Leica wants to replace my shutter

[brad_k]

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About a month ago my rangefinder cam stopped working correctly. When focusing, the patch wouldn't smoothly adjust. I sent it into Leica New Jersey for the repair. After looking over the camera, they can fix the cam issue, but also want to replace my shutter. I was pretty surprised by this, because I hadn't noticed any issues. All they've told me is that the shutter is "bad."

I'm not opposed to replacing the shutter, but I can't help but feel frustrated about the lack of communication and detail about the need for this expensive fix. Does this make sense to anyone here?

[spydrxx]

That's precisely why I stopped using Leica NJ and switched to people like DAG (Don Goldberg), Sherrie Krauter, and Youxin Ye, all of whom have been very communicative when engaged to perform repairs.

[brad_k]

So they got back to me: "The shutter works most of the time at the first actuation. After releasing the shutter, a view times, the curtain gets stuck."

I find this very frustrating because I NEVER had this issue happen to me.

[andybarton]

And this is on an M240?

[brad_k]

Yes

[david strachan]

I'm not a technician, but I do watch reliability and problems of Leica Cameras.  I haven't heard of this sort of problem before even though the camera has been out for a long time.

Please keep us informed, there are many quiet M240 users on the Forum who'd be interested.

Good luck hope you can find a cheaper alternative.

[brad_k]

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Well, I'm going to get it replaced. Despite some reluctance, I feel like I need to trust their techs 

[Herman Zhang]

Maybe it's because they detected a very high shutter count and they think that the camera wouldn't last very long?

[LeicaR10]

Brad_K,   Lets see here, your M240 went in for a rangefinder focus patch issue and NJ says they want to replace the shutter?   They tried this same thing with a person I knew a couple years ago who was a student of mine.  I told him to get the camera back from NJ and send it to Don Goldberg at DAG.  He did so.  Don inspected the camera, fixed his focus patch and told him the shutter was not an issue.  I saw the student about a year ago, he told me no issues since DAG did the fix.  BTW, I send all my Leica M gear that is out of warranty to DAG.  Don is honest.  If he can fix or resolve the issue, he will do so at a reasonable cost.  Many photographers do not know, Don went through the difficult Leica Camera 2 year technician repair training program in Germany as a young man, he knows what he is doing.  I most highly recommend you call Don and talk with him before letting NJ replace the shutter that isn't an inexpensive repair.  He will also give you and estimate before making any repair.  Last, I personally do NOT send any repair to Leica NJ.  Under warranty, it all goes to Wetzlar, no matter the wait itme.  r/ Mark

PS...I laughed at your Post #7 ..."I need to trust the techs".  Hah!  Best consider this piece of sage advice:  "Trust, but verify".  Especially with NJ...Call Don.

Edited February 23, 2024 by LeicaR10

[Mute-on]

To add insult to injury, I fixed the problem with the focus patch you described myself, at home, using a torx bit, small screwdriver and a very tiny smear of synthetic oil. Discussed in this thread … 

As for your shutter, if it’s not working now, it sounds like NJ damaged it themselves. Personally I would be a little skeptical about the veracity of their claim.

 

[jto555]

I have had at least seven shutters replaced over 2 bodies. Leica Germany even replaced a body for me. The M240 shutter is made of chocolate! There is an issue with the shutter. I am still getting a shutter issue right up to Friday of last week (23/02/24) where I got a black frame during a sequence of photographs. I 'felt' and heard the shutter stall but it continued on working after the black frame without any other issue. 

 

Full disclosure, I am a professional and I do use the camera hard. I am not sympathetic to the camera, it's a tool for work and it has lasted (with about seven shutters) since 2013. 

[brad_k]

All I can do is hope that the new shutter works fine (because the old one certainly did!).

[NigelG]

I have 4 M240 series bodies (2 x M240-P & 2 x Edition 60) and have never had a shutter issue…so maybe mine aren’t “chocolate” 🤔

[Gregm61]

As good as DAG is, and I have sent him multiple lenses and he has calibrated multiple camera body rangefinders for me, I wonder/am skeptical how much work he would actually commit to do on the digital M’s beyond rangefinder calibrations.

Edited February 28, 2024 by Gregm61

[jto555]

On 2/27/2024 at 8:11 PM, NigelG said:

I have 4 M240 series bodies (2 x M240-P & 2 x Edition 60) and have never had a shutter issue…so maybe mine aren’t “chocolate” 🤔

Nigel, I am delighted that you have not experienced the same issue but over seven shutters! In fairness to Leica they were all replaced quickly under warranty. Now I have one body with an intermittent shutter issue. 

[84bravo]

On 2/22/2024 at 11:40 PM, LeicaR10 said:

I send all my Leica M gear that is out of warranty to DAG.  Don is honest.

Does Don work on digital cameras?

[LeicaR10]

84Bravo,   It would depend on what you need done.  I suggest you call Don and speak with him.   r/ Mark

[Luke_Miller]

I believe Leica provides a one-year warranty on the entire body after a repair.  Possibly they see enough wear in the shutter to indicate failure going forward and want you to pay for replacement now rather than them paying for it during the warranty period.

[andybarton]

I am a very happy M240 owner too and I’ve never heard of a shutter failure in the 10 years or so it’s been around. 

It’s certainly not a common issue or we’d know all about it here. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[gotium]

On 2/22/2024 at 4:54 PM, brad_k said:

Well, I'm going to get it replaced. Despite some reluctance, I feel like I need to trust their techs 

I've had quotes from them that I could not understand and declined, only to have DAG tell me nothing needed fixing.