WarriorJazz Posted November 24, 2011 Share #1 Â Posted November 24, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm currently very disappointed in Leica and their products. Some of you might have seen some of my posts on the forum which are usually about broken gear. In the beginning I thought I was just unlucky but now it is getting ridiculous. Â I have been using Leica camera's for about 3,5 years now. My first camera was a black M4-P and it was a true delight to use. This camera sparked my love for this brand and their products. When I finally saved enough money (sold all my camera's and gear) I jumped into an new adventure, the M8! Loved it too but it broke down after the first 4 months because of a shutter problem. Finally came back after 3 months. Again after 4 months it had to go back because of another error. This time it went on vacation for almost 5 months! During this last period I scraped my last savings together and bought a mint M6. I planned to go back to film because was not able to trust my digital M8 anymore and because the warranty was almost over I was worried that if It broke down again I was not able to afford the repair costs. Â It is almost funny and unreal but I had to send the M6 to a technician 3 times! First a CLA because the viewfinder was misaligned, then because the plastic guard (sides of the M) broke and a plastic part got stuck in the mechanics, and lastly again because the viewfinder was off again. I'm very careful with camera's and I almost baby them. So this all came as a surprise! Â I decided to pick up my M6 yesterday after it had laid safely in my closet for a few months. I didn't use it much after the last calibration and to my surprise I found out that the viewfinder was off again!!! The technician told me that this could happen when take your camera with you on a daily basis. The vibration could cause it to misalign. I thought these things were build to last and used by war photographers... How come mine gets misaligned when traveling on the train to work. I protect it in a double padded camera bag so I truly doubt this. Â I am so angry and disappointed in these camera's that I am ready to sell all my gear and switch to another brand. I'm not a wealthy man and I can't keep on repairing these camera's. When I decided to spend allot of money on premium gear I thought I would get a camera that I could use for a long time without any (much) problems. The only thing I want is to make beautiful pictures. Thats all. Not the worries if my camera still works properly. Â Â -Eelco Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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vonheim Posted November 24, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted November 24, 2011 Very sorry to hear this, Eelco! Â I have not owned Leica gear all that long - only 16 months. All I had to do so far was calibration of lenses and camera as I bought my first few lenses used. Once I had a 35, 50, and 90 I sent the camera and lenses in. Since then everything has been as expected. Â On the other hand, I have had Canon gear since the early 80s (AE-1 promotion for Los Angeles Olympics:-). No Canon camera has failed me in almost 30 years, either. Â So I don't think Leicas are higher quality in terms of durability. However, I do prefer the results from Leica lenses and sensor over the Canon (5DII). Â But as you indirectly point out, if the equipment malfunctions picture quality is a moot point! Â If you enjoy the rangefinder and Leica lenses I wish you all the best and sincerely hope you get it working properly for years at a time! Â KR, Â Knut Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matlep Posted November 24, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted November 24, 2011 Sad to hear that you have problems with your gear. That is never funny... Â But to blame Leia for the condition of a used M6 is not fair. Who knows what the previous owner(s) have put it through? That is hardly Leicas fault is it? Â But I do hope it will sort out for you in the end. Cameras are meant to be used, not to be at an repair shop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share #4 Â Posted November 24, 2011 But to blame Leia for the condition of a used M6 is not fair. Who knows what the previous owner(s) have put it through? Thanks for your responds. Not just the M6 broke down but also the M8. This one was brand new. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 24, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted November 24, 2011 OTOH my Leicas have been 100% reliable. My lllf was bought about 27 yrs ago, an R3 bought when new and a more recent addition of an M2. Â I think you've just been unlucky. I'd also suggest trying a different repairer for your M6, maybe he's not doing something right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted November 24, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted November 24, 2011 I would tend to agree with James - try a different repairer. As you appear to be in the Netherlands that should not be too difficult? Your M6 should not go off alignment simply on train journeys it usually takes quite a lot of vibration or a severe bump. As for your M8 - that was really unfortunate and its no consolation to say that the vast majority are completely reliable. But Lady Luck can be fickle - my sympathies! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Holy Moly Posted November 24, 2011 Share #7  Posted November 24, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) OTOH my Leicas have been 100% reliable. My lllf was bought about 27 yrs ago, an R3 bought when new and a more recent addition of an M2.  I think you've just been unlucky. I'd also suggest trying a different repairer for your M6, maybe he's not doing something right?  Comparing digital M8/9 with old analogue cams seems a bit...strange.... Leica is a completely different manufacturer compare to those olde days. And this is a trap for people investing into digital Ms and having this reputation in their memory  W.v.M. in Netherland is well known for his good work, i guess. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted November 24, 2011 Share #8  Posted November 24, 2011 Comparing digital M8/9 with old analogue cams seems a bit...strange....Leica is a completely different manufacturer compare to those olde days. And this is a trap for people investing into digital Ms and having this reputation in their memory  W.v.M. in Netherland is well known for his good work, i guess.  Our friend has had problems with his M8 and his M6, so the comparisons are valid.  Of course a digital camera is probably more likely to suffer problems than a mechanical camera of proven design. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share #9 Â Posted November 24, 2011 Small update: Spoke with Cathy from Will van Manen and they want to see the M6 because they are puzzled about this too. I'll give this thing one more chance... If it is not fixed after this I'll sell it all and buy a Lomo LCA :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
theendlesshouse Posted November 24, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted November 24, 2011 I think your just unlucky so far, film Leicas are normally rock solid! Sell them both get an MP Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted November 24, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted November 24, 2011 I've owned my M4 since 1968 and M6 since 1985. The rangefinders never went out of calibration in normal use. Finally a year or so ago I sent the M4 to a reputable Leica tech for CLA, and the rangfinder was off when it was returned. Sent back, no improvement. Finally sent to DAG and it has been spot-on since. Â I've owned a lot of cameras in the last 50 years, and none have been more reliable than my Leicas. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share #12 Â Posted November 24, 2011 I think your just unlucky so far, film Leicas are normally rock solid! Sell them both get an MP Â I'm currently not in a mood to spend more on Leica... But it crossed my mind. Â I just want a camera I can trust. I had to throw away many beautiful rolls because they where hopelessly out of focus. Â It's on one hand comforting to hear that you guys never had any problems with your camera's but on the other hand it makes me wonder about what is wrong with mine... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoferat Posted November 24, 2011 Share #13 Â Posted November 24, 2011 buy a nikon d700 and be done Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter H Posted November 24, 2011 Share #14  Posted November 24, 2011 buy a nikon d700 and be done    By way of contrast:  My D700 had to go back to Nikon when it died after 18 month's use.  None of my M6, M6TTL or M9 have ever needed anything doing to them.  They get a lot of use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share #15  Posted November 24, 2011 buy a nikon d700 and be done  Crossed my mind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joop van Heijgen Posted November 24, 2011 Share #16 Â Posted November 24, 2011 Crossed my mind. Â "It is almost funny and unreal but I had to send the M6 to a technician 3 times! First a CLA because the viewfinder was misaligned, then because the plastic guard (sides of the M) broke and a plastic part got stuck in the mechanics, and lastly again because the viewfinder was off again. I'm very careful with camera's and I almost baby them." Â Not a big problem. A mechanical M Leica needs a good service....In the Netherlands there is at least one excellent repairman who can service the camera... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kemal_mumcu Posted November 24, 2011 Share #17 Â Posted November 24, 2011 My M2 finder's alignment has gone off too several times. I deal with the problem myself. It's not that hard. There is plenty of material on this subject on the internet. You need a small screwdriver set. This way you don't need to send your camera off on a costly journey to the repairman all the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share #18 Â Posted November 24, 2011 My M2 finder's alignment has gone off too several times. I deal with the problem myself. It's not that hard. There is plenty of material on this subject on the internet. You need a small screwdriver set. This way you don't need to send your camera off on a costly journey to the repairman all the time. Â Really? Allot of people say that you should not do this! I have seen several tutorials. Do you have a link for the one you use? Â My viewfinder has been off so many times that I personally think something is wrong in the viewfinder self. Its virtually impossible to get misaligned when I didn't use it that much. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 24, 2011 Share #19 Â Posted November 24, 2011 Are we talking about the vertical or the horizontal alignment? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarriorJazz Posted November 24, 2011 Author Share #20 Â Posted November 24, 2011 Are we talking about the vertical or the horizontal alignment? Â I tested my viewfinder en the infinity was off... so that's... horizontal? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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