Should I send by M8 in for Service??

[bherman01545]

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I just picked up a used M8 at a photo show, serial number 3100617. It was hardly used, and only has 1400 shutter actuations.

 

With that said, according to my research, the serial number falls into the category of one of the early ones which in part exhibited some of the documented anomalies mentioned all over the internet.

 

I am in the process of acquiring a couple of Leica lenses, and thought that before I totally took the plunge, that I call Leica and ask what they thought.

 

I was curious, so I asked them that based on the serial number, has it ever been in for service? They responded 'No'.

 

Obviously, Leica won't readily admit that they had some sort of 'systemic' issue with a particular range of serial numbers, and certainly nothing which would warranty a recall or anything.

 

The person who I spoke with in the NJ-based service dept, said that I could send it in with a note, and the technician can mount a lens and run it through some tests to determine if there was anything to be concerned about.

 

I mentioned this to a well-known and honest Leica dealer, and he said that I should just use it and see if anything crops up. He said that they are in the "service business", and they will almost definitely find something that needs to be adjusted, cleaned, tweaked etc, and want to send me an invoice.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Brad

[urs0polar]

Just use it. It will be obvious if something is wrong. The M8 doesn't have a lot of features, so you will run across it pretty quick if something isn't quite right.

 

If it does need to be sent in, they will probably do a bunch of stuff at once.... sensor cleaning, rangefinder calibration, etc etc. The reason they do a thorough service is that the camera will leave Leica NJ with a year warranty on the service done, so they don't want to have something break right after you get it back.

 

You should pick up a lens first and use the camera. And if you can't tell anything is wrong, it probably isn't. It will be expensive if you send it in, and the wait can be a month or three if they are busy.

[etp095]

What's that old saying"if it ain't broke don't fix it".Just go out,and enjoy your new camera.As stated above,if it develops any problems,then you send her in.

[gbealnz]

Agree with the others Brad, just get a lens and shoot. Try it "higher ISO's" as well, as any banding will be more obvious.

I'm on my second M8, lovely camera, you'll be happy too.

Gary

[jlaw]

first, i would check for the dead pixel, it can be annoying.

[jaapv]

There was an official recall of that series of cameras. Of course Leica would admit it, why not? It was the first thing they did when the high-ISO banding and "beam me up, Scotty"anomaly became apparent.

You asked the wrong question. You asked if it had been in for service. You should ask if it has had its 2006 upgrade. And ask Solms, not New Jersey. Leica USA had nothing to do with the recall, so they would not know, as indicated by the clueless response you got.

If not, I strongly recommend having Leica do the upgrade now. You should ask for a factory pickup too, as that was included in the upgrade.

And who knows, maybe, just maybe you might get the 30% off of a new lens voucher which was offered as compensation for the recall.

[earleygallery]

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I wouldn't buy a s/h digital camera without some sort of warranty, too many things that could go wrong with an expensive item.

 

That said I've not had any problems with the digital cameras I've had (s/h). Agree with the others, just use your camera - obviously sent it for repair if it needs it but otherwise no.

[bherman01545]

There was an official recall of that series of cameras. Of course Leica would admit it, why not? It was the first thing they did when the high-ISO banding and "beam me up, Scotty"anomaly became apparent.

You asked the wrong question. You asked if it had been in for service. You should ask if it has had its 2006 upgrade. And ask Solms, not New Jersey. Leica USA had nothing to do with the recall, so they would not know, as indicated by the clueless response you got.

If not, I strongly recommend having Leica do the upgrade now. You should ask for a factory pickup too, as that was included in the upgrade.

And who knows, maybe, just maybe you might get the 30% off of a new lens voucher which was offered as compensation for the recall.

 

Thanks Jaap. I do have a couple of questions regarding this:

 

1.) Wouldn't I need to prove that my camera was defective or had an issue in the first place?

 

2.) Also, how would I contact Solms, is there a web form to fill out?

 

3.) What is a factory pickup all about?

 

4.) Would just the fact that my camera is an early serial number qualify me for this program?

 

5.) And most importantly, I am not the original owner of this camera. It is registered to someone else. Does this matter?

 

Thanks

 

Brad

[jaapv]

The recall is linked to the first series of cameras.As it was an active recall the number of cameras that were not upgraded must be very small, but you do not have to prove anything. Nor, I would imagine, do you need to be a first owner. You may even be eligible to two free IR filters if the previous owner did not claim them.

The contact details of Solms can be found on the Leica website.

Only Solms can tell you whether the camera was recalled. Leica USA was not involved and has no information on the matter, as borne out by the clueless answer you got.

[bherman01545]

Thanks Jaap;

 

I'll let you know what I find out.

 

Brad

[jaapv]

Well, from my information in Solms the camera was not upgraded there, so Leica NJ should know if the job was done in the US. If not, send it in for an upgrade.

Fyi, Although there are obviously narrow ties, Leica USA is a separate company from Leica Germany.

[Jeff S]

I might be hesitant to use the term 'upgrade', at least not without specificity, as this has another (expensive) connotation regarding the M8.

 

Jeff

[netzspannung]

Hey, try doing this:

 

Download the program PhotoME and look at the Exif info of any DNG shot.

 

There is a parameter called CCD circuit board version. If it is not ver.3, the camera has not been upgraded, if it is - you're a-ok

[jaapv]

Incorrect. the motherboard was not exchanged during the recall. There was a mass connection soldered in to the existing motherboard. See Mark Norton’s “ Anatomy” thread, where the repair is clearly visible. Version 3 dates from 2008 btw.

[bherman01545]

Thanks Jaap. Where is this infamous thread?

 

Brad

[Jeff S]

Thanks Jaap. Where is this infamous thread?

 

The search box is your friend...Anatomy of M8.

 

Jeff

[jaapv]

Sorry, my memory played a trick. Mot a mass connection but a capacitor replaced Another Mark Norton thread:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/27145-what-hardware-recall-all-about.html

[bherman01545]

So, here's the latest from Leica...

 

I sent the camera to Leica NJ last Thursday, 4/19, and they received it on 4/12. I explained that I was NOT the original owner, but Leica Solms (thanks to Jaap for recommending that I take this route), stated that based on my serial number and date of manufacture, that it would be covered, and to contact Leica US for service.

 

The camera didn't really exhibit the banding issue, but it did have a dead or stuck pixel which showed up as a thin, bright blue vertical line. Again, I don't know how sophisticated my testing was.

 

I heard back from Leica Service this afternoon, and as far as I could determine, they are replacing the CCD, LED Display, (the "5" in the 1/500 sec. position had a segment out) and CLA to good working order. I'm not sure what circuit boards that they will be replacing other than the CCD and Viewfinder Display. I think that if it were only a stuck or dead pixel, they would have re-mapped the CCD and not replaced it entirely?

 

I think that they're doing "right" by me, a loyal Leica customer. It should be finished by the end of next week.

 

Brad

[jaapv]

Every sensor has pixels mapped out in the production of the camera. There is a certain percentage that is deemed within tolerance. If a later remapping is needed, Leica will remap up to the tolerance. If the sensor exceeds the tolerance it will be replaced. If they replace the CCD they will replace the motherboard too.

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[bawang]

So, here's the latest from Leica...

 

I sent the camera to Leica NJ last Thursday, 4/19, and they received it on 4/12. I explained that I was NOT the original owner, but Leica Solms (thanks to Jaap for recommending that I take this route), stated that based on my serial number and date of manufacture, that it would be covered, and to contact Leica US for service.

 

The camera didn't really exhibit the banding issue, but it did have a dead or stuck pixel which showed up as a thin, bright blue vertical line. Again, I don't know how sophisticated my testing was.

 

I heard back from Leica Service this afternoon, and as far as I could determine, they are replacing the CCD, LED Display, (the "5" in the 1/500 sec. position had a segment out) and CLA to good working order. I'm not sure what circuit boards that they will be replacing other than the CCD and Viewfinder Display. I think that if it were only a stuck or dead pixel, they would have re-mapped the CCD and not replaced it entirely?

 

I think that they're doing "right" by me, a loyal Leica customer. It should be finished by the end of next week.

 

Brad

 

Hi Brad,

 

I believe mine is also surfing from the banding issues. I will post images when I get back home later. Like you I am the second owner and wondering if I can still get the camera serviced under recall/warranty. I am thinking of writing to Solms.

 

Can you also please share the outcome of the repair?

 

Thanks

 

KZ