Jump to content

My S just died


djmay

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Reading this forum seems to be bad luck. Midway through my daughter's wedding and three days before my trip to Iceland, 30% percent of the image is dark band, always in the same region. Any information out here for a solution? I bought it second hand with 2 years warranty remaining. This means a replacement worldwide?

 

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

Rather a repair. But yes, Leica's factory guaranty is worldwide and applies to second and subsequent owners as well. Contact Wetzlar by phone and explain your predicament.

Link to post
Share on other sites

I called Wetzlar. They do not know if they or Leica USA can get me a replacement since I am traveling. The tragedy is that this trip is the reason I bought the S and 3 lenses. My daughter's wedding botched and next stop Iceland, hopefully can be salvaged. I left the large format gear at home, which I normally travel with.

 

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-850L using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

If you have the Protection Plan (including loaner provision), I would hope that Leica would work hard on your behalf to find a solution.  I would push them hard if that's the case.  They (or you) should also work with dealers near your destinations.  Good luck.

 

Lesson...always carry back-up (in any case, but especially when S issues are not new here).

 

Jeff

Link to post
Share on other sites

I know that others have had Leica overnight a body to a hotel where they were staying ... but always helps to have a dealer intercede on your behalf.

 

Bob

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If you have the Protection Plan (including loaner provision), I would hope that Leica would work hard on your behalf to find a solution. I would push them hard if that's the case. They (or you) should also work with dealers near your destinations. Good luck.

 

Lesson...always carry back-up (in any case, but especially when S issues are not new here).

 

Jeff

My backup is an M9. If you are suggesting that the S is so unreliable that one must assume it will fail, that is different from other brands I know. Instead of the S saving Leica, it could doom Leica. I have traveled the world with various large format cameras with not one technical failure. The M9 is not a suitable substitute.

 

Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

Interesting topic ... backups ... mine is my memory and imagination ... but I do not film weddings or events.

 

I wonder if an SL with S adapter would allow you to keep shooting and deliver decent 8x10s in the event of a S event.

 

I know your discomfort ... my S 006 is dealer bound as I found a sensor cover defect ... showed up spontaneously some

23 seconds after a series of perfect pictures. Looks like a furrow in the cover ... but happened not while cleaning.

 

May be the S swan song for me....

 

 

Bob

Link to post
Share on other sites

Reading this forum seems to be bad luck. Midway through my daughter's wedding and three days before my trip to Iceland, 30% percent of the image is dark band, always in the same region. Any information out here for a solution? I bought it second hand with 2 years warranty remaining. This means a replacement worldwide?

 

Sent from my GT-I9195 using Tapatalk

 

If you bought the camera second hand and had a protection plan transferred or you purchased your own then you may be able to get a loaner and you would have priority for servicing. I don't think that there is any automatic replacement arrangement otherwise though.

regarding your reported fault, can you detail the setup? Was this with flash? If the lens you are using a Central Shutter version? What shutter speed did you see the error happen at? Or is this problem now always present with or without flash and at any shutter speed?

Link to post
Share on other sites

 If you are suggesting that the S is so unreliable that one must assume it will fail, that is different from other brands I know. Instead of the S saving Leica, it could doom Leica. I have traveled the world with various large format cameras with not one technical failure. 

 

The whole theory behind having a back-up is the assumption that something may fail.  That certainly doesn't mean that anyone is doomed....only prepared.....especially for a wedding or for an important and distant trip.  Digital is not film.....any digital camera is now a computer, not a holder for film.

 

Lots of people have no issues with the S system, but a review of the S forum will provide information that might be useful for making your own judgments about certain reliability issues.  And other parts of the forum will provide lots of other useful information about traveling in the digital age....not just camera back-up, but file storage and back-up, etc, etc.

 

Jeff

Link to post
Share on other sites

The S series (cameras & lenses) does seem to have more issues per user (or less users per issue) than other camera systems, including other Leicas. I hope, for all of your sakes, that Leica is paying attention to the counts at their repair facilities.

Link to post
Share on other sites

If you bought the camera second hand and had a protection plan transferred or you purchased your own then you may be able to get a loaner and you would have priority for servicing. I don't think that there is any automatic replacement arrangement otherwise though.

regarding your reported fault, can you detail the setup? Was this with flash? If the lens you are using a Central Shutter version? What shutter speed did you see the error happen at? Or is this problem now always present with or without flash and at any shutter speed?

There was nothing out of ordinary. Outside, shutter about 1/500. Focal plane shutter. The CF card seems to be corrupted also. Even if I had a second body it would not help that. Leica is working on a replacement, but the logistics are proving a challenge because of time zones and internaional travel. My understanding is that the 3-year plan transferred with the secondhand purchase. Leica is checking the serial number.

 

Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

The whole theory behind having a back-up is the assumption that something may fail. That certainly doesn't mean that anyone is doomed....only prepared.....especially for a wedding or for an important and distant trip. Digital is not film.....any digital camera is now a computer, not a holder for film.

 

Lots of people have no issues with the S system, but a review of the S forum will provide information that might be useful for making your own judgments about certain reliability issues. And other parts of the forum will provide lots of other useful information about traveling in the digital age....not just camera back-up, but file storage and back-up, etc, etc.

 

Jeff

Jeff, I know you mean well. I make backups of data, but that doesn't help when the data are corrupted in the camera, as in this case. Also the assumption of needing a second body as standby argues against selecting this system. I do not travel with duplicate computers for other purposes. As I mentioned, having an M9 with me is not a real backup, nor would an SL with adaptor. The sensor size was a big motivator for me. One could easily travel with multiple M / SL for the cost of the S system.

The S series (cameras & lenses) does seem to have more issues per user (or less users per issue) than other camera systems, including other Leicas. I hope, for all of your sakes, that Leica is paying attention to the counts at their repair facilities.

 

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-850L using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

Back-ups are back-ups....people have different notions of what that means, as the dozens of threads on the forum will attest.  One needs to make that decision IMO as part of the purchase of any digital camera system, if the loss of images is critical.  

 

Some folks here, pros especially, have a second S body for that purpose.  A used S2, or even S006, can now be purchased for much less than a new SL or an M.   No different than having an M8 to back up an M240 or such....doesn't need to break the bank to get an older generation complementary body.  An M9 isn't exactly a slouch of a camera to back up an S either....beats no pics at all....but that's a personal decision.

 

Jeff

Link to post
Share on other sites

could luck! I hope Leica understand your situation and will help you quick with a loaner!

The latest status is that Leica tried, but could not find a S 006 in stock that they could get to me. Naturally, I am very disappointed with the results. It seems Leica cannot support you if you do not stay in one place. The customer support person seemed to try hard but the support system is not sufficient for a traveling photographer. I must be unique.

If you have the Protection Plan (including loaner provision), I would hope that Leica would work hard on your behalf to find a solution. I would push them hard if that's the case. They (or you) should also work with dealers near your destinations. Good luck.

 

Lesson...always carry back-up (in any case, but especially when S issues are not new here).

 

Jeff

Interesting topic ... backups ... mine is my memory and imagination ... but I do not film weddings or events.

 

I wonder if an SL with S adapter would allow you to keep shooting and deliver decent 8x10s in the event of a S event.

 

I know your discomfort ... my S 006 is dealer bound as I found a sensor cover defect ... showed up spontaneously some

23 seconds after a series of perfect pictures. Looks like a furrow in the cover ... but happened not while cleaning.

 

May be the S swan song for me....

 

 

Bob

 

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-850L using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

Bummer.  Did you contact any dealers directly?  In the US there are various dealers with used S006/S2 inventory, and I suspect that at least one of them might try to help out in a similar situation.   No European dealers you could contact?

 

Jeff

Link to post
Share on other sites

Bummer. Did you contact any dealers directly? In the US there are various dealers with used S006/S2 inventory, and I suspect that at least one of them might try to help out in a similar situation. No European dealers you could contact?

 

Jeff

Leica Wetzlar said they could not get a camera to Iceland in time because of customs process. They left it to Leica USA to find me a camera before I left the US. Strangely, Leica USA was surprised that they should take care of it.

 

Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

Link to post
Share on other sites

Leica Wetzlar said they could not get a camera to Iceland in time because of customs process. They left it to Leica USA to find me a camera before I left the US. Strangely, Leica USA was surprised that they should take care of it.

 

Sent from my GT-I8190 using Tapatalk

 

That's why I asked if you instead tried to contact a dealer on your own.  I know of several that would have been sympathetic and might have been able to help...especially if you have the Protection plan.

 

Jeff

Link to post
Share on other sites

The S series (cameras & lenses) does seem to have more issues per user (or less users per issue) than other camera systems, including other Leicas. I hope, for all of your sakes, that Leica is paying attention to the counts at their repair facilities.

 

where did you get such numbers from?

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...