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M7 - A Considerable Disappointment

Keith (M)

By Keith (M)
in Film Forum

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Keith (M)

Keith (M)

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An update on my M7 and it's problems. New batteries were fitted in August and I have been paranoid about making sure the camera was turned off before putting in the bag. Originally I had tentatively come to the conclusion that the first set of batteries were drained by me forgetting to turn it off and there could have been enough pressure on the button whilst in my bag to keep the meter activated. Hence I have been double and triple checking.

 

Anyway, turning the camera on this morning - nothing, nichts, nada - not a glimmer of life. :( Due to various other activities the camera has barely been used since brand-new batteries were fitted in August - currently on frame 23 of the film fitted at that time. So, assuming that the Aug batteries had been drained, I have just fitted a new pair. Turn the camera on whilst looking in the viewfinder - again nothing, nichts, nada - still no glimmer of life. :mad:

 

So my M7, bought new in Feb of this year has the following:-

 

  • Electronics failure preceded by unacceptable heavy battery drain. Also, it was noticeable that the slightest of pressure on the film speed dial activated the LEDs. I learnt to keep my thumb clear of it.
  • A RF where the split-image does not quite align on far objects (lens hits infinity stop first - no problem with these same lenses on my M9 and M4)
  • A lens mount that is suspiciously 'slack'. A lens needs the merest caress to fit and there is sligh rotational play when locked in place. After speaking with the dealer and describing the difference in effort required between my M9 and the M7, I was assured this was normal, due to the tighter tolerances the M9 needs. However, having just bought a 1967 M4, I now think differently as the M4 mount is much more akin to the M9 in the firmness of mounting, tightness and lack of 'play'.
  • oh, and the leatherette is beginning to peel in two places...

If it was a car I would assume it had gone down the production line on a Friday afternoon or a monday morning - but a Leica?!

 

A question for UK owners who have returned a camera under warranty - what is the recommended procedure? Back to the dealer (Ffordes) or do I contact Leica in Mayfair?

 

At least with my M4 having arrived this week, I still have a useable film Leica.

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earleygallery

earleygallery

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Are you certain that the new batteries are not actually drained?

 

If returning under warranty I'd speak to the people in Mayfair first.

 

Edit: Andy posted the same time as me. Yes your contract is with Ffordes and if you'd just bought the camera I'd say demand a replacement from them, but as you've had it a while it will be repaired under warranty so I'd shortcut the process and go direct especially as you don't want to send your camera up to Scotland when they'll send it on to Germany!

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Keith (M)

Keith (M)

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Thank you all for the replies.

 

Are you certain that the new batteries are not actually drained?

 

Good question - the first set appeared to be, in the sense that fitting a new pair brought the camera back to life. Unfortunately my Calumet battery tester does not handle the DL 1/3N batteries. Anyway, having had a rummage around in the garage I have just used a 3.5v bulb from an old bicycle lamp and a length of wire as a crude tester. The pair currently in the camera appear to be OK, in that they both light up the bulb. Put them back in the M7, turn it on and zilch happens. (I have not got around to disposing of the original batteries and they do both seem to be flat, so were drained after 5 months and ten rolls). Presumably whatever component or bit of circuitry was causing the battery drain has now failed completely.

 

I will contact Ffordes on Monday morning.

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Guest sterlinstarlin

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Bummer. I wouldn't worry too much about the lens mount. I've had M2 bodies with really tight mounts. So tight I thought the lens might break while trying to lock in place. I'd take a little loose over that any day.

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Keith (M)

Keith (M)

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Well, after rather more phone calls and emails than anticipated, my 9 month old and totally inert M7 has just been collected by UPS for direct shipment to Solms.

 

Wonder if it will make it back before Christmas...

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Keith (M)

Keith (M)

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Don't hold your breath. Mine was registered in on Oct 5th after sitting a week in the Wetzlar customs office. Five days later I get a "quotation". As of Oct 13th it is "in repair". I'll be happy if mine is back in time for X--mas.

Carl

 

Heartening (not). How do you keep track of what is happening? I have searched the forums with various key-words but so far without success.

 

Just out of interest how helpful was your dealer?
It was after a detailed email and two phone calls that action was started. Had I not known, courtesy of this invaluable forum about the UPS method, I might have gone along with their initial request to send it to Scotland at my expense... When I quoted this forum, the chap I spoke to then had to speak with his head office and Mayfair for authorisation, which was the followed by more phone calls and emails (yesterday and today) to dot the i's and cross the t's prior to this afternoon's collection by UPS.

 

Yes, the camera is on it's way and the process (whilst not ideal) has so far been better than when I had to return a 5D a few years ago. That particular experience was so bad I swore never ever again to buy a camera from anywhere that was not local enough to jump in the car and drop the offending item on the counter. Should have remembered...

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andybarton

andybarton

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Heartening (not). How do you keep track of what is happening? I have searched the forums with various key-words but so far without success.

 

.

 

 

When it's in the system, Leica give you a reference number that you can use to access their repairs progress software.

 

That particular experience was so bad I swore never ever again to buy a camera from anywhere that was not local enough to jump in the car and drop the offending item on the counter.

 

Pays dividends, in the long run. You cannot beat dealing with your dealer face to face. I am 100% convinced you get a better deal than "just a voice on the telephone" and you definitely get a better service if you need help further down the line.

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mikebidwell

mikebidwell

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Don't hold your breath. Mine was registered in on Oct 5th after sitting a week in the Wetzlar customs office. Five days later I get a "quotation". As of Oct 13th it is "in repair". I'll be happy if mine is back in time for X--mas.

Carl

 

There must be a lot of poorly Leica's back in Solms at the moment. On 5th October I contacted Mayfair about a problem I had with my M6. Following a phone call to Leica I was advised that I would receive an e-mail giving me details of the returns procedure to send it back to Solms for investigation. On 6th Oct UPS picked up the parcel at 5:21pm and it was delivered to Leica at 9:30 am on the 11th Oct, that same day it was logged onto their system with the status 'Service Order Registered' . On the 19th Oct I received an e-mail giving me initial information that it had been tested but at that time the fault could not be confirmed, the Repair Tracking screen stated that the order confirmation had been sent and next entry also on the 19th stated it was 'In Repair'

 

I'm not sure when I can expect it back but I recognise in my case it is an intermittent fault which in my experience I know can take some time to find. However like you I hope its back before Christmas.

 

I would have thought though that in the case of the problem that KeithM has described with his new M7 that a quick response and turn around time would be expected.

 

Best wishes

 

Mike Bidwell :)

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earleygallery

earleygallery

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When I contacted Leica USA a few weeks ago about a CLA for my M4-P, I was told they would be willing to forward it to Solms. I think for a CLA I'll go with the Leica authorized service tech here in Los Angeles.

 

You can send your Leica to Solms for a CLA, but they tend to charge many times more than an independent repairer (of which there are many highly regarded ones).

 

I think they also tend to try to bring a camera up to 'as new' condition regardless of whether it is necessary or not. Rather like replacing the engine in your car every time it goes into the garage for an oil change!

 

I'm sure the work is fantastic, but I don't see the point when a perfectly good job can be done elsewhere for a fraction of the cost.

 

I also don't see the point in having a CLA for the sake of it. Unless you have a problem the best 'CLA' is to simply use the camera.

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MX5Bob

MX5Bob

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You can send your Leica to Solms for a CLA, but they tend to charge many times more than an independent repairer (of which there are many highly regarded ones).

 

I think they also tend to try to bring a camera up to 'as new' condition regardless of whether it is necessary or not. Rather like replacing the engine in your car every time it goes into the garage for an oil change!

 

I'm sure the work is fantastic, but I don't see the point when a perfectly good job can be done elsewhere for a fraction of the cost.

 

I also don't see the point in having a CLA for the sake of it. Unless you have a problem the best 'CLA' is to simply use the camera.

 

Yeah, I recall sending an M2 to Rockleigh back in the '70s and the list of what work could be done included things I wasn't going to pay for.

 

My M4-P has a bit of hazing in the viewfinder and the rangefinder patch seems a bit out of vertical alignment. None of it is a rush job and I don't want to send it in until I buy another body. M6 TTL maybe.

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Keith (M)

Keith (M)

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Well, unlike my M7 the UPS tracking system works! Was notified this morning that the inert lump arrived at Solms at 08.40. Hopefully the communications twixt Solms, Ffordes and me will keep me in touch with progress, or at least some indication of when I can expect it's return.

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thebarnman

thebarnman

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I feel for you as I know what it's like to be without my Leica (even though I use it only a few times a year.) In my case, I sent it to New Jersey and there were two important events coming up where I would only want to use my Leica.

 

I panicked and even loss sleep over the situation!

 

I had them rush it through the best I could get them to and Leica ended up missing my own self imposed deadline by one day...(I even paid extra for overnight delivery...both ways!) HOWEVER, I did get my R9 back in time for the 2nd event...a road trip I had planned.

 

They were fantastic and my R9 came back looking pretty much brand new. That CLA I was told should only be done after so many years (though I forget how many years they suggested I do it.) My camera was bought brand new about 7 years or so ago...and it wasn't ready for a CLA according to Leica.

 

Here's where I detailed what happened...

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/190271-sent-my-r9-leica.html

 

 

And about the road trip...here is where I detail about the film I shot during that road trip...

 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/85106-when-did-you-last-get-your-3.html#post1877494

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