Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/03/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Stephen Gandy wrote: <<However if things really get tough, ie humidity/dirt/grim/rain, I was told by a Vietnam War Photographer that the Leicas jam a lot. That is why he shot with Nikon Rangefinders, which he found in those conditions to be more reliable than anything else->>>> Gee that's strange, I was in the humidity and grunge of the place and didn't experience any of those things. But to each his own. <<<SELF DESTRUCT LENSES: Even with regular and careful maintenance, Leica Lenses of the 50's and 60's suffer from an incredible fogging problem like no other lenses ever.>>>>>> May I ask where you acquired this information? Because as far as I'm concerned it is a bunch of poppycock nonsense and I say that from experience of owning and working with this gear for a very long time. <<<SELF DESTRUCT SHUTTERS: Leica Screw Mount bodies have original shutter curtains which self destruct over a 30-40 year time span. The rubberized material cracks and must be replaced.>>>>> Do you have any idea how many thousands of rolls a working photographer would pump through a camera in that period of time? Hell I would have just worn the camera out long before the 30-40 years. Come on get serious, hell I've got a Leica made in 1932 an it works just fine today and having looked through the lens and a few I own from the '50s and I don't see any thing you are talking about! At this point I had to drop to the end of your post only to find out what the hell the point of this is! Surprise it is about "collecting" and not working with. I'm sure the many collectors in here will feel just hully gully over the information, but it's almost of no use to someone it works the bejeezeeas out of his Leica's and has done so for many years. <<I know most of you will never try this "twenty year test," but I try it practically every week in buying older cameras.>>>>> So basically what are you trying to tell us? And yes I have one of over twenty years for a test, but mine is the test of working time! ted grant