Andi_77 Posted September 4, 2013 Share #1 Posted September 4, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello! This is my second post here, and I'd really like to understand better a particular aspect of the M9. I'm about to buy an M9 - my first Leica - and I've noticed many threads about maintenance/servicing, and focusing setup / RF alignment. I also noticed that in classifieds, Leica M cameras are often described as "recently serviced" or similar. I was wondering whether it is normal and usual to have the camera periodically serviced or you simply do it when you notice something is wrong. I know this sounds a bit like a stupid question... I'm simply curious about this aspect and I'm trying to understand the M9 better. Thank you very much for your help, Andrea Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 4, 2013 Posted September 4, 2013 Hi Andi_77, Take a look here M9 servicing/maintenance info. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted September 4, 2013 Share #2 Posted September 4, 2013 It may need to be adjusted or repaired sometimes but not serviced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted September 4, 2013 Share #3 Posted September 4, 2013 Maybe some helpful comments in this thread, most commonly in the vein of "if it ain't broke..." Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikonJeff Posted September 4, 2013 Share #4 Posted September 4, 2013 It may need to be adjusted or repaired sometimes but not serviced. I'm curious about that statement of not needing service? I always send my business cameras in every year to a Nikon service center for a CLA as a rule. Quite often they require absolutely nothing but a cleaning, but have on occasion need adjustment to the focus, shutter speed or metering. I guess if my camera is for personal projects and not being relied on for making money then I could stave off the preventive maintenance. My Leicas are primarily for personal projects now, so I don't think that spending $350 on a CLA by Leica makes a whole lot of sense. In comparison it costs me $175 to do a CLA on my Nikon bodies... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hhmrogers Posted September 4, 2013 Share #5 Posted September 4, 2013 Hello!This is my second post here, and I'd really like to understand better a particular aspect of the M9. .............I also noticed that in classifieds, Leica M cameras are often described as "recently serviced" or similar. I was wondering whether it is normal and usual to have the camera periodically serviced or you simply do it when you notice something is wrong............ Leicas really are pretty robust so I shouldn't worry too much as long as you buy from a reliable source with some sort of warranty. Any camera with mechanical parts does need cleaning, lubricating and adjusting from time to time, just like a mechanical watch. But I've had a IIIg since 1959 which I still use and an early M8 which I've for over 3 years and both are pretty reliable, though I did need to get a dead pixel sorted on the M8. I don't lose much sleep over either and still less over my M-E which is barely a year old. There are detailed descriptions here of things that sometimes go wrong and the likely outcomes, but malfunctions aren't the rule. Those postings are extremely valuable to help troubleshoot if need be but don't take them as warnings not to buy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 4, 2013 Share #6 Posted September 4, 2013 I'm curious about that statement of not needing service? I always send my business cameras in every year to a Nikon service center for a CLA as a rule. Quite often they require absolutely nothing but a cleaning, but have on occasion need adjustment to the focus, shutter speed or metering. I guess if my camera is for personal projects and not being relied on for making money then I could stave off the preventive maintenance. My Leicas are primarily for personal projects now, so I don't think that spending $350 on a CLA by Leica makes a whole lot of sense. In comparison it costs me $175 to do a CLA on my Nikon bodies... There is nothing in there that needs regular maintenance - film Leicas were different. Once every ten years or so. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andi_77 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted September 4, 2013 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you very much to all of you. Even a "LOTS of servicing needed" reply wouldn't stop me from buying it A periodical CLA is absolutely fine and understandable, I've spent most of my "photography years" using mechanical cameras and I'm absolutely OK with that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fgcm Posted September 4, 2013 Share #8 Posted September 4, 2013 Andrea, Consider also that many of us are hobbyists I'm an hobbyist Sometimes we perceive little problems as major issues. Sometimes it's difficult to tell if the problem described into the post is a problem of the camera or a problem of the photographer Maybe this is a possible reason for so many treads about servicing, repair, adjustment...... I my opinion, Leica M and 8 M9 are very reliable. Ciao Franco Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andi_77 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted September 4, 2013 Ciao Franco, thanks a lot! I'm a hobbyist too, and I admit I'm a bit lazy in terms of maintenance... Maybe I've been lucky but my old Contax/Zeiss gear never needed any maintenance, apart from the aperture on my Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 many years ago - fixed in 20 seconds with a Leatherman tool I'm a bit undecided between two grey M9's. One is offered for sale by a well-known store in Milan, with a 1 year warranty. The other one - apparently in the same conditions - is offered by a person who bought it some months ago from another well known store, but I think the warranty on used cameras is not valid if the camera is sold to someone else... Anyway, let's see how the auctions for my Canon gear go, and then I'll decide. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted September 4, 2013 Share #10 Posted September 4, 2013 There is nothing in there that needs regular maintenance - film Leicas were different. Once every ten years or so. Indeed, electronic shutters generally keep time or break. They don't require periodic adjustment in the way a fully mechanical shutter does (OK somebody will tell me I'm wrong on that point I'm sure!). What else would they do to a digital M camera? Clean the sensor? Hoover it out? As long as the shutter works, the rangefinder works, and there's no obvious problems I don't see the point in a service just for the sake of it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted September 4, 2013 Share #11 Posted September 4, 2013 Hello!This is my second post here, and I'd really like to understand better a particular aspect of the M9. I'm about to buy an M9 - my first Leica - and I've noticed many threads about maintenance/servicing, and focusing setup / RF alignment. I also noticed that in classifieds, Leica M cameras are often described as "recently serviced" or similar. I was wondering whether it is normal and usual to have the camera periodically serviced or you simply do it when you notice something is wrong. I know this sounds a bit like a stupid question... I'm simply curious about this aspect and I'm trying to understand the M9 better. Thank you very much for your help, Andrea Andrea, welcome! If you are buying from a Leica dealer, you should have no worries. You will have some form of warranty for a few months. Beyond that, most cameras remain serviceable and only need to go for servicing if a malfunction or rangefinder inaccuracy occurs. With sensible usage, Leica cameras work for a long time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andi_77 Posted September 4, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted September 4, 2013 Great In the meantime my auctions look like they're going to end up well. Who knows, maybe I'll find the resources to buy an extra 18mm... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblutter Posted September 14, 2013 Share #13 Posted September 14, 2013 Good luck getting a clean one with relatively low shutter count - let us know! I'm a 40 year Leica M pro, now dedicated M9 guy. Early on I sent the body & 3 lenses to DAG for near focusing issues, nothing needed since, 3 yr ago. Now tack sharp. Just bought a brand new M-E - which you might want to consider. The M-E is pure Leica simplicity, especially since high ISO issues have been solved for 99% of shooting situations with software. When pushing the ISO limit, be sure to judge your prints, not just massive blow-ups on your monitor which is not real world. Much noise disappears in prints, even large ones and in certain images, is appropriate. Like all digital cameras with removable lenses, the sensor needs cleaning once in a while to avoid tedious retouching. There are good tutorials on youtube - not scary once you've done it successfully once - but do be careful! For shooting accessories keep it simple. I recommend: thumbie, simple screen protector, 1.25 viewfinder magnifier for 50mm+ lenses, Luigi's M-Mate 3 and for some people - a black dot ! Good clean f:2.0 used lenses are fine... even decades old - as are Voightlander (love the 75mm!). Have fun & shoot a lot!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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