Can a Leica survive a fall?

[BarberShop]

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I remember the only time I've really properly dropped a camera was years ago when I had a Nikon D5200, an entry level plastic camera. I dropped it from head height and it bounced around my kitchen floor a few times. But it actually was completely fine afterwards. Worked fine and no noticeable marks. Do you think a Leica (in particular an M10) could survive such a fall unscathed? 

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[earleygallery]

The rangefinder would probably get knocked out of alignment. Other than that, who knows? Try it and report back please 😀

[frame-it]

19 minutes ago, BarberShop said:

I remember the only time I've really properly dropped a camera was years ago when I had a Nikon D5200, an entry level plastic camera. I dropped it from head height and it bounced around my kitchen floor a few times. But it actually was completely fine afterwards. Worked fine and no noticeable marks. Do you think a Leica (in particular an M10) could survive such a fall unscathed? 

https://leicarumors.com/2015/08/18/leica-m9-camera-survives-fall-from-balcony-brakes-pools-granite-tile.aspx/

[BarberShop]

1 hour ago, frame-it said:

https://leicarumors.com/2015/08/18/leica-m9-camera-survives-fall-from-balcony-brakes-pools-granite-tile.aspx/

Wow. Good thing the tile was there to absorb the fall, otherwise the Earth would have been broken in two

[romquest]

I dropped my M240P twice from hip height. Once from a broken strap (thin newfangled steel wire attachment, don't do it!) and once when the camera baseplate was not tightly secured to the arca tripod head. I have seen no noticeable changes to focus, or any other damage aside from a small ding on the edge of the base cover. Lucky, I guess, but it is definitely a brick. I wonder about the aluminum of the M11 black version. Someone with a new M11 let us know

[RexGig0]

Duplicate post accidentally started. Deleted.

Edited February 18, 2022 by RexGig0

[RexGig0]

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I dropped my then-new M10 from almost shoulder height, while stepping into a vehicle. It was wrapped in a thin neoprene wrap, which prevented noticeable exterior damage, but, the LCD displayed a green screen of sickening static. The Leica service center, in Allendale, NJ found that the interior damage was considerable. The camera had landed on its back, on brick pavers. My Summilux-M 50mm ASPH was affixed, which provided more downward inertia. 

Thou shalt NOT drop thy Leica M camera! I firmly recommend the use of a strap, for retention, or using a very-well-padded bag.

Notably, the need for my camera to go to NJ, for a while, for repair, is part of what prompted me to buy a pre-owned M Type 246 Monochrom, that was available at the local Leica dealer. I now really do like to use both cameras.

Edited to add: The very congenial, helpful representative, at the Leica service facility, thanked me for my honest, detailed explanation of what happened. I had to drive to upstate NY, for an unrelated purpose, and decided to stop in Allendale, NJ, on the outward leg of the trip, to personally deliver the camera, and explain the mishap. When the repair was completed, several weeks later, I was relieved to receive a very kind invoice, for the repairs.

Edited February 18, 2022 by RexGig0

[Jeff S]

Leica gear in general is quite resilient, as these stories attest, including a drop at 26,000 feet. 😳

https://gmpphoto.blogspot.com/2017/10/leicas-are-made-to-withstand-more-that.html?m=1

Jeff

[Jeff S]

Jeff

[Adam Bonn]

It’ll be luck of the draw.. much like how folks have fallen from planes, plunged thousands of feet and survived, but others have been killed falling down some steps, or like how some people have survived frenzied hammer attacks, but others have been killed by an errant golf ball

If you drop your camera, maybe its number’s up… maybe not.. best not try to find out methinks

 

[Viv]

Some Leica cameras are more robust than others, those with a rangefinder being among the less robust.

In general, it is best not to subject cameras to falls.

 

[Ouroboros]

19 hours ago, BarberShop said:

I remember the only time I've really properly dropped a camera was years ago when I had a Nikon D5200, an entry level plastic camera. I dropped it from head height and it bounced around my kitchen floor a few times. But it actually was completely fine afterwards. Worked fine and no noticeable marks. Do you think a Leica (in particular an M10) could survive such a fall unscathed? 

Try it and let us know.

[jplomley]

Screw the Leica, I’d be more concerned if I could survive the fall

[mujk]

 

[idusidusi]

On 2/18/2022 at 2:47 PM, BarberShop said:

I remember the only time I've really properly dropped a camera was years ago when I had a Nikon D5200, an entry level plastic camera. I dropped it from head height and it bounced around my kitchen floor a few times. But it actually was completely fine afterwards. Worked fine and no noticeable marks. Do you think a Leica (in particular an M10) could survive such a fall unscathed? 

I presume you don't yet have one to perform 'the test'?

[Mikep996]

I can personally attest that an M camera (M2, specifically) will survive being swung by its strap/smacked into the side of a muggers head/eliminating the planned mugging with no damage to the camera.  But not sure about dropping it.  

[Chriselkjar]

Phil Stern’s M took a bullet in WW2. Camera didn’t survive but Phil did. The camera was strapped to his vest above his heart. 

[derleicaman]

9 hours ago, Chriselkjar said:

Phil Stern’s M took a bullet in WW2. Camera didn’t survive but Phil did. The camera was strapped to his vest above his heart. 

Time travel? The M did not arrive until 1954, with the M3.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Herr Barnack]

From 2014, here is the story of an M240 that survived a motorcycle crash at 55 miles per hour on a gravel road in Alaska:  http://rideearth.net/2016/05/04/leica-m-the-full-review/

I would not have expected the M240 to fare nearly so well. 

Most M cameras will survive most falls, but will probably need to have the rangefinder mechanism realigned afterword, sometimes not.  It's simply a crap shoot.

[BarberShop]

21 hours ago, Herr Barnack said:

From 2014, here is the story of an M240 that survived a motorcycle crash at 55 miles per hour on a gravel road in Alaska:  http://rideearth.net/2016/05/04/leica-m-the-full-review/

I would not have expected the M240 to fare nearly so well. 

Most M cameras will survive most falls, but will probably need to have the rangefinder mechanism realigned afterword, sometimes not.  It's simply a crap shoot.

Wow that is incredible!