wildlightphoto Posted May 3, 2011 Share #41 Posted May 3, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) ... I wonder what is so attractive about the abandoned DMR+R system that you seem to be willing to keep it alive at any cost and are even buying spares and defective units for parts... Using Leica APO lenses with a good viewfinder and no loss of auto-diaphragm, and the DMR's file quality. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 3, 2011 Posted May 3, 2011 Hi wildlightphoto, Take a look here Winding down support for DMR at Solms?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rsh Posted May 3, 2011 Share #42 Posted May 3, 2011 Great reply Doug, and accurate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
giordano Posted May 4, 2011 Share #43 Posted May 4, 2011 I'm actually rather surprised that many dealers will guarantee old equipment (Leica or otherwise) as repair costs can often outweigh purchase price quite quickly. I've noticed that a few dealers actually offer some older items on an 'as seen' basis with a ten day, or similar, return period which I have to say seems perfectly reasonable to me. AIUI a warranty normally gives the vendor the choice of repairing the defective item, replacing it, or refunding the purchase price - and does not oblige him to bankrupt himself trying to repair the unrepairable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted May 4, 2011 Share #44 Posted May 4, 2011 Replacing components on a surface mount board is well nigh impossible; some of the chips on the M8 DSP board (having not seen any DMR internals) have 900 connections on the underside, each soldered in place, and removing them without disturbing the surrounding components AND not destroying the very fine array of contact points on the board is impossible. The DMR likely uses a much lower level of integration but it will still be difficult to repair other than by board replacement. There may of course be specific components which can be replaced but the service provider referenced in earlier posts is unlikely to be able to help not least because they will likely not have access to the required service information. The total DMR population is about 2 weeks of pre-tsunami Nikon-Sendai production so it remains a niche product. I wonder whether there is even anyone at Leica who truly understands how it works since as we understand it, the development was sub-contracted out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posto 6 Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share #45 Posted May 4, 2011 Could the DMR have family similarities with Imacon/Hasselblad units? This could help a lot with availability of components, especially if there are independent contractors who are not touched by the Imacon/Leica historical problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 4, 2011 Share #46 Posted May 4, 2011 The DMR was a completely different beast from the Hasselblad / Imacon units. Given Mark's experience above, the chances of there being any interchangeable parts must be incredibly slim. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guido Posted May 4, 2011 Share #47 Posted May 4, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Taking a step back, I wonder if it might be easier to approach the issue from a mechanical instead of an electronical point of view. If one can live without the R8/R9 body, it might be possible to have a CNC company build a device which would take a standard digital back on one side, an R lens on the other, and provide the correct registration distance inbetween. In effect, similar to what Alpa Switzerland does with large format lenses. While Alpa offers a standard product line and therefore might not be the right company to approach with such an idea, there are other companies like Gottschalt Kameramanufaktur (www.gottschalt.de) or Silvestri (Silvestri Camera) which might be able to machine a single or small-series custom camera to specs. Both already have solved shutter cocking/triggering and back synchronization for Hasselblad lenses and might be able to do the same for R lenses. All in all, this might be easier to do than trying to reverse engineer a broken DMR. Of course, the result would no longer be an R camera, so one would have to be prepared to live with that (although, with the proper design, it might be possible to mill a similar form out of that block of aluminium...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted May 4, 2011 Share #48 Posted May 4, 2011 Of course, the result would no longer be an R camera, so one would have to be prepared to live with that Interesting idea but such a camera wouldn't be much use to Doug or anyone who needs to be able to focus quickly and accurately. Might be good for landscape or product shots but if you are going to go these lengths you may as well use MF lenses with greater coverage than a typical R lens. Probably easier to just buy an Alpa. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posto 6 Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share #49 Posted May 4, 2011 Quite possibly this is the case- however, I have over the years seen so many "impossible" things happen that I am loath to categorically say never. I remember well visiting a garage in the UK with a good friend whose Bentley Turbo R suffered a "blown" motherboard, which was delayed in coming. While discussing with the service manager, I asked to see the unit, and noticed that it had become wet and then dried out leaving some marks. The manager was categorica that the unit was a write-off, and that there was no alternative to waiting for a new one- and shelling out nearly 2 grand. I asked for some cloth and WD-40, and proceeded to clean and rub the dirt off the motherboard (I have ABSOLUTELY NO technical training or even knowledge), and surprisingly, it became fully operational. For the remaining 2 years that my friend had the car, it never gave any further problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted May 4, 2011 Share #50 Posted May 4, 2011 To be honest, you might as well buy a top end Canon, Nikon or Sony body and put the R-glass on that. How much would a bespoke, hand made body cost and how would that be better than a £3,000 pro SLR? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpattison Posted May 4, 2011 Share #51 Posted May 4, 2011 Let's just enjoy the glorious images the surviving DMRs make. As Tom Rapp sang... These things too, shall pass. Then move on. I know I will. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 4, 2011 Share #52 Posted May 4, 2011 Let's just enjoy the glorious images the surviving DMRs make. As Tom Rapp sang... These things too, shall pass. Then move on. I know I will. John Hi If it breaks buy another one, if Leica canot fix DMRs, then 3rd party other than the OEM is gonna have more difficulty. I like the DMR images too. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posto 6 Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share #53 Posted May 4, 2011 Anyone remember how the M-Series almost got killed ("the future of photography is SLR-only"), and was saved due to the insistence and stubbornness of the local Canadian subsidiary's MD? What would have happened to Leica if only consensus opinions were taken into account? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 4, 2011 Share #54 Posted May 4, 2011 Hi That is an apocryphal story, more likely going to Deming manufacturing and the consequent cost reductions was Weltzar sponsored... Midland just got to carry the can. But it is simple to use your current one and buy another if it breaks. Lack of maintenance will reduce replacement cost, as people find something else, if you are lucky. If you have a broken one you can try and have a 3rd party fix it, they are more likely to damage it more, I'd wait until Leica or the OEM became more friendly instead, but it may be for ever, this is what happens to electrical components. My M repair person is fond of the phrase 'evidence of 3rd party maintenance attempts', he is real good and will do good things you did not ask for when he has it apart... he is ex-Leica staff. Noel P.S. It is normal to return electronic components with no fault found, like your auto PCB problem, the sales people dont like doing this, they prefer smoke and mirrors. Like your Midland story... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 4, 2011 Share #55 Posted May 4, 2011 As the breaking part is usually the same ( the motherboard) it seems rather pointless getting one for spares. If mine goes (fingers crossed!) it will be Nikon and Leitax for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posto 6 Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share #56 Posted May 4, 2011 There are also DMRs damaged in accidents, etc where the motherboard may still be intact- my concept is not that careless! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xmas Posted May 4, 2011 Share #57 Posted May 4, 2011 There are also DMRs damaged in accidents, etc where the motherboard may still be intact- my concept is not that careless! Ok If you have 3 or 4 damaged DMR you might get a technicial to rebuild the parts into one good one. e.g. I use Weston exposure meters, and you can still get them repaired by an ex-works person who is working for himself after the manufacturing factory closed down, but the fixed price for a warranted refurb excluding postage is 80 GBP and you can get working 2nd hand ones in street markets for 15 GBP, 1/3 of a stop within my normal one. I sometimes rebuild two broken ones typically 5GBP to make one, but it takes ages. Noel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted May 4, 2011 Share #58 Posted May 4, 2011 There are also DMRs damaged in accidents, etc where the motherboard may still be intact- my concept is not that careless! But with so few sold, and a small minority of those broken, actually finding a suitable body would be very difficult IMHO. Especially if someone was wanting to advertise the service Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posto 6 Posted May 4, 2011 Author Share #59 Posted May 4, 2011 I am only buying a couple for my own personal use- hopefully they will come in handy when (hopefully not soon!) my DMR finally breaks down. I hope that by then there may anyway also be other viable repair options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted May 4, 2011 Share #60 Posted May 4, 2011 going to Deming manufacturing Noel-- What's "Deming manufacturing"? You may think the "Midland story," as you call it, apocryphal, but it's accurate. After the M5 debacle, Wetzlar said to kill the M, and Canada took up the gauntlet to build and promote the M4-2. Fact, not fiction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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