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sigh, DMR/repair/No "Leica Pro Service"?


troyfreund

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sigh...so, I've sent an R8 to New Jersey, along with my new DMR to have the camera updated to work appropriately together. 4-5 WEEKS they tell me. Earlier this week, my other R8/DMR has spontaneously decided to go balls up on its ability to auto-expose---I point the camera out the window at ISO400, spot meter and it tells me that it is "LO." geesh. It's 9 a.m. on a sunny Thursday morning. So, I've now got two rigs not functioning as they ought to.

 

I've been freelancing full-time for over 6 years and while I was shooting Nikon, I think I sent my camera in once. Now, my first R8/DMR has been in three times in the year-and-a-half I've had it (1st-update the R8, 2nd-replace the R8 shutter, 3rd-replace the function dial on the DMR). Now, that same rig needs to go in for a metering issue. Appears I must have a crap R8.

 

I'm trying to make a living as a freelancer, with Leica cameras. I can't imagine going back to Nikon or to Canon. Leica really need to come up with a Professional Service for its pro users. I just can't be without a properly functioning camera for a month. I've got a camera I can use on Manual, yes, but no auto-exposure. dangitall.

 

OK, I"m done ranting for now, back to waiting,

Troy

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Nope, nothing else connected. In comparing my M6TTL's meter to the R8/DMR, the M6 was coming out with an exposure pretty different from the R8's. The R8 would give me an 1/8th of a second where the M6 would give me 1/30th. I know the M6's meter is good, just the R8/DMR that's spazzing out.

T

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Well, one, I hear ya about Pro Service. I had NPS membership in my Nikon days and knew the name of the guy (Ron?) to talk to in NY, and it was pretty slick.

 

The closest you can get right now in Leicadom is to REALLY get to know your regional Leica rep(s) - they can often do a little expediting with Allendale via the back door. Although with the volume of work right now (lens codings, M8 upgrades, etc.) things still might be a bit slow.

 

I've built up a relationship over 4-5 years with the ones for the Mountain States (same ones who Guy works with in Phoenix - wife/husband team) - giving them sample prints of my Leica work and such all the way back to the Digilux 2, and they will go to the mat for me in emergencies.

 

Short of being a member of Magnum or ICP, that's your best bet to getting "Pro" service. And it doesn't hurt to keep them up-to-date on what you're spending...

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Troy - Leica DOES have Pro service but you have to apply for it. You can ask New Jersey to send you the appropriate forms, I don't recall the lady's name but I will try to look it up in my contacts roster.

 

Cheers,

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hey ho, what do, you expect ? I had an R8- worse thanuseless- it wasn't reliable, and i ended up using my R7- sold the R8; Now I am down to the M6, and digilux 2- at least they both work, as advertised; but I have returned to my Nikopns for work, because they WORK, all the time. sad but true.

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sigh...so, I've sent an R8 to New Jersey, along with my new DMR to have the camera updated to work appropriately together. 4-5 WEEKS they tell me. Earlier this week, my other R8/DMR has spontaneously decided to go balls up on its ability to auto-expose---I point the camera out the window at ISO400, spot meter and it tells me that it is "LO." geesh. It's 9 a.m. on a sunny Thursday morning. So, I've now got two rigs not functioning as they ought to.

 

I've been freelancing full-time for over 6 years and while I was shooting Nikon, I think I sent my camera in once. Now, my first R8/DMR has been in three times in the year-and-a-half I've had it (1st-update the R8, 2nd-replace the R8 shutter, 3rd-replace the function dial on the DMR). Now, that same rig needs to go in for a metering issue. Appears I must have a crap R8.

 

I'm trying to make a living as a freelancer, with Leica cameras. I can't imagine going back to Nikon or to Canon. Leica really need to come up with a Professional Service for its pro users. I just can't be without a properly functioning camera for a month. I've got a camera I can use on Manual, yes, but no auto-exposure. dangitall.

 

OK, I"m done ranting for now, back to waiting,

Troy

 

Troy:

 

Try Kindermann Canada for yout metering problems. I had the meter cells in my R9 go down and Kindermann fixed it in two days. They are a Leica service agent and have all the sepcialized tools and spare parts for the R8/R9.

 

Robert

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Thanks guys, I just got off the phone with Kindermann and they do seem awful friendly. Hopefully they'll be able to get this R8 turned around right quick.

 

Conrad, if you do find that contact name, I sure would appreciate you dropping me an email with it.

Thanks again, gang, for your support and thoughtfulness,

Troy

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Guest guy_mancuso
Well, one, I hear ya about Pro Service. I had NPS membership in my Nikon days and knew the name of the guy (Ron?) to talk to in NY, and it was pretty slick.

 

The closest you can get right now in Leicadom is to REALLY get to know your regional Leica rep(s) - they can often do a little expediting with Allendale via the back door. Although with the volume of work right now (lens codings, M8 upgrades, etc.) things still might be a bit slow.

 

I've built up a relationship over 4-5 years with the ones for the Mountain States (same ones who Guy works with in Phoenix - wife/husband team) - giving them sample prints of my Leica work and such all the way back to the Digilux 2, and they will go to the mat for me in emergencies.

 

Short of being a member of Magnum or ICP, that's your best bet to getting "Pro" service. And it doesn't hurt to keep them up-to-date on what you're spending...

 

 

Andy pretty much hit the nail on the head . you want Pro service get to know your reps and your Leica dealers. There is nothing official about Pro service than what Andy just said and please take his word for it, it does work.

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Troy - I will send you the original application forms from New Jersey, I have them on my hard drive. This being said, Robert is absolutely right about Kindermann, I guess because you live in the USA I did not think to suggest them.

 

Cheers,

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