How many analog Leicas does one need to have at least one functioning camera?

[250swb]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

On 7/31/2024 at 11:23 AM, colonel said:

one camera,  one lens

thats the way I roll

never had an issue in xxx years ....

But isn't it always going to be a curious situation when owning a camera that can take interchangeable lenses and you stick to one lens? A Yashica Electro has a superb fixed lens, as does an Olympus XA, both rangefinder cameras with only one lens available, and there are many others. 

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[colonel]

16 minutes ago, 250swb said:

But isn't it always going to be a curious situation when owning a camera that can take interchangeable lenses and you stick to one lens? A Yashica Electro has a superb fixed lens, as does an Olympus XA, both rangefinder cameras with only one lens available, and there are many others. 

well I mean for one outing. Not forever. Sometimes I treat myself to two lenses

[Fotoklaus]

vor 7 Stunden schrieb 250swb:

But isn't it always going to be a curious situation when owning a camera that can take interchangeable lenses and you stick to one lens? A Yashica Electro has a superb fixed lens, as does an Olympus XA, both rangefinder cameras with only one lens available, and there are many others. 

Millions of Superzooms with lens hoods mounted backwards sitting on cheap SLR cameras tell a different story.

[algrove]

My old M6 is perfect to today. Also my 1931 1 C. My M3 is great and requires no battery.

I try not to bang my RF cameras around and perhaps that is why they are all perfect.

[Tom R]

For fifteen years I used one M2 with a (nearly permanently affixed) 35mm Summicron lens. I had about ten years where I wanted to use a 28mm lens, so I purchased an M4-P, which also provided better connections for modern external lighting systems. I donated the M2 to one of my nieces who is very interested in photography and currently lives in Germany, and I replaced the M2 with an M4. I am now retired and really could go back to one camera body, likely the M4,  and a suite of 35, 50 and 90mm lenses.

[TomB_tx]

29 minutes ago, Tom R said:

M4,  and a suite of 35, 50 and 90mm lenses

That was my Leica setup for over 40 years.

[cary]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I am a Leicaflex user and have two bodies that have been CLA'ed by DAG, that I use. It's nice to have that second body as a backup when I am shooting something important. The bodies in use are a Standard and SL MOT. I also have four more bodies, call me obsessive or a collector.

[didier]

I have never had any issue with my analog Leicas. The most recent one is 22 years old (M6 TTL), I purchased new. It underwent a CLA last year only because I dropped it and the rewind lever had to be changed and the rangefinder realigned. Works flawlessly. I took it over 40 times climbing on 4000+ m peaks. Still looks as new.

My M3 (CLA’d in 2004 before I bought it), M4, M4-P (a real user, completely beaten up, CLA’d last year when I inherited it) are all ok as well.

Fingers crossed.

 

 

 

 

[nemendes]

I had only M6 tll for many years as an only analog camera. Sold it and now i have m7. 

When i go to somewhere for just walking around, i take only my analog camera and 2 lenses (28 and 50). But if i go somewhere else that probably i wont be there again, i take digital camera as a backup if anything happens. so far nothing happened  So if you have digital leica or any well, you can use it as a backup or vice-versa. If you only take pictures from analog, then you can buy another one, thats on you. 

One of my friend takes always 2 cameras, one with color film and one with b&w. You can do the same as well. 

[dickgillberg]

One (two)! I've only encountered one failure with my M7 back in the days. The shutter curtain failured. Leica fixed it promptly. Never had any failure of my cameras since then and it was 25 years ago. 

/Dick

[Kl@usW.]

Am 22.7.2024 um 20:04 schrieb Kl@usW.:

In 2022, I finally lost interest in the digital rat race for ever faster sensors and sold all my digital Leica Ms. I wasn't naive enough to believe that the analog Ms were without fault and that I could delete the customer service address from my book. However, I was naive enough to believe that with a new chrome MP and a nearly new black lacquer MP, I would always have at least one camera available. Unfortunately, I was mistaken: After just under a year, the newly purchased chrome MP had to go in for service for the first time due to a major viewfinder misalignment. Two years later, there was a total failure due to light leaks—all the photos from a summer vacation were ruined. Since December 2023—so in a few days, it will be eight months—my newly purchased MP, which became defective shortly after the warranty expired, has been in Wetzlar. So far, not so good. Unfortunately, now my hardly older black lacquer MP has also become problematic: Upon first review of my results from a four-week vacation in Japan, several films also show light leaks—and, to keep things interesting, the viewfinder frame has decided to get stuck at the 35mm frame. Nothing works except 35mm, no matter which lens... To come back to my question, how many Leicas does one need to be "ready to shoot" or stay that way? The next vacation is around the corner. Apparently, two new Ms aren't enough.

Update: 

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I received an email a few days ago: my Leica MP, sent to Wetzlar a year ago due to light leaks, was ready for pickup at the Leica Store Stuttgart! To be honest, I had already put the camera out of my mind, consoled myself with Hasselblad, Rollei, and first a borrowed, then purchased SL2s, and then, after a year, the camera reappears. Just like that. As if the runaway girlfriend suddenly showed up at the door after a year...

I was curious about the invoice: the camera was three years old when the light-leaks appeared, had no extended warranty, so it was completely unclear whether Leica would charge for the repair. The total amount on the first page was €850 for disassembly, cleaning, adjustment, and repair of the shutter, shutter brake, friction, film transport, and escapement mechanism. Additionally, the leather covering was replaced. In short, the camera is like new. On the second page, the note stated that goodwill coverage was 100%, so the repair was free of charge.

Perhaps the more important and interesting news for everyone: according to Leica Stuttgart, the absurd service situation is improving—the 12-month wait time for analog bodies has been significantly reduced, now closer to six months. As for the reason behind the mess, they reiterated the impact of the analog boom, which had led to all the hipsters sending Grandpa’s old Leica in for service—just as the veteran service technicians were retiring.

But, as mentioned, things are improving. Personally, I hope I won’t have to verify that anytime soon.

[brickftl]

this is a disheartening thread.

I had a Q3 that bricked in February, so Leica replaced it. I sold it and got into the M system. I was going to get a M11, but a person high up with Leica told me off the record not to get it. So I got a M10, worked perfectly until I got a bug that I wanted a M11P. After a month, it bricked too. In between the M10 and M11P, I got a M11M which I love beyond reason, and I live in constant apprehension whether it's going to brick too.

Meanwhile I just got a MP, getting back into film after a 45+ year absence, am over the moon with it. I've been thinking, YAY, my Leica problem days are behind me. And then I read this thread. Oh boy.

[mikeamosau]

Just to offer a counter to some of the sad stories, I’ve had a MP for 6 years. Shot hundreds of rolls of film. Zero issues. 
 

Of course that doesn’t mean I don’t have four other film cameras to go with it! 

Edited December 19, 2024 by mikeamosau

[TomB_tx]

I've been using Leicas since 1968, and have M2,3,4,5,6,7,9,&10 (and a film CL). All work fine, and service needs have been minimal - but the M9 is the only one serviced by Leica (for sensor replacement).

[ktmrider2]

I have owned Leica M cameras continuously since 1975 starting with a Leica CL.  I have owned an M3, numerous M2’s, M4-2, M4-P, M5, M6, M6TTL and M9 and M240.  I purchased a new MP in February, 2024, primarily because I had not bought a new Leica since the mid 1990’s.  In 49 years of using Leica’s, I had one M2 which had to be sent in for a shutter curtain problem, a new M6TTL which was eating batteries and had to send my M9 back due to the sensor problem.  I actually think that is a damm good record.

Presently, I am down to one film body (new MP) and just picked up a Q3 as I wanted something I can set to auto everything if I am in the mood.  Anything mechanical can break but I suspect Leica’s malfunction rate is pretty low.  But with the internet, malfunctions and rumors of malfunctions are greatly multiplied.

[brickftl]

28 minutes ago, ktmrider2 said:

Presently, I am down to one film body (new MP) and just picked up a Q3 as I wanted something I can set to auto everything if I am in the mood.  Anything mechanical can break but I suspect Leica’s malfunction rate is pretty low.  But with the internet, malfunctions and rumors of malfunctions are greatly multiplied.

I have a similar mindset. In addition to my new MP, I also have a cam for easy shooting - the CL which I prefer over the Q3 because of ability to change lenses. Plus my Q3 bit the dust after 3 months and Leica replaced it (which I promptly sold and recouped my original purchase price). I"ve also got the M11M that I'm obsessed with equal to my MP.

Edited December 19, 2024 by brickftl

[username]

On 12/18/2024 at 10:51 PM, Kl@usW. said:

Update: 

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I received an email a few days ago: my Leica MP, sent to Wetzlar a year ago due to light leaks, was ready for pickup at the Leica Store Stuttgart! To be honest, I had already put the camera out of my mind, consoled myself with Hasselblad, Rollei, and first a borrowed, then purchased SL2s, and then, after a year, the camera reappears. Just like that. As if the runaway girlfriend suddenly showed up at the door after a year...

I was curious about the invoice: the camera was three years old when the light-leaks appeared, had no extended warranty, so it was completely unclear whether Leica would charge for the repair. The total amount on the first page was €850 for disassembly, cleaning, adjustment, and repair of the shutter, shutter brake, friction, film transport, and escapement mechanism. Additionally, the leather covering was replaced. In short, the camera is like new. On the second page, the note stated that goodwill coverage was 100%, so the repair was free of charge.

Perhaps the more important and interesting news for everyone: according to Leica Stuttgart, the absurd service situation is improving—the 12-month wait time for analog bodies has been significantly reduced, now closer to six months. As for the reason behind the mess, they reiterated the impact of the analog boom, which had led to all the hipsters sending Grandpa’s old Leica in for service—just as the veteran service technicians were retiring.

But, as mentioned, things are improving. Personally, I hope I won’t have to verify that anytime soon.

..this is great news, thanks for sharing! 👍

[F456]

"On the second page, the note stated that goodwill coverage was 100%, so the repair was free of charge.

Perhaps the more important and interesting news for everyone: according to Leica Stuttgart, the absurd service situation is improving—the 12-month wait time for analog bodies has been significantly reduced, now closer to six months. As for the reason behind the mess, they reiterated the impact of the analog boom, which had led to all the hipsters sending Grandpa’s old Leica in for service—just as the veteran service technicians were retiring.

But, as mentioned, things are improving."

Very glad to hear the positive end of story. Too late sadly for me as I sold my MPs which were defective on new purchase as described elsewhere. However, things have been looking up as I have kept some older generation Ms (M3 silver chrome, M4 black chrome) plus slightly more recent M4-P and had them serviced independently by Cameraworks UK, so for now everything is working smoothly and correctly and I have been able once again to enjoy my M photography, using an independent light meter to mostly very good effect. Any disappointments are currently due entirely to user misjudgement, which is a good way to keep or reinforce learning! 

All the best and enjoy using your cameras!

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Fotoklaus]

Am 22.12.2024 um 23:48 schrieb F456:

Very glad to hear the positive end of story. Too late sadly for me as I sold my MPs which were defective on new purchase as described elsewhere. However, things have been looking up as I have kept some older generation Ms (M3 silver chrome, M4 black chrome) plus slightly more recent M4-P and had them serviced independently by Cameraworks UK, so for now everything is working smoothly and correctly and I have been able once again to enjoy my M photography, using an independent light meter to mostly very good effect. Any disappointments are currently due entirely to user misjudgement, which is a good way to keep or reinforce learning! 

All the best and enjoy using your cameras!

How many new MPs did you have?

And yes, all my Ms are produced in or before 1991. Never had a problem. Once serviced (after decades) they still go strong.

[Mute-on]

On 12/23/2024 at 9:48 AM, F456 said:

"On the second page, the note stated that goodwill coverage was 100%, so the repair was free of charge.

Perhaps the more important and interesting news for everyone: according to Leica Stuttgart, the absurd service situation is improving—the 12-month wait time for analog bodies has been significantly reduced, now closer to six months. As for the reason behind the mess, they reiterated the impact of the analog boom, which had led to all the hipsters sending Grandpa’s old Leica in for service—just as the veteran service technicians were retiring.

But, as mentioned, things are improving."

Very glad to hear the positive end of story. Too late sadly for me as I sold my MPs which were defective on new purchase as described elsewhere. However, things have been looking up as I have kept some older generation Ms (M3 silver chrome, M4 black chrome) plus slightly more recent M4-P and had them serviced independently by Cameraworks UK, so for now everything is working smoothly and correctly and I have been able once again to enjoy my M photography, using an independent light meter to mostly very good effect. Any disappointments are currently due entirely to user misjudgement, which is a good way to keep or reinforce learning! 

All the best and enjoy using your cameras!

A pre-digital M film camera serviced by a reputable independent technician can be a very special experience. Arguably enough to make up for the disappointment of a faulty new example. Enjoy!

BTW I think you confused your German sports car manufacturer location with the camera manufacturer location 🤓