Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/06/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In article <9706040137.AA02130@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>, wrote: > From: dannyg1@IDT.NET (Danny Gonzalez) > Date: Tue, 3 Jun 1997 06:43:05 -0400 (EDT) > Subject: Re: R8 Failure Rates > > Otto, > > Your luck with the RTS3's has been bad and I'm sure Blake regrets it badly. > A few questions if I may: > > Have you had consistent failures among all of your bodies? > Is there not one that hasn't required a repair? > What are the most frequently recurring problems? > Do you have a list somewhere of all the problems you've had? > Hasn't Blake replaced at least one of your cameras with a new one yet? > Any complaints about final image quality? > Lenses to avoid? > > Danny Danny, Blake has tried to help very much in CIS/PHOTOGAPHY/ S3 35MM CAMERAS, however he could not do much because I live in Germany and I depend on Yashica GmbH, Hamburg, for repair etc. I'll try to answer your above listed questions in sequence. 1: Since I experienced failures at six bodies with a wide span of serial numbers: 9098 - 22070, the causes must be spread amongst different components - - and the repair logs confirm that. 2: No, see answer to 1. 3: Looks like the mirror box (Spiegelkasten) is most often involved. 4: Yes, see attached list. 5: See attached list for replacements resp. special offers by Yashica Hamburg. 6: I may have a language barrier here: what image do you mean, the optical image of lenses or the image of the RTS III amongst professional cameras? 7: The Planar 1.2/85 MM "60 Years Zeiss" does not come up in resolution to the Leica Summilux-R 1.4/80, which I use with the RTS IIIs through a modified mount. I have returned that Planar therefore. Regards, Otto Braasch Landshut, Germany Failure and repair history of my RTS III bodies up to 4 June 97: Serial# 9098: 20.09.91 Overhaul transport mechanism (Transportmechanismus ueberholen) Guaranty 21.06.93 Erroneus exposure compensation indication in viewer (Fehlerhafte Anzeige der Lichtmengenregelung) Customer's claim could not be reproduced (Fehlerangabe des Kunden konnte nicht reproduziert werden) DM 157.55 03.09.93 Shutter sticks (Verschluss bleibt haengen) Guaranty 23.03.94 Mirror sticks in shutter-speed priority mode (Spiegel bleibt im Tv-Mode haengen) Guaranty 30.05.94 Mirror sticks (Spiegel bleibt haengen) Customer's claim could not be reproduced (Fehlerangabe des Kunden konnte nicht reproduziert werden) Guaranty 29.08.94 Body #9098 was replaced by body #12525, when I turned in the camera with an unrecorded failure. Got free a body with new guaranty. Serial# 9430 13.04.94 Repair and calibrate automatic exposure control (Belichtungs- automatik reparieren und justieren) DM 618.70 15.05.95 Replace transport gear (Transportgetriebe erneuern) Replace contacts at amplifier (Ausloesekontakte am Verstaerker erneuern) DM 437.00 14.09.95 Overhaul camera (Geraet ueberholen) Replace eyepiece ring (Okularring erneuern) DM 430.10 23.04.96 Replace shutter (Verschluss erneuern) Repair and calibrate automatic exposure control (Belichtungsautomatik reparieren und justieren) DM 621.00 26.03.97 Frame counter stops at 30 (Zaehlwerk bleibt bei 30 stehen) Interior components of the camera were replaced for free, outer casing remains with serial# 9430 27.05.97 Frame counter does not return from 37-38, rewind does not work correctly (Bildzaehlwerk laeuft von 37-38 nicht zurueck, Filruecktransport arbeitet nicht richtig) Camera not back yet from repair, 4 June 97 Serial# 9665: 23.09.91 Replace shutter (Verschluss erneuern) Guaranty 03.05.93 Repair shutter (Verschlussaufzug reparieren) DM 182.85 26.05.93 Repair electronics (Elektronische Schaltung reparieren) Guaranty 17.05.94 Repair transport mechanism (Transportmechanismus reparieren) Repair frame counter (Zaehlwerk reparieren) Guaranty 21.09.94 Replace mirror box (Spiegelkasten erneuern) DM 1,689.35 06.03.95 Replace aperture transmission (Blendenuebertragung erneuern) Guaranty 13.08.95 Body #9665 was replaced by body #22070, when I turned in the camera with a sticking mirror. I was charged DM 1,105.15 for the replacement body with new guaranty. Serial# 12525: 17.03.95 Repair frame counter indicator (Zaehlwerkanzeige reparieren) Guaranty 03.04.95 Replace transport gear (Transportgetriebe erneuern) Guaranty 18.10.95 Repair mirror box (Spiegelkasten reparieren) Repair shutter (Verschluss reparieren) Guaranty 16.04.97 Mirror hangs at sporadic intervals (Spiegel bleibt in unregelmaessigen Abstaenden haengen) Camera was not returned until today, 4 June 97! Serial# 14242 22.03.93 Function check (Funktionspruefung durchfuehren) Guaranty 21.09.93 Repair frame counter indicator (Zaehlwerkanzeige reparieren) Guaranty 27.06.94 Replace shutter, blades are bent (Verschluss erneuern, die Lamellen sind verbogen) DM 557.75 04.09.96 Replace shutter (Verschluss erneuern) Replace program mechanics (Programmechanik erneuern) DM 741.75 Serial# 22070 20.06.96 Repair mirror box (Spiegelkasten reparieren) Guaranty 24.03.97 Repair shutter (Verschluss reparieren) Guaranty