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So disappointed to see this


cd95

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the frame counter gears of MP is made of plastic and this part tends to break during normal use. My MP' counter could not reset to zero and I'm now thinking it may caused by this plastic part. Why they stop using metal on this gear (like m2/3/4) on such a expensive model?

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Interesting. Did that happen after a film jam? My MP is five years old now and had roughly 4500 rolls through it and not had any problems.

 

Anyone know if that particular bit of engineering is the same as previous mechanical M's and, if so, can the metal parts be substituted for the plastic?

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Why they stop using metal on this gear (like m2/3/4) on such a expensive model?

 

Leica stopped using metal for that part 34 years ago - and for a cheap model: the M4-2. (I had one break on an M4-2). The plastic version has been used on every camera since then, with a pretty low failure rate. I've heard of three breaking - out of 100,000+ cameras built 1977 to 2011.

 

This part is not in the "drive train" of the film-wind/shutter-cocking mechanism, so it does not carry a heavy load and wouldn't be affected by a film jam. It's like a rubber accesory belt on a car engine, which won't break just because the drive shaft or transmission jams - but may wear out at some point regardless of stress. Or break because of a flaw in the material.

 

(Even Ferrari uses rubber belts. ;) )

 

can the metal parts be substituted for the plastic?

 

The opposite is more likely. The metal parts haven't been made for over 30 years. In the unlikely event that an M2's metal counter broke, the choices would probably be: replace it with the current plastic parts, or find an old metal part off a "parts" camera.

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Do you know what? I'm going to carry on using my new MP and getting a great deal of pleasure from using it. If it breaks through the failure of a €2 part, I will have it fixed.

 

These things are disappointing and shouldn't break, but life's too short to lose sleep over this kind of thing.

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It's not disgusting, but it is very disappointing. It's not what I bought my MP for.

 

Under what circumstances did this part break?

 

It sure is disgusting after you paid retail for a MP expecting Mechanical Perfection but they cheap out on a part that gets used quite often and stuck cheap plastic instead of a metal gear (proven to work).

 

DAG can replace it with a metal part.

 

The fact Leica have used this part since the M4-2 is reassuring, it's obviously very unlikely to fail.

 

Somewhat untrue. Some models used it, others didn't. The switch was more economical too... Economical heh... Not better, but economical... AFAIK Leica isn't trying to save its business from bankruptcy, so why are they being economical?... For the price a MP cost, id expect corners not to be cut.

 

Also that plastic gear which is hollow btw, makes contact with a metal gear i believe... plastic vs metal, not great...

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It's not "disgusting". The poverty that many people in the world have to live in - that's disgusting. Lots of other things are disgusting.

 

This is just a plastic part that might fail occasionally.

 

Let's keep this in perspective.

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