Can a Leica survive a fall?

[D Fuller]

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Earlier this winter, I slipped on some ice and fell on my M10p hard enough to crack a rib and chip the lens cap of the Voigtlander 28mm that was mounted on it. The camera shows no I’ll effects at all. Even the rangefinder is still spot on.

[Adam Bonn]

There's survive a fall and be repairable from a fall, from the link in Herr Barnack's post

Quote

Once back in San Francisco the camera started showing some more issues — particularly with the shutter — so I took it to Leica which fixed it up

It's great that it was repairable, in fact that's probably one area where Leica scores by being expensive it is economically viable to repair it (in that a load of cash to fix it is better than a shit load of cash to replace it), but there's a big difference between survive unscathed and survive with professional repair

[colint544]

I dropped my M9M twice, onto asphalt pavements. Both incidents were strap related. Sometimes I think straps are more trouble than they're worth.

First drop knocked the rangefinder out of alignment and put a dent on the corner of the  baseplate. Otherwise the camera was fine. It went back to Wetzlar, and they not only re-aligned the rangefinder, but replaced the sensor and serviced the camera. Didn't cost me a penny, not even for postage. I take my hat off to Leica for that.

Second drop, the camera was fitted with the 50 Summilux ASPH black chrome. The brass hood was on, but mounted backwards, with the plastic lens cap on. The hood deformed very slightly, so must have taken the brunt. Camera was fine, rangefinder still accurate.

All in, they seem pretty tough cameras, Leica M rangefinders. 

[Dennis]

I dropped my M10 once, from the car back-seat to the ground. Lucky enough was not asphalt but just dirt. Everything was fine.

But I'm suffering when I see something like this, lol

(Sony, from last winter olympics)

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[shanefking]

6 hours ago, Dennis said:

I dropped my M10 once, from the car back-seat to the ground. Lucky enough was not asphalt but just dirt. Everything was fine.

But I'm suffering when I see something like this, lol

(Sony, from last winter olympics)

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The agony of defeat

[farnz]

On 2/24/2022 at 11:49 PM, shanefking said:

The agony of defeat

... but the video footage shot from the camera won a prize. 

Pete.

[Lax Jought]

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I was climbing up a boulder to get the shots below.  My M10 was in the Leica holster, but as I discovered, those holsters are not very sturdy or reliable.  My M10 fell out of the holster, landed on the boulder and bounced a couple of times until it hit in the ground.

The M10 suffered some scratches and tiny dents, and the RF was immediately out of alignment.  I could still focus via LV though.

I sent it in to an authorised Leica technician in my state who gave it a full service.  The camera has performed perfectly since then. 

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[wildjazz23]

spring 2021 I was assaulted by an insane man on the street who pushed me over from behind as i was biking at a slow speed. i had a Q around my body and 

had no time to react and all of a sudden i was flying in the air towards the sidewalk.. the camera itself has a very small scratch on the lens hood (glass was fine)  and a small

ding on the body but works fine otherwise. i was basically ok too! could have been way worse. 

[Siriusone59]

29 minutes ago, wildjazz23 said:

spring 2021 I was assaulted by an insane man on the street who pushed me over from behind as i was biking at a slow speed. i had a Q around my body and 

had no time to react and all of a sudden i was flying in the air towards the sidewalk.. the camera itself has a very small scratch on the lens hood (glass was fine)  and a small

ding on the body but works fine otherwise. i was basically ok too! could have been way worse. 

Glad to hear that you and your camera weren't seriously injured.  Some people are nuts these days, must be something in the water...

[wildjazz23]

1 hour ago, Siriusone59 said:

Glad to hear that you and your camera weren't seriously injured.  Some people are nuts these days, must be something in the water...

I didn't even notice the ding for almost 9 months. 

[LeicaS2]

I have had seven M’s over the years. Two drops. Both with an M8. First fall was stepping accidentally onto a slippery springy swimming pool cover in the dark. I flipped over and the camera was slammed at the end of its shoulder strap hard into the pool edge. The camera was in a Fogg camera pouch. There was zero damage to the body or compact 28mm Summarit.. The rangefinder was still aligned. There was a scuff on the bag. I had an almost separated shoulder which had struck the pool edge as I fell. I weighed down the pool cover Enough that my butt was dipped into the cold pool water. But I couldn’t get out or even turn over as I was on my back like a turtle on the slippery material. The camera and bag were on the ledge of the pool. My friend used the strap to reach me and haul me to the edge of the pool and then get me out. I recall being relieved the camera never got wet. I consider Fogg articles fantastic protection. Unfortunately they don’t make a bag big enough to fit me.

The second drop was in a parking lot when a Leica strap released. No nicks, but the rangefinder patch went out of alignment vertically so I could still focus. Had the camera been in the pouch it would have maintained alignment I believe.

I no longer use any bag when shooting with an M, but I have much upgraded Harry Benz straps, and choose to no longer fall into pools.

Jack

[wildjazz23]

21 minutes ago, LeicaS2 said:

I have had seven M’s over the years. Two drops. Both with an M8. First fall was stepping accidentally onto a slippery springy swimming pool cover in the dark. I flipped over and the camera was slammed at the end of its shoulder strap hard into the pool edge. The camera was in a Fogg camera pouch. There was zero damage to the body or compact 28mm Summarit.. The rangefinder was still aligned. There was a scuff on the bag. I had an almost separated shoulder which had struck the pool edge as I fell. I weighed down the pool cover Enough that my butt was dipped into the cold pool water. But I couldn’t get out or even turn over as I was on my back like a turtle on the slippery material. The camera and bag were on the ledge of the pool. My friend used the strap to reach me and haul me to the edge of the pool and then get me out. I recall being relieved the camera never got wet. I consider Fogg articles fantastic protection. Unfortunately they don’t make a bag big enough to fit me.

The second drop was in a parking lot when a Leica strap released. No nicks, but the rangefinder patch went out of alignment vertically so I could still focus. Had the camera been in the pouch it would have maintained alignment I believe.

I no longer use any bag when shooting with an M, but I have much upgraded Harry Benz straps, and choose to no longer fall into pools.

Jack

@LeicaS2 what was the strap that broke? 

Edited February 27, 2022 by wildjazz23

[LeicaS2]

22 hours ago, wildjazz23 said:

@LeicaS2 what was the strap that broke? 

The strap didn’t break so much as unbuckle. It was the then standard Leica M strap that could be slip buckled to adjust length. It suddenly got a lot longer. If I had been paying attention I was avoidable. Harry Benz straps are custom made to a given length so that can’t happen again.

[Alberti]

My M2 was checked in 1984 for bayonet alignment: it was off on one side 2-5 microns, they found. So the house was compressed. Due to the camera landing on the lens.

Normally no effect with 50mm. But indeed with F3.4 21mm, I thought I saw it but seeing the film I used at that time it might have been less than film thickness. In digital, it is immediately visible of course.

[Alberti]

On 2/28/2022 at 12:25 AM, LeicaS2 said:

Unfortunately they don’t make a bag big enough to fit me.

Jack

No body bag for me 😲

[84bravo]

I got hit by a player while covering a college basketball game last night. My M8.2 took a pretty hard hit bending the lens hood and knocking off the thumbie. Everything still works fine, except for my back. I'm completely immobile today.

 

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[BarberShop]

On 2/18/2022 at 1:53 PM, earleygallery said:

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

OK so I actually managed to "try" it so I can report back 😩

I had both my 262 and M10 on a double sided tripod plate, on a tripod in high wind. I had to move away from it momentarily, and in that moment, the tripod toppled over backwards, slamming both cameras on to the gravel from a height of almost 6 feet!

Both cameras suffered scuffs to the eyepiece and the bevelled edge around the screen, but the screen itself was fine. The M10 has a slight dent in the top plate as well but still works fine, although is possibly very slightly out of vertical alignment. Unfortunately the 262 is screwed. The shutter won't open, although the menu and playback work fine. Also the RF alignment is completely out of whack. I'm guessing the 262 took the brunt of the fall. 

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Edited March 3, 2022 by BarberShop

[David Gao]

Dropped M10R weeks ago, the gyroscope inside might be damaged, the photos were upside down till now. 

[stephan54]

Managed to fall three times within 6 months due to my ankle that gave way. I used to carry my M10 with Summilux 50asph cross body so when I fell I hit the ground first and then heard this crashing sound. Two times during the holidays so I was glad that I still had  a working LV and an 28 lens. Leica repaired the camera each time and the insurance covered most of the cost. Now I keep the camera in a Fogg Soprano and falling down has stopped.

Edited March 6, 2022 by stephan54

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