I Love this camera- but is it too fragile?

[prk60091]

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There are several different threads in this forum relating to what used to be called "impact damage". Is this camera "more fragile" than others ? or am I just experiencing the problem of reading too many threads and a few of the threads are about significant damage to the camera?

 

To those reading who have used M's is this kind of damage unusual for a Leica? or am I reading too many threads.

 

I just called my insurance agent.... and asked him point blank about accidental damage to my camera.  He had previously said- it was not covered.  Now he called the underwriter and was able to place accidental damage (all risk coverage) on the camera.... it cost me a few bucks.  but i now feel much better about carrying it around.

 

 

[ricky1981]

You are reading too many threads but if you drop a camera on to something hard and it works perfectly afterwards then you should always consider yourself very lucky. Even if the camera seems fine you'll do some cosmetic damage that may or may not bother you and will certainly affect its value if you ever sell/trade it.

 

Personally, I don't worry about it too much, I try to look after my gear and use straps, bags, etc but cameras are meant to be used and insurance is there for when things go wrong. Insurance might not be cheap but if you have decent equipment then it's a necessity in my mind as accidents/thefts/etc happen.

[Dr. No]

you are reading too much. a Leica isn`t fragile.

 

OLAF

[MickyW]

I read that drinking wasn't good for me ... but I soon solved the problem!

 

I stopped reading 

 

Accidents happen, take precautions, be careful, stay lucky 

[earleygallery]

I don't think that the Q is made to be especially rugged, so if you drop it there's a chance that it might break, just like any similar camera. 

 

If you buy one, just try not to drop it, and you should be fine. 

[jaapv]

There are several different threads in this forum relating to what used to be called "impact damage". Is this camera "more fragile" than others ? or am I just experiencing the problem of reading too many threads and a few of the threads are about significant damage to the camera?

 

To those reading who have used M's is this kind of damage unusual for a Leica? or am I reading too many threads.

 

I just called my insurance agent.... and asked him point blank about accidental damage to my camera.  He had previously said- it was not covered.  Now he called the underwriter and was able to place accidental damage (all risk coverage) on the camera.... it cost me a few bucks.  but i now feel much better about carrying it around.

I think it is just that this camera tends to be used as a go-anywhere camera that people carry with them all the time. Obviously that will attract more bangs and bruises than cameras that get taken out for a specific shoot suffer.

[nryn]

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I'm just wrapping up a trip to SE Asia with my father (he is 75 years young, our first trip together), my Q (and my M). The Q is probably the best camera I have traveled with, and I have traveled with quite a few. I take care of but don't baby my cameras, I use them (nothing annoys me more than the "jewelry" approach that the current Leica crowd is known for). 

 

A corner of my Q's lens hood got a little scraped up in a tuk tuk in Laos but that's about it. I didn't treat it any differently than any other camera I have taken with me in the past and it fared better, even when thrown hastily into an unpadded shoulder bag for use wandering cities at night.  The top plate of my M got scratched when trying to rescue a hat that fell over a concrete wall. I consider both cameras nicely worn in now and ready for many years of service (though to be fair I've had my M.240 since it came out and it was already nicely used).

 

My dad's (Olympus) cameras, however, did not fare as well. In Vietnam, one of his zoom lenses fell off his camera and will undoubtedly have to be replaced (it will be his third replacement). One of his bodies also suffered some more-than-cosmetic damage in Thailand but should be fixable. 

 

Leicas are made like tanks. The best ones look like tanks that have seen battle. Still, you can't drive a tank off a cliff.

[@McLeica]

Toughness of build on the Leicas I've had is first rate. Regardless of cosmetic damage, I've never had one not work after I've dropped it.

 

The only fragility in my experience is the alignment of the rangefinder on the M's after a drop.

 

The Q has been bumped, knocked etc.. and I've not had any problems at all {touch wood} 

[mike_j]

Painted metal is more likely to show minor impact damage and scratches than polycarbonate so in a sense the  Q is more fragile than some of its metal chassis, polycarbonate skinned, competitors. There probably isn't much difference in the risk of internal damage though. If you want something to drop on a rock or into a puddle the Olympus Tough is a good bet.

[viramati]

Well this one seemed to survive 

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/249216-what-not-to-do-with-a-leica-q/

I've had mine since that day it was launched and it has had almost daily use and so far so good. On the other hand I am not going to test it's strength by dropping it!!! Personally I don't think it would fare any worse or better than other cameras of it's type if dropped. What I would have liked is for it to have been fully weatherproof.

Hey but Nikon's can save your life Don McCullin's Nikon F