 to my already superfluous array of cameras... (I just need to look through the finder first). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBA Posted January 26, 2011 Share #29 Posted January 26, 2011 Bought a second and third MP, and it never occurred to me to worry about this. I also shoot regularly with 2 Nikon Fs (1962 and 1972) that were CLAed to like new within three weeks. Mechanical film cameras will outlive us as will film. I worry much more about the dwindling lifespan of my R8 motor batteries, which has paralyzed the camera on more than one occasion. More than this, I worry about the Big One hitting Tokyo or, as Andy Barton said, asteroid impact. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted January 26, 2011 Share #30 Posted January 26, 2011 You really have many more worrying things in your life to worry about. Like Yosemite blowing up. Or an asteroid hitting your town. Or aliens from the next galaxy arriving tomorrow. You just gotta love this man! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted January 26, 2011 Share #31 Posted January 26, 2011 That's true. The M7 is the the only one vulnerable to full electronic failure, but other metered Ms do have electronics. They can be used without working electronics, an M7 realistically can't. ..and also the digital ones of course, which makes (for me) the idea of building an electronic camera as robust and long lasting as the M1-M6 rather pointless, you will have an expensive paperweight in due course. And paying something like 3 times the cost of an M6ttl when it was availiable, or twice an MP, is out of the qustion for me anyway, not to mention the 'running costs' of repairs to these when film bodies vare much cheaper to maintain. Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2011 Share #32 Posted January 26, 2011 Funnily enough I'm thinking about adding an M2 to my already superfluous array of cameras... (I just need to look through the finder first). Hi I'd not look through the finder of a M2 or M3, you hand will suddently find it is holding your plastic. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest nafpie Posted January 26, 2011 Share #33 Posted January 26, 2011 You really have many more worrying things in your life to worry about. Like Yosemite blowing up. Or an asteroid hitting your town. Or aliens from the next galaxy arriving tomorrow. Tomorrow? THEY arrived long time ago. I'm trying to figure out why THEY are meet in this forum. Stefan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkor AIS Posted January 26, 2011 Share #34 Posted January 26, 2011 Film will never die. And I am sure, dispite Leica's complete lack of interest in promoting the M7/MP they will be made for many years to come. Considering the amount of film I have run through my leica in the last I have complete and utter faith in there reliabliity. And if something goes wrong I sure it can be fixed by one of the many fine crafts man who repair Leica's or Lecia them selves. I had a thread on the Leica forum on the "The next film M" and think that "it" ( new film body) will happen at some point. Until than, perhaps Leica can make a Titainium(6AL4V) MP with Black TI nitriad coating to keep me appeased:). "Film is photography" Gregory Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 26, 2011 Share #35 Posted January 26, 2011 HiBill has sold his M2 and replaced by a MP, we dares not ask about his soul. Ah, Noel, I have to confess that I have (re-)seen the light and acquired not just another M2 but one that shares my year of birth. Rude not to, really. Of course, I won't clutter up the thread with a random and pointless photo of it Regards, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
40mm f/2 Posted January 26, 2011 Share #36 Posted January 26, 2011 I do not understand this thread. I see no need for anything new analog from Leica-their film cameras don't require any improvements (not true for digital). But I do not understand the optimistic view for the longterm availability of film! Just look at the stock price of Kodak today. I am assuming that B&W film will be available for a long time because its simpler technology which can be produced in smaller scale albeit most of my favorite films in 5X7 have been discontinued. But color film is not possible in a cottage industry- remember Kodachrome? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted January 26, 2011 Share #37 Posted January 26, 2011 When I was shooting film I couldn't have cared less if colour film had disappeared - and yes, I realise I was being selfish <grin> Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted January 26, 2011 Share #38 Posted January 26, 2011 I do not understand this thread. I see no need for anything new analog from Leica-their film cameras don't require any improvements (not true for digital).But I do not understand the optimistic view for the longterm availability of film! Just look at the stock price of Kodak today. I am assuming that B&W film will be available for a long time because its simpler technology which can be produced in smaller scale albeit most of my favorite films in 5X7 have been discontinued. But color film is not possible in a cottage industry- remember Kodachrome? Oh well, whatever. There's always gotta be at least one doom-and-gloom merchant in every film thread. My totally unscientific but empirical impression is: - basing opinions on stock price... hmmm well as I said elsewhere before, buying Apple stock back in 1997 didn't look such a great idea; - my observation of film interest is that more and more people are combining film use with digital again (one of those is me); - my local camera store is increasing the range of films they sell, as demand is markedly growing. Now I'm off to read TheOnlinePhotographer - see how he's getting on with that obsolete piece of junk he just bought... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted January 26, 2011 Share #39 Posted January 26, 2011 I do not understand this thread. I see no need for anything new analog from Leica-their film cameras don't require any improvements (not true for digital).But I do not understand the optimistic view for the longterm availability of film! Just look at the stock price of Kodak today. I am assuming that B&W film will be available for a long time because its simpler technology which can be produced in smaller scale albeit most of my favorite films in 5X7 have been discontinued. But color film is not possible in a cottage industry- remember Kodachrome? Hi My fridges have about a 2 years supply of film 95% is mono, most bulk or cine cans. I understand 5x7 will be rather more difficult, I do appreciate your point, e.g. 220 mono has dissappeared with Tri-x (320) but you can still get 220 C41 color,... So I'm not sure about Steve's point at all. I use TLRs. I'm more worried about Leica going bust than film dissappearing, but since I dont have a digital M it is an academic point. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
plasticman Posted January 26, 2011 Share #40 Posted January 26, 2011 I decided to take a quick look around about Kodak's film problems for myself - but when I started googling, most of the discussions about how the company was finished and film was dead were at least seven or eight years old... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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