huckles Posted February 20, 2014 Share #1 Posted February 20, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) My M has been in my hands all of say, 2 and a half months since it last had to go back to Solms for a 6 bit issue with the body and the Noctilux. Their premiere line up no less!... Now after only shooting it recently again, there is another problem. Seemingly a dead shutter. The camera takes an image, but the screen is blank. It records exif data but nothing else. Shaking it 'sometimes' brings it back to life for a shot, but then it is dead again. No changing of batteries, resets e.t.c fix this. I am dumbfounded at this as the last time this went away (just before Christmas 13) it took 2 and a half months to get back to me. Given that I am a professional wedding photographer, I find this abhorrent. I have written an email to Leica Australia concerning this, last time, they assured me they would do everything in their power to get the camera and Noct back to me as soon as possible. That power apparently = 2 and a half months. When it works, it works beautifully... but seriously when it goes down it is one of the worst manufactuers process to get it resolved (due to the nature of the cam and the location of Leica HQ). Has anyone had similar 'bad luck'? I have been told it is only me that this has happened to, but surely not... Will update on this post when I get more information. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 Hi huckles, Take a look here Either I'm one of the unluckiest Leica owner or seriously their QA is dreadful!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
MarkP Posted February 20, 2014 Share #2 Posted February 20, 2014 I've sent you a pm. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huckles Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted February 20, 2014 Just replied. Thanks, V Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huckles Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted February 20, 2014 Given that only Solms are apparently allowed to look at the M240's it's definatly got to go back. I have had the camera away for repairs for longer than I have owned it... lovely. 3rd times a charm right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 20, 2014 Share #5 Posted February 20, 2014 If it sometimes works, almost certainly down to a loose connection or, more specifically, a flex print not properly clamped in its connector. No consolation for you I know and it is a problem when it is so difficult to return the camera, less to do with distance than bone-headed customs. Incidents such as this and the time taken to resolve them do make me question sometimes whether Leica is serious about being in the camera business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted February 20, 2014 Share #6 Posted February 20, 2014 My M has been in my hands all of say, 2 and a half months since it last had to go back to Solms. Sorry to hear that I had a due M9 once that needed to go back 3 times. When it was finally perfect I sold it as I didn't want it anymore and bought another one .... No idea about Australia but Leica London would work to get a hire camera whilst being repaired. They lent me a lens recently when I had to have one repaired out of warranty. However I have had 3 M9s, 2 M8s and 1 M240 and apart from that one all were faultless (except for one vertical alignment adjustment needed when bought 2nd hand). Best of luck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted February 20, 2014 Share #7 Posted February 20, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Really sorry. No stories like that to share as my two keep on trucking and have never missed a beat ...(so far!). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted February 20, 2014 Share #8 Posted February 20, 2014 No such issue for me. Only lockups continue to perturb occasionally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huckles Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted February 20, 2014 I only had the 6 bit coding issue on the Noctilux 095 until today. No freezes, good startup times. great colour.... but now... dead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted February 20, 2014 Share #10 Posted February 20, 2014 I would push for a replacement while another re[air underway or just push for another new camera. At CS in Wetzlar (they just moved to the new building I was told by an employee), there is an individual who takes special care of pros such as yourself. If you need the name PM me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huckles Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted February 20, 2014 Thanks, I have made contact with a Leica Australia representative, will discuss in the morning. I really am at wits end. I love Leica when it's good, but absolute hate it when it's bad... as do we all.... cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jip Posted February 20, 2014 Share #12 Posted February 20, 2014 I've had NO problems with ANY of my Leica's EVER, apart from a lever that stopped working on my M9-P but that was probably due to the way I used the camera... roughly... maybe even. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted February 20, 2014 Share #13 Posted February 20, 2014 I think you're a little bit unlucky and I also think Leica's QC is dreadful. We only hear about the problems of course, not the majority of fault free products they send out, but given their reputation, and the fact that they put much emphasis on the hand finished nature of their products, the number of instances reported here is too many. To add insult to injury they send out faulty items with little hand signed cards telling the new owner that their item has been personally inspected! I think you're brave using M's for weddings. Your work is excellent though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huckles Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted February 20, 2014 For those without any problems with their babies, I'm sure you don't and all the best wishes to you and touch wood. There are those that apparently have been cursed by the little red dot. With each and every problem, confidence gets lower and lower. I'm not an enthusiast who can sit on the sideline whilst this again gets repaired either.. as a pro tool, the equipment needs to be much more stable and the support service when it goes down needs a much better and streamlined process. Nikon and Canon bend over backwards for their membership. Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but this product isn't an x-vario or a rebadged panasonic is it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
huckles Posted February 20, 2014 Author Share #15 Posted February 20, 2014 I wouldn't be silly enough to use the M's exclusively for Weddings. I have D4 and D800 as backups. But still, very jaded at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zlatkob Posted February 20, 2014 Share #16 Posted February 20, 2014 Check out the "Days per Repair" chart in the section titled "Turnaround Times" in this report - LensRentals.com - Lensrentals Repair Data: 2012-2013 It charts repair times for lenses only (and in the USA only), but it's interesting to see how repair times vary among manufacturers. Anyway, good luck! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronaldh Posted February 20, 2014 Share #17 Posted February 20, 2014 "My M has been in my hands all of say, 2 and a half months since it last had to go back to Solms for a 6 bit issue with the body and the Noctilux. Their premiere line up no less!..." I had this issue too - first sent the body back and then the lens; and not only this issue. But when it works, and it mostly does, it's a wonderful camera! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
satijntje Posted February 20, 2014 Share #18 Posted February 20, 2014 since 2009 I have owned 2 M8's, an M8.2, 3 M9's an MM and 3 M240 cameras with a bunch of M and R lenses. The only problem I had in these 5 years were 3 lock-ups in total, two events with 2 different M240's, and one time with the M9. For the rest all works fine in my 5 years experience with Leica, and I hope to continue the next 5 coming years like this:D John uppps forgot one failure on a M8 that didn't wanted to read&write from the SD card. Solms reloaded the FW and it worked again...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted February 20, 2014 Share #19 Posted February 20, 2014 Mine works perfectly. I had to have it repaired when I dropped it and that meant the inevitable delays with the long trek to Germany and return. Those delays are frustrating. I'm glad to read your report that Leica Camera Australia are doing their best to assist you (as they did for me too). All of my Leica M system bodies (M7, M8, M9, M) have always behaved well for me and a loaned Nocti worked perfectly for me with the new M too. Good luck and hang in there. It's smart if not essential to have backups for any professional application with any camera system. The M does offer some unique qualities. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozkar Posted February 20, 2014 Share #20 Posted February 20, 2014 Either I'm one of the unluckiest Leica owner or seriously their QA is dreadful! Based on my experience, it's the latter! Anyway, under Australian consumer law you are entitled to a replacement or refund given that your "professional" camera has experienced a major fault/failure and is not able to be repaired within a reasonable timeframe. 10 weeks is not a reasonable timeframe for a product intended for professional use, particularly since this is the second instance that it has required repairs. http://www.consumerlaw.gov.au/content/fact_sheets/_downloads/consumer_shopping_20120111.PDF Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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