Newly acquired M246 / soft leatherette?!

[bdolzani]

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I received my Ex. cond 246 yesterday, and took about 20 shots with it around the house. Mint condition, didn't look like it was even touched (however I wish I took a photo of it right out of the box).

A few hours later I was almost in tears as I noticed the ding that my fingers, perhaps, left in the (much softer than the 240) leatherette.

Anyone else find this to be an issue? I don't remember anything knocking into it. I'm retracing my every move in my head trying to figure out what happened...

Cosmetic only obviously, but kinda of a bummer! I know it happens to the best of us...you make your mark...

 

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[bdolzani]

Demonstrating my technique :-). It could've been a nervous digging in of my fingers...? This was pre-discovery. 

On a better note, I'm thoroughly impressed with the ISO. This is 3200, 1/30th, f3.5. 

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Edited June 1 by bdolzani

[lmans]

I hear you..... I have a nice 246 too...but someplace along the line the shutter got scratched near the 4000 (see photo)....   Bugs me.... I guess I can have it replaced but then again, these cameras are meant to shoot and not worry over. Same in your case....replace or live with. Great camera otherwise, eh? jim

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Edited July 31 by lmans

[rpsawin]

The good news is you no longer have to fret about the camera being cosmetically perfect. Now, relax/take some photos/enjoy the camera.

[pgh]

Both of these cameras look better now. 

[Ouroboros]

Not sure how your fingers could cause a hole like that with normal handling unless you have false nails.   Never mind, time heals.

My wife managed to put a small ding in the top plate of my M10-R bp when it was two months old. I still love her.  I quite like the little ding too, it's a reminder of a night of passion during our cycling tour in Sri Lanka in February! 

[Olaf_ZG]

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1 hour ago, Ouroboros said:

I quite like the little ding too, it's a reminder of a night of passion during our cycling tour in Sri Lanka in February! 

Details are always welcome 😇

[jonnyboy]

Doubt you could cause that with a finger...the leatherette on the M246 is soft but not that soft!

Anyway, if you use the camera, there will be plenty of other marks on the body - and it will become more personal to you! Enjoy the camera

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Herr Barnack]

At this point we can't tell what caused the ding, but I have serious doubts that it was a finger nail.  The first ding on a minty new (or new to you) M camera is agonizing for a lot of us.  It's part of being a Leica lover. 

Over time, the use marks will give your M246 character.  If your 246 needs to be serviced at some point, you can have the leatherette replaced if you want.  Some repairs require the removal and replacement of the leatherette as part of the procedure. 

In the long haul, this ding will become less significant, especially as you use and make memories with your 246; its capabilities and image quality will far outshine any wear.

Edited August 6 by Herr Barnack

[Gobert]

If this was really caused by a finger, something is wrong with the leatherette. Regretfully, you probably don’t know under which conditions it was stored with its previous owner.

[ramarren]

It's purely cosmetic. If it bugs you, have the leatherette replaced. Or consider it as the developing character of a camera you will be using a lot and enjoy it. 

I bought my 1978 M4-2 cheap a dozen years ago. It had a bunch of cosmetic flaws when I got it, and despite being careful with it, it had a bunch plus 10 cosmetic flaws now. I bought my digital CL and M10-M new, the CL in 2018 and the M10-M just this Spring. Despite being careful, the CL has a few marks now. I'm sure the M10-M will accumulate a few too. It's inevitable. 

I don't know that there's any difference between the leatherette that was on my M-P typ 240 or M-D 262, and the leatherette on the M10-M or CL. They've all felt the same to me. I'm just not sensitive enough to that level of the cosmetics. 

G

[bdolzani]

Thanks for the comments everyone - frustrating that I did not get notifications for all these replies...just happened to see this thread again. 

Yes it's just the 'first ding' trauma. All good. I took it to Greece this summer as I mentioned in another thread and it was a dream. I don't notice it now and definitely makes it mine.

cheers all! 

[a.noctilux]

👍

It's a beautiful tool, first "ding" waiting for others in different forms to come, sooner or later.

the leatherette can be easily replaced, if you want to DIY or at Leica Services.

 

[Gobert]

On 8/1/2022 at 7:53 PM, Ouroboros said:

Not sure how your fingers could cause a hole like that with normal handling unless you have false nails.   Never mind, time heals.

My wife managed to put a small ding in the top plate of my M10-R bp when it was two months old. I still love her.  I quite like the little ding too, it's a reminder of a night of passion during our cycling tour in Sri Lanka in February! 

Only one?

[bdolzani]

19 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

👍

It's a beautiful tool, first "ding" waiting for others in different forms to come, sooner or later.

the leatherette can be easily replaced, if you want to DIY or at Leica Services.

 

Indeed!

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[bdolzani]

On 8/8/2022 at 10:15 PM, ramarren said:

It's purely cosmetic. If it bugs you, have the leatherette replaced. Or consider it as the developing character of a camera you will be using a lot and enjoy it. 

I bought my 1978 M4-2 cheap a dozen years ago. It had a bunch of cosmetic flaws when I got it, and despite being careful with it, it had a bunch plus 10 cosmetic flaws now. I bought my digital CL and M10-M new, the CL in 2018 and the M10-M just this Spring. Despite being careful, the CL has a few marks now. I'm sure the M10-M will accumulate a few too. It's inevitable. 

I don't know that there's any difference between the leatherette that was on my M-P typ 240 or M-D 262, and the leatherette on the M10-M or CL. They've all felt the same to me. I'm just not sensitive enough to that level of the cosmetics. 

G

Yea definitely just cosmetic and I'm over the initial shock. That's what it was just a complete surprise that I dinged it the first day somehow - I don't even know how which just kind of boggles you.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[bdolzani]

To be noted is that my 246 leatherette is definitely different than the 240. Shouldn't they be the same? I wonder if in fact my 246 was changed.

 

 

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[pegelli]

15 minutes ago, bdolzani said:

To be noted is that my 246 leatherette is definitely different than the 240. Shouldn't they be the same? I wonder if in fact my 246 was changed.

I don't have a M240, but the leatherette on my M246Mono looks exactly like yours, very "smooth" The leatherette on my M2 looks more like your M240, i.e. more coarse.

[bdolzani]

8 minutes ago, pegelli said:

I don't have a M240, but the leatherette on my M246Mono looks exactly like yours, very "smooth" The leatherette on my M2 looks more like your M240, i.e. more coarse.

Yea I mean I don't expect it to be exactly from the same cloth I guess but they are pretty different for being in the same lineage. The 240 is much more coarse, and 246 much softer.