Harder than marble

[damianofedeli]

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Two days ago I went to Carrara, Tuscany, to shoot the marble quarries. I had my D3, a number of lenses in my backpack, and my Leica M6, for some black and white shot. At a certain point, I heard a thump. I couldn't believe my eyes: the M6 with the Summicron 35 (no cap on it, I was shooting) had dropped from my shoulder. GOOSH. It laid on the ground: a marble soil. Worst: it was completely covered with white marble power. It looked like a fish covered with flour, ready to be fried. If I were lucid, I had to shoot it: it was a wonderful terrible image. But father love prevailed. I picked the camera up, blowing and blowing that terrible dust. Not a scratch on the lens, not a scratch on the camera. No damage. Now, safe at home, it has been completely cleaned. Really, harder than marble.

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[aesop]

...you can thank your licky stars that your M6 had to deal with marble from shoulder height. One of my MPs had to deal with several concrete impacts from 16 floors. Had to be replaced.

[tobey bilek]

I have long since learned cameras belong in a protective bag or in your hand being used.

 

I have also learned to change lenses over an open bag or grass or sitting down all while handling one lens at a time.

 

No dangling off shoulders. Or even around your neck. I have tripped to many times over hidden tree roots etc.

 

Now if your are a pj and need access to three cameras at one time, be prepared to damage one occasionally

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Damian,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

Many years ago I was climbing mountains in Northern California. I stopped @ a cliff edge for lunch & took my M out of my knapsack to get lunch. The M w/ collapsable 90 was wrapped in a shirt to protect it. While I was eating they rolled off the edge of the cliff & bounced their way 25 meters down to the bottom. After finishing eating I climbed down to get my shirt. I was sure the camera & lens had been severely damaged even tho they had stayed in the shirt.

 

The lens was fine. The camera had a small dent on top of the range/viewfinder. The camera worked perfectly.

 

Whenever you walk thru a doorway life becomes a roll of the Cosmic Dice.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[Ronan]

Funny to hear those stories... and then read others where M's got out of calibration by the simple fact they were in a car.

 

Win Fail much?

[Michael Geschlecht]

Hello Ronan,

 

Did you notice the last sentence in the Post above yours?

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

[Ronan]

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Hello Ronan,

 

Did you notice the last sentence in the Post above yours?

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

 

Sure did, it summons up life in general doesn't it?

 

Personally i attribute it to QC and design. No need to involve the universe.

[FiZZ]

I dropped my M6 on tarmac once. From around 175 cms. It landed flat on the bottom plate. The plate got dented, and the film counter notch wouldn't always lock so I had to "redent" it. Unfortunately, the pins on the pressure plate broke. The right one broke right off, and the left one was intact, but the pin holder notched out. The light meter also stopped working. It's now with Don @ DAG awaiting repairs.

 

Though mechanically, it was functioning perfectly fine.