Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/01/10

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Subject: Re: Leica ain't perfect...
From: Bill Welch <Bill.Welch@Pressroom.com>
Date: Fri, 10 Jan 1997 00:30:18 -0800

Marc James Small wrote:
> 
> The M3 and M4 are rugged, but the M6 is no sissy, and
> its quality control is every bit as good as on the earlier cameras. 

Seems like I remember reading somewhere, and perhaps it was the Pop 
Photog review of the M6, that an analysis of the innerds suggested Solms 
was using a few less rugged components these days. And putting spot 
welds rather than screw adjustments in a place or two. But I'm not a 
technician, obviously, and can't say if that's so or not. 

My own experience is I've had to have my M6 fixed three times, and my M2s 
and M3s never, beyond CLAs once in a while. The first M6 problem was a 
short in the electrical system right out of the box. But the other two 
were problems of abuse, I suppose. The last time was a bend in the rewind 
mechanism, apparently from getting banged, or perhaps from setting down a 
Domke bag less than gently. 

I'm not up in arms over poor quality, but I don't close the door on the 
possibility the M6 isn't quite as rugged as the earlier models. Still, 
I'd rather use it than any other camera I can think of (unless it's the 
M2 or M3).

Bill Welch