Leica M 7 problems and Leica - Service

[blackandwhite]

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As a long time Leica customer ( IIIf, M4, M7, M10 and Q2 and quite a few lenses ) I had a quite bad surprise today. A year ago I took my Leica M 7 to the authorized dealer for repair - the  camera only worked manually at 1/60 on and 1/125 speed and without light meter. Leica asked 808 euros for the repair, ...and 5 months of waiting ( Luxembourg is neighbor-country to Germany). When I picked up the M7 in the spring 2023, everything seemed fine. I was assured that the camera had been overhauled and tested - which is normal for this amount of money. In  summer, I took the camera to Switzerland and right away, from on the first roll of film, the same problem: everything was blocked, only at 1/60th or 1/125th of a second did the camera work. Without the built-in light meter, of course. Back in Luxembourg, I went to the authorized dealer ( Lecuit in Luxembourg , whom I do not blame ) who assured me that the repair would be under warranty. Now the answer from Leica: this is another problem with the camera. We repair it , this time for 1530, 62 euros. I thought I was going to have a stroke. I decline the offer "with thanks", .... just like my idea of maybe buying the new M6 or someday an M11 has also been shelved since today. For quality and a proper customer service I am willing to pay the justified price. But I will not be taken for more than stupid... maybe I understood things wrong, and maybe some competent person from my ex-favourite brand will let me know that there is some kind of mistake/misunderstanding from their side ?...

 

Edited September 29, 2023 by blackandwhite
M7 problem

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[blackandwhite]

Dear Al - incredible. As an absolute premium brand Leica is growing their tomb, destroying their inheritance as legendary brand, ... but maybe they build cameras not to be workhorses anymore, but only as a status-symbol. I simply don't get it.

[gotium]

20 minutes ago, blackandwhite said:

As a long time Leica customer ( IIIf, M4, M7, M10 and Q2 and quite a few lenses ) I had a quite bad surprise today. A year ago I took my Leica M 7 to the authorized dealer for repair - the  camera only worked manually at 1/60 on and 1/125 speed and without light meter. Leica asked 808 euros for the repair, ...and 5 months of waiting ( Luxembourg is neighbor-country to Germany). When I picked up the M7 in the spring 2023, everything seemed fine. I was assured that the camera had been overhauled and tested - which is normal for this amount of money. In  summer, I took the camera to Switzerland and right away, from on the first roll of film, the same problem: everything was blocked, only at 1/60th or 1/125th of a second did the camera work. Without the built-in light meter, of course. Back in Luxembourg, I went to the authorized dealer ( Lecuit in Luxembourg , whom I do not blame ) who assured me that the repair would be under warranty. Now the answer from Leica: this is another problem with the camera. We repair it , this time for 1530, 62 euros. I thought I was going to have a stroke. I decline the offer "with thanks", .... just like my idea of maybe buying the new M6 or someday an M11 has also been shelved since today. For quality and a proper customer service I am willing to pay the justified price. But I will not be taken for more than stupid... maybe I understood things wrong, and maybe some competent person from my ex-favourite brand will let me know that there is some kind of mistake/misunderstanding from their side ?...

 

There we go, this sounds like the Leica support I remember from a few years ago, with my M7. 

[blackandwhite]

@ gotium: Thanks for Your feedback - I did hope it would be less negative... how can this be with a brand like Leica ???

[gotium]

23 minutes ago, blackandwhite said:

@ gotium: Thanks for Your feedback - I did hope it would be less negative... how can this be with a brand like Leica ???

I was also shocked the first time it happened to me. Then it happened again. Since then I've been looking for another brand that can scratch my camera itch.

[dpitt]

I am shocked. 😱 Leica has done so much out of goodwill for me (years ago) and this is exactly the opposite of what I have experienced. Leica should take your camera and repair it for free. They fixed it recently and it broke showing the same symptoms within a few months.I does not matter why it happened now. It should be covered by warranty of the repair because clearly they forgot to fix something that was at breaking point. I do not blame them for overlooking it, but they should at least solve the issue for free and give an other warranty on the repair. Are they this desperate to make some extra cash?

It looks like Leica service is not consistent. Just now I talked to a guy that got a goodwill upgrade to an M11. His M9 has a corroded sensor that Leica can not fix (as we all know), but still he had an offer for an M11 with a nice discount, more than his broken M9 is worth today. A very elegant solution for fixing a 12 year old camera if you ask me. I am pretty sure other brands would not give this service for digital products that are that old. So some people are still treated as one can expect from a high end manufacturer, bit others are not ?!

PS: I know some companies now offer a solution for the M9 corrosion issue, but that is an other story.

[Huss]

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3 hours ago, blackandwhite said:

As a long time Leica customer ( IIIf, M4, M7, M10 and Q2 and quite a few lenses ) I had a quite bad surprise today. A year ago I took my Leica M 7 to the authorized dealer for repair - the  camera only worked manually at 1/60 on and 1/125 speed and without light meter. Leica asked 808 euros for the repair, ...and 5 months of waiting ( Luxembourg is neighbor-country to Germany). When I picked up the M7 in the spring 2023, everything seemed fine. I was assured that the camera had been overhauled and tested - which is normal for this amount of money. In  summer, I took the camera to Switzerland and right away, from on the first roll of film, the same problem: everything was blocked, only at 1/60th or 1/125th of a second did the camera work. Without the built-in light meter, of course. Back in Luxembourg, I went to the authorized dealer ( Lecuit in Luxembourg , whom I do not blame ) who assured me that the repair would be under warranty. Now the answer from Leica: this is another problem with the camera. We repair it , this time for 1530, 62 euros. I thought I was going to have a stroke. I decline the offer "with thanks", .... just like my idea of maybe buying the new M6 or someday an M11 has also been shelved since today. For quality and a proper customer service I am willing to pay the justified price. But I will not be taken for more than stupid... maybe I understood things wrong, and maybe some competent person from my ex-favourite brand will let me know that there is some kind of mistake/misunderstanding from their side ?...

 

Did you ever check that your M7 was working correctly after you got it back in Spring?  Or was the first time you checked when you actually put film in it/tried to use it?

[spero pa]

I’m so sorry and disappointed that you’re loyalty too M cameras + M7 camera and read about your thoughts and time spent and financial decisions you’ve made, I can imagine how you feel. I have my loyalties also too M3 when Leica cameras were made too last. I have a backup camera 6X9cm 1930’s B&W Film folding camera with bellows which still going strong.

hope all’s going well for you.

[blackandwhite]

On 9/29/2023 at 11:21 PM, Huss said:

Did you ever check that your M7 was working correctly after you got it back in Spring?  Or was the first time you checked when you actually put film in it/tried to use it?

We took the camera to Switzerland for first use after the repair, confident that for the price paid and the official ( and traditional ) Leica dealer shop could be trusted. I just received an E-mail telling me that me as a non-technician would be unable to know what they know... whatever that means. Maybe it means "pay whatever we ask you to pay and do NOT ask further questions" ? I decided not to pay a second time for repair and have also made some other decisions , considering my next camera brands. 

Edited October 2, 2023 by blackandwhite

[Huss]

5 hours ago, blackandwhite said:

We took the camera to Switzerland for first use after the repair, confident that for the price paid and the official ( and traditional ) Leica dealer shop could be trusted. I just received an E-mail telling me that me as a non-technician would be unable to know what they know... whatever that means. Maybe it means "pay whatever we ask you to pay and do NOT ask further questions" ? I decided not to pay a second time for repair and have also made some other decisions , considering my next camera brands. 

That's unfortunate but you can no longer rely on Leica to actually fix stuff when they say they have.  It took them three attempts to fix my film scratching new 2022 M6, even though every time they said it was fixed.

I would send it back and demand they complete the job you had already paid for.  They know it's not a new issue.  I would refuse to pay any extra.

[M9reno]

Point Leica's noses to your receipt documenting the first (808 Eur) repair.  It will have listed all that they did to the camera, and surely they can't ask you to pay again if what needs doing now is the same thing they claim to have done a year ago.

[gotium]

19 hours ago, blackandwhite said:

I just received an E-mail telling me that me as a non-technician would be unable to know what they know... whatever that means. Maybe it means "pay whatever we ask you to pay and do NOT ask further questions" ? I decided not to pay a second time for repair and have also made some other decisions , considering my next camera brands. 

Yes, seen this also - had high quotes for repair that they just could not explain to me (including once when no repair was needed), so I use third-party instead whenever possible. 

Edited October 3, 2023 by gotium

[blackandwhite]

I went to my Leica dealer / store in Luxembourg-City today. I must say that the man I talked to was very kind and understood very well the situation. He offered me an M6 or an M7 ( I choose the M6) to work with until things are cleared and repaired on my M7. If Leica in Wetzlar have a similar feedback and choose what they stand for: quality and perfect repair service - I'll get back my confidence and continue to stick to the brand. 

Edited October 3, 2023 by blackandwhite

[_Alex_]

On 10/3/2023 at 1:06 PM, blackandwhite said:

I went to my Leica dealer / store in Luxembourg-City today. I must say that the man I talked to was very kind and understood very well the situation. He offered me an M6 or an M7 ( I choose the M6) to work with until things are cleared and repaired on my M7. If Leica in Wetzlar have a similar feedback and choose what they stand for: quality and perfect repair service - I'll get back my confidence and continue to stick to the brand. 

I'm happy to read that it appears sanity may prevail. Good luck! 

[bideford]

I have just been informed by Lecia Mayfair that a CLA for my M7 will take 9-12 months due to workload and limited specialists.

Speachless really.  Whilst I understand there may be a resource issue (perhaps train and employ more staff - and pay them accordingly of course) - there must be a better way to book a slot for a CLA rather than ship it and have the camera sat around doing nothing for 9-12 months!

Very disapointing.  Happy for anyone to recommend a UK independant specialist that actually cares about the service they offer.

I have been thinking about offloading a mint M9 and M9M (both with replaced censors).  I think this has just confirmed my exit journey.

[Ouroboros]

12 minutes ago, bideford said:

I have just been informed by Lecia Mayfair that a CLA for my M7 will take 9-12 months due to workload and limited specialists.

Speachless really.  Whilst I understand there may be a resource issue (perhaps train and employ more staff - and pay them accordingly of course) - there must be a better way to book a slot for a CLA rather than ship it and have the camera sat around doing nothing for 9-12 months!

Very disapointing.  Happy for anyone to recommend a UK independant specialist that actually cares about the service they offer.

I have been thinking about offloading a mint M9 and M9M (both with replaced censors).  I think this has just confirmed my exit journey.

Unless the camera really needs a cla for some reason such as rangefinder alignment, uneven frame spacing, faulty shutter etc, I'd leave it alone and carry on using it. You aren't tied to using Leica Mayfair for a cla. There is a thread somewhere on the forum listing recommended camera technicians, try doing a search for the thread.  

Otherwise, you could contact Aperture or Fixation.

[Boojay]

54 minutes ago, bideford said:

I have just been informed by Lecia Mayfair that a CLA for my M7 will take 9-12 months due to workload and limited specialists.

Speachless really.  Whilst I understand there may be a resource issue (perhaps train and employ more staff - and pay them accordingly of course) - there must be a better way to book a slot for a CLA rather than ship it and have the camera sat around doing nothing for 9-12 months!

Very disapointing.  Happy for anyone to recommend a UK independant specialist that actually cares about the service they offer.

I have been thinking about offloading a mint M9 and M9M (both with replaced censors).  I think this has just confirmed my exit journey.

That is a ridiculous time frame.

I have no personal experience with them but have heard others recommend and they quote 15 day turnaround, Camera Obscura Repairs - London.

[pedaes]

47 minutes ago, Boojay said:

Camera Obscura Repairs

Caution -see 

 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Boojay]

9 minutes ago, pedaes said:

Caution -see 

 

Caution indeed.. sorry for my suggestion above, further searches do not look at all promising!!  Thanks @pedaes.

 

[M9reno]

Call Aperture and ask for Kriton. Will be done in a few days.