MP in need of repairs

[Landiah]

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I’ve had my MP for three years with no issues until a couple months ago the frame counter stopped working. Goes down to about 20 but does not fully reset. As well as the thumb screw on the baseplate got loose and dangles down. 
Assuming these aren’t fixes I could handle on my own and my camera just ran out of warranty, has anyone had experience or recommendations for repairs like this? Should I send it to Leica? What is the cost of something like this to have fixed?

[spydrxx]

If you can't handle on your own, check the Collectors and Historica section for lists of repairpersons to contact.

[Landiah]

I’m looking to hear about someone’s experience who has had similar issues resolved. 

[Huss]

Yeah, that is a common issue with the M-P and many other Ms.  The plastic cog in the film counter thing breaks.  Happened to mine.  Easy repair - DAG in the US fixed mine for about $200.  Got it back in a week - he's used to doing many of these.  Not sure where you are based.

[1joel1]

Wow, had no idea that they used a plastic cog. So much for Mechanical Perfection. Glad mine is still intact, but this is good information for the future.

[Huss]

22 hours ago, 1joel1 said:

Wow, had no idea that they used a plastic cog. So much for Mechanical Perfection. Glad mine is still intact, but this is good information for the future.

Yeah, DAG went off on that when he fixed mine!  He was mocking that Mechanical Perfection line... How much could Leica have saved? A nickel?  25 cents?  On a camera that is $5500 in the US.

[maxfairclough]

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1 hour ago, Huss said:

Yeah, DAG went off on that when he fixed mine!  He was mocking that Mechanical Perfection line... How much could Leica have saved? A nickel?  25 cents?  On a camera that is $5500 in the US.

Yeah had mine replaced after only a year which was a bummer. Wonder how much often it will need to be replaced. Thankfully Leica AU sorted for free.

[250swb]

53 minutes ago, maxfairclough said:

Wonder how much often it will need to be replaced.

My MP was built in 2002 and has never needed a service or had a repair.

[Landiah]

I definitely use and abuse my MP so I’m not gentle with it. still a shame that something like that could be avoided. Still better than my experience with the M-A. Had to go through three faulty bodies until I got a good one which I use now. 

[Mute-on]

5 hours ago, 250swb said:

My MP was built in 2002 and has never needed a service or had a repair.

Same experience. I suspect the early MPs may have been slightly better put together. Tooling and/or some materials are very likely to have changed over the nearly 20 years since, so it’s really not an apples and apples comparison. 

[Michael Geschlecht]

2 minutes ago, Mute-on said:

Same experience. I suspect the early MPs may have been slightly better put together. Tooling and/or some materials are very likely to have changed over the nearly 20 years since, so it’s really not an apples and apples comparison. 

Hello Mute-on,

20 years ago the tradition of mechanical cameras had a large staff of people with years of experience. 20 years later a lot of those same people were either re-assigned to other jobs in the digital department, or have retired. There is no need to take anything away from the people there today. Their commitment & their personal abilities are most likely the same as their predecessors. What is different is that they are in the position of not having the experience of building mechanical cameras as a continuing every day job. And of not having workmates with years more of experience & with the fine tuned ability that comes from that type of continuing day to day experience, to help them & to guide them at various points.

Best Regards,

Michael

[Mute-on]

1 hour ago, Michael Geschlecht said:

Hello Mute-on,

20 years ago the tradition of mechanical cameras had a large staff of people with years of experience. 20 years later a lot of those same people were either re-assigned to other jobs in the digital department, or have retired. There is no need to take anything away from the people there today. Their commitment & their personal abilities are most likely the same as their predecessors. What is different is that they are in the position of not having the experience of building mechanical cameras as a continuing every day job. And of not having workmates with years more of experience & with the fine tuned ability that comes from that type of continuing day to day experience, to help them & to guide them at various points.

Best Regards,

Michael

Michael,

I made no mention of the personal attributes of present day Leica film camera staff and did not question them.
 

Rather than suggest I have sought to “take anything away from the people there today”, which I did not, you might have identified that I referred to the tooling and materials. The remainder of your comments merely reinforces the likelihood that my hypothesis that the early MPs may have been slightly better put together has some merit. 

In future I will be grateful if you respond to things I actually say, rather than what you may infer, which is entirely on your head. 
 

MfG

Mute-on

Edited August 20, 2022 by Mute-on

[atournas]

I’ve been owning  LEICA’s since 1996 but I accept no excuse from a company that cheapens its “Mechanical Perfection” camera with hidden plastics and then charges its devoted costumers with repair costs.

Edited August 20, 2022 by atournas

[LocalHero1953]

On 8/18/2022 at 5:41 PM, Landiah said:

I’m looking to hear about someone’s experience who has had similar issues resolved. 

Which country are you in?

[Matlock]

3 hours ago, atournas said:

I’ve been owning  LEICA’s since 1996 but I accept no excuse from a company that cheapens its “Mechanical Perfection” camera with hidden plastics and then charges its devoted costumers with repair costs.

But those "hidden plastics" were in use before 1996.

[atournas]

17 minutes ago, Matlock said:

But those "hidden plastics" were in use before 1996.

I am aware of that. I just believed MP, with all those advertised improvements (e.g., Puts’ numerous reviews), would distinguish itself.

And I admit you are right. I just remembered the case with R3, that developed some problems because Leica had replaced all the plastic parts in Minolta’s prototype body with metallic. Or why knowledgeable people prefer M4 to M6. Other ethics, perhaps.

[Matlock]

4 minutes ago, atournas said:

I am aware of that. I just believed MP, with all those advertised improvements (e.g., Puts’ numerous reviews), would distinguish itself.

And I admit you are right. I just remembered the case with R3, that developed some problems because Leica had replaced all the plastic parts in Minolta’s prototype body with metallic. Or why knowledgeable people prefer M4 to M6. Other ethics, perhaps.

You have a very good point.

[Michael Geschlecht]

22 hours ago, Mute-on said:

Michael,

I made no mention of the personal attributes of present day Leica film camera staff and did not question them.
 

Rather than suggest I have sought to “take anything away from the people there today”, which I did not, you might have identified that I referred to the tooling and materials. The remainder of your comments merely reinforces the likelihood that my hypothesis that the early MPs may have been slightly better put together has some merit. 

In future I will be grateful if you respond to things I actually say, rather than what you may infer, which is entirely on your head. 
 

kind regards

mute on

Hello mute on,

Sorry for any misunderstanding. I wrote what I did as a reinforcement of what you had written. Not as a disagreement. We are both on the same side here. I added the other part for people who may be reading this Thread who are not that familiar with what is being discussed here. I referenced your article to give people reading this Thread a point to continue from.

Best Regards,

Michael

Edited August 21, 2022 by Michael Geschlecht