enboe Posted January 18, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 18, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Well, it finally had to come to this. My MP, one of the first produced in modern times, had accumulated enough dust in the eyepiece to diminish the bright view we all come to appreciate. The wind lever had developed a bit more vertical play as well, so off to New Jersey, and maybe points beyond for passport service. Being fair, it has seen well over one hundred rolls over the past three and one half years, and the only signs of wear are a pin prick on the battery cover paint, a one millimeter shiny abrasion where the left wind strap rubs against the chrome body, and two shiny abrasions in the recess where the optional wind crank rubs against the body while in its stowed position. Yes, I'm pleased with its service so far, and expect when it returns with a sealed eyepiece it will serve for a decade without fault. So, I waited until the holidays were over and sent it off. Any guesses on how long this service will take? I guess I'm just fishing for sympathy. Eric Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 18, 2009 Posted January 18, 2009 Hi enboe, Take a look here I miss my MP. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Ludwig Gretch Posted January 18, 2009 Share #2 Posted January 18, 2009 Hope you are not parted too long!....but I would have thought that a hundred + rolls - in three and a half years was pretty light use for an M! Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPerson Posted January 18, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 18, 2009 I must be doing something wrong - over 200 rolls through my MP for 2008! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig Gretch Posted January 18, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 18, 2009 I must be doing something wrong - over 200 rolls through my MP for 2008! Now that's just plain extravagance and gross self indulgence!.....I hope you have sent it off for a CLA! Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPerson Posted January 18, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 18, 2009 Dave - there was a thread for peoples film usage for 2008 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwig Gretch Posted January 18, 2009 Share #6 Posted January 18, 2009 Dave - there was a thread for peoples film usage for 2008 just joking, Andy! - and a little jealous, 'cos my old arthritic legs won't let me out as often as I would like! Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alun Posted January 19, 2009 Share #7 Posted January 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) But that suggests that this apex of mechanical engineering can't handle a roll of film every couple of weeks or so -- which is surely absurd. Do you use it to do something erlse too -- hammer nails, open bottles, prop doors open???? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MPJMP Posted January 19, 2009 Share #8 Posted January 19, 2009 Eric, I've had my MP for almost 5 years (bought it brand spankin' new from B&H in March '04). I've got maybe 200 rolls through mine. I admire these folks who shoot so much. Maybe I need to get rid of a few other hobbies and make more time for photography! My MP is doing great mechanically, but I do see a little dust behind the eyepiece. It's not enough to really bother me, but I'm thinking I need to send it off to NJ before the 5 year Passport warranty expires. I hate to think what they charge for non-warranty service. Let me know how long it takes. Mine might be close behind. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekF Posted January 19, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 19, 2009 I sent my MP à la Carte to Leica USA (from Montreal, Canada) at the end of October 2008 and got it back sometime in early December, so that's about a five-week turnaround which seems consistent with how long it took for my other MP to be serviced (sent back about a year ago for the same "problem" — dust in the viewfinder). I suppose a lot has to do with how many cameras they are servicing at the time. Both of my MPs were under the Passport warranty at the time they were sent in. Incidentally, Leica not only performed a full CLA on both MPs, but they also changed the shutter retainer ring on my à la carte to a black one for free, even though I had only asked about the cost of doing so. Nothing but praise for the elves at Leica. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Pedley Posted January 19, 2009 Share #10 Posted January 19, 2009 "problem" — dust in the viewfinder)..... Is that issue now resolved on newer models? There was a lot of shouting and screaming on the forum some years ago, but it seems to have gone quiet. Just wondering if/how the dust problem was resolved. Thanks! Mark Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekF Posted January 19, 2009 Share #11 Posted January 19, 2009 Is that issue now resolved on newer models? There was a lot of shouting and screaming on the forum some years ago, but it seems to have gone quiet. Just wondering if/how the dust problem was resolved. Apparently it was, but I'm not so sure. I got my first MP in 2005 and my à la carte in late 2007. Both developed dust in the viewfinder and were sent in to Leica USA. Both times, the service invoice that returned with the cameras indicated that the eyepieces had been sealed and I have not seen a recurrence of the problem yet. (In fact, I can see some of the sealant they used on my first MP — it spilled out just a bit onto the metal top plate.) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipper Posted January 19, 2009 Share #12 Posted January 19, 2009 mmm, i bought a v.little used minter of an MP, black paint, a couple of years ago in central London, put a about 40 rolls through it. At first i had flash film problem very couple of rolls, had dust in VF eventually, and suddenly RF 'out of whack' probs on a shoot in the Galapagos Islands, all wildlife shots on my 75 Chron really soft. I've gone back to my M2. Pity, I've been a Leica RF nut for years and years, M4, M6, MP and M2. I really wanted to like that MP. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacarape Posted January 20, 2009 Share #13 Posted January 20, 2009 mmm, i bought a v.little used minter of an MP, black paint, a couple of years ago in central London, put a about 40 rolls through it. At first i had flash film problem very couple of rolls, had dust in VF eventually, and suddenly RF 'out of whack' probs on a shoot in the Galapagos Islands, all wildlife shots on my 75 Chron really soft. I've gone back to my M2. Pity, I've been a Leica RF nut for years and years, M4, M6, MP and M2. I really wanted to like that MP. Zip, I'm confused at these posts, but do remember reading about dust complaints. But let me tell you... I was working in Nigeria (also Angola and Egypt) on and off since 2001. I took a Contax IIIa, a Contax 645, a Contax G2 and on my last trip to Lagos an MP with a 35 (ASPH) and 75 Lux. I usually carried the MP with the 35 Lux in a stinking sock, in a backpack, on the back of an Okada (motorcycle taxi). Yea, I even walked around Lagos with it, I got bitched at for taking photos with it, sometimes a smile, but it was with me for 3 months,in a sock with a Lux, and the other Lux stuffed in there also. I also carried it all over the American SW desert and lived in a 25' Airstream, and two Belgian Malinois. I bought it used from Kurland in 08, and since then it's been from New Orleans to Africa and all over New Mexico, stoned and drunk. Dusty dirty cites and deserts. So the comments about the dust have me curious, it's a problem my machine doesn't seem to have. I just looked at it again, the 28/2,8 latest, is as usual, no filter (the same with the Luxes), it's dusty as hell sitting next to a bong and an ashtray, but the VF is clear. Go figure. Copy SN 289546 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Posted January 20, 2009 Share #14 Posted January 20, 2009 Zip, I'm confused at these posts, but do remember reading about dust complaints. But let me tell you...Go figure. Copy SN 289546 There was a change and a sealed VF introduced. Obviously before yours was manufactured. From your story, it's been a benefit. Rolo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipper Posted January 20, 2009 Share #15 Posted January 20, 2009 thanks for your comments Jac n Rolo, that was useful. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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