bedouin Posted May 23, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted May 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I bought the camera new, 2 months ago and I must admit, during the time it worked, I enjoyed it quite a lot. The simplicity of use, accuracy of results and IQ were enough to get me back to take photographs regularly. I owned Canons and Nikons before and I must say, that one needs to pay at least as much or maybe more on body/lens to get the same results. Â HOWEVER. Less than a month since I bought it, the camera stopped working properly. Not always but maybe 1 out of 4 times I shot: Images would display some sort of ghosting in high contrast areas (like a double exposure on the same frame). The preview was no longer accurate, especially at high shutter speeds leading to wrong exposures. Back panel was flashing just prior to shooting a picture. Images were occasionally way out of focus (not evident in preview) There was an odd shade color banding across the right hand side of the frame. The camera and sample images were given to Leica rep locally who verified the issues and consequently sent it to Germany. Â A week later, Leica responded by refusing to accept any responsibility for the issues and instead alleged that the camera was damaged on impact. Leica identified two hairline cracks in the casing to invalidate the warranty. This of course is nonsense as nothing out of ordinary was identified by their rep, and there were no dents whatsoever in the outer casing of the camera. I phoned/emailed them several times but to this time they have refused to respond in any substantial way. Â I am afraid to say that this is the worst incident I have had with any cameras I have owned for more than 25 years. Even if I did proceed to pay for the repair, it would be too risky to continue using it, as it is obviously a very unreliable camera with a vapor warranty. Â Apologies to all here, that my first (and possibly last) post is of this nature, but I hope someone higher up the ladder at Leica may read this and get more sensible. An unhappy and lost customer. Yan C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Hi bedouin, Take a look here The risks of owing an X1. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
earleygallery Posted May 23, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted May 23, 2011 I would take the matter up with the dealer you bought the camera from. If you are certain that you haven't damaged the camera, then it must have been sold to you in that condition. Â Your contract is with the dealer, not Leica. Seek some 'local' consumer advice if necessary. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 23, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted May 23, 2011 Passport? Â AFAIK that's only available for items bought in the UK - the OP appears to be in Greece. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allnm Posted May 23, 2011 Share #4 Â Posted May 23, 2011 A week later, Leica responded by refusing to accept any responsibility for the issues and instead alleged that the camera was damaged on impact. Leica identified two hairline cracks in the casing to invalidate the warranty. This of course is nonsense as nothing out of ordinary was identified by their rep, Â You dont mention that it wasn't actually dropped or damaged in any way. Was it dropped? You only say the rep didnt identify any damage. If it was dropped, can you claim on your home insurance against accidental damage? My home insurance covers me for losing or damaging photographic equipment and living in the UK, my Passport warranty also covers this. Â Allan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedouin Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share #5 Â Posted May 23, 2011 The camera was not dropped or damaged in any way (or thrown on the wall as they suggested!). Of course this is my word against theirs. But it is evident from the fact that there isn't a single dent in the camera. Which is something they have accepted too. Â If indeed these weird issues were the result of some mechanical problem, the only cause I can think of is the pressure variation on the plane (this whole thing happened on my recent trip to the UK). But if that is the case, again, I would put a big question mark on the reliability of this camera. Â Their single rep/dealer in Greece, Mr Skiadopoulos has so far been sympathetic to my side of the story, but unable to really do anything beyond that. Â Thanks for listening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted May 23, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted May 23, 2011 Their single rep/dealer in Greece, Mr Skiadopoulos has so far been sympathetic to my side of the story, but unable to really do anything beyond that. Â I can only tell you what would happen in the UK - I'm not sure if the law in Greece is different, as we're both EU I'm sure there must be some similarity. Â If I bought a camera from a dealer and found a month later that it was faulty, I would return it to that dealer for replacement (usual within 1 month) or repair (usual after 1 month). Â If the dealer refuses to repair it (or as in this case the manufacturer is refusing the repair to the dealer, and hence he is refusing to you), I would have to resort to legal action to claim for the loss, issuing against the dealer as my contract of sale is with him. Â I suggest that you press your dealer harder - you are essentially saying that he sold you a faulty camera - perhaps the damage happened with him? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedouin Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share #7 Â Posted May 23, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I thought against legal action, as the price of the camera (albeit high) doesn't merit taking that route. I will try to see if the dealer can sort something out, but I very much doubt it as this has been going on for more than 10 days now. Anyway, thank you for your advise James. Yannis. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeTexas Posted May 23, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted May 23, 2011 Have you seen the camera since shipping it to Germany? Perhaps it was damaged during shipping, and they thought it was pre-existing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solar B Posted May 23, 2011 Share #9  Posted May 23, 2011 I think we are all sorry to hear your story , is there any chance that the hairline cracks were there when you purchased it ? ... but then if my X1 was suffering from any hairline cracks then i would have noticed them within 1 day , plus for this happen to an X1 body would take a considerable force or impact  Also the camera worked correctly for 1 month !!!  Brian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thybo Posted May 23, 2011 Share #10  Posted May 23, 2011 I´ve similar problems with my X1. Now send to Germany and awaiting the result. Seems like there´re more people/X1´s with the same prob. Did the faults occur before/after the firmware update ? And did You found any solution?  The best from Thybo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lykaman Posted May 23, 2011 Share #11  Posted May 23, 2011 Hi Bedouin, I feel for you, and I’m sure with a little perseverance with both Leica & your dealer the issue (on the assumption) that all facts are as stated could b resolved. I’m not too sure about your Headline:- It is you & your X1 that has the issue It Is Not an overall Leica X1 issue..Any item can be damaged it does not make the manufacturer either 2nd class or uncaring. If you purchased the camera via a Credit Card why not talk to them.. I had an issue with a vehicle body shop, I had paid via Amex, they investigated & I had a Full refund. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChiILX1 Posted May 23, 2011 Share #12 Â Posted May 23, 2011 It's weird but you have two recourses. I for one have found Leica unreasonably generous with their repair and exchange policies. I consider I owe then a couple actually. Â It's weird because who would claim that two "hairline" fractures were caused by "throwing the camera against a wall." It would seem to me that hairline cracks wouldn't cause such speculation, and such an incident would result in more than hairline fractures. Â If you are convinced it wasn't damaged when you gave it to the dealer then either Leica is looking at the wrong camera (which you should be sure of) or it was simply damaged in shipping. Claim it as damaged in shipping for sure and Leica should cooperate since you will buy a new X1 likely. Â As a backup if that doesn't work, claim it on your renters or homeowner's policy. Â On top of those, if you bought it with AMEX or whatever, they cover it too. Â I don't see an issue here that leaves you screwed. Good luck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted May 23, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted May 23, 2011 Excuses Excuses. Does Leica think that the kind of people that pay their high prices are the kind that go around trying to defraud them on warranty claims? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lykaman Posted May 23, 2011 Share #14  Posted May 23, 2011 Hi, Barjohn, that is a rather sweeping statement........ it’s a bit like saying Mac owners never download porn!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prk60091 Posted May 23, 2011 Share #15 Â Posted May 23, 2011 Fortunately I have not needed to send my x1 in for servicing. However, Leica has ALWAYS stood behind their product and been fair with me (I almost said more than fair ) whether it was an inexpensive clux or a digilux2 (which at the time cost almost as much as my x1). Â Your dealer should be assisting you Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanG Posted May 24, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted May 24, 2011 This probably won't settle anything. But if there are no marks on the camera, and you are certain you never did anything out of the ordinary that could damage it, why not ask Leica to identify the hairline cracks and explain what type and amount of force on the body would be required to cause them? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prk60091 Posted May 24, 2011 Share #17  Posted May 24, 2011 I´ve similar problems with my X1. Now send to Germany and awaiting the result. Seems like there´re more people/X1´s with the same prob. Did the faults occur before/after the firmware update ? And did You found any solution?  The best from Thybo  So if I understand you correctly you have exactly the same issues as the OP?  In a year + the camera has been out the 2 of you are the only folks who have reported these unusual symptoms. How odd. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedouin Posted May 24, 2011 Author Share #18 Â Posted May 24, 2011 I managed to speak to the dealer here in Athens, who after she confirmed/agreed that the camera left their premises with no obvious signs of any damage and denied any possibility of the camera being damaged in transit, she reassured me that she would put pressure on Leica to re-examine the case. She even offered a substitute camera for the time being. Â Thanks for your encouragement folks. Â P.S. the image below shows the major issue with the camera - Notice the right side of the image being totally out of focus. But as I said in the OP this is only one of many issues. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
thybo Posted May 24, 2011 Share #19  Posted May 24, 2011 So if I understand you correctly you have exactly the same issues as the OP? In a year + the camera has been out the 2 of you are the only folks who have reported these unusual symptoms. How odd.  Well - Not exactly the same issues. But similar ...  One of my X1`s main faults is described in the thread "HELP My X1 is trying to be a Holga". And I think a major Issue. as from "Beduin": - "There was an odd shade color banding across the right hand side of the frame."  Seems like there are more X1´s with sensor problems (?) - or..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
prk60091 Posted May 25, 2011 Share #20  Posted May 25, 2011 Well - Not exactly the same issues. But similar ...  One of my X1`s main faults is described in the thread "HELP My X1 is trying to be a Holga". And I think a major Issue. as from "Beduin": - "There was an odd shade color banding across the right hand side of the frame."  Seems like there are more X1´s with sensor problems (?) - or.....  Any camera can develop sensor issues. There have been x1's involved in bike accidents escape relatively unscathed ( forum.com/leica-forum/leica-x1-forum/171986-x1-one-tough-camera.html#post1643703 ) you are right 2 x1's with apparent sensor issues are "more X1´s with sensor problems" but it means nothing.  - Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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