Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 01:02 PM 5/15/99 -0700, you wrote: >Doug, > >>>what what worries me is that the meter may one > day fail by refusing to turn on, and I'll be left explaining to my > publishing director that no I didn't get the pictures<< > >One of the advantages of the M6 is that even if the meter fails, you have a >mechanical camera which should still function just fine. And one of the disadvantages is that you will have paid the outrageous sum of $2000 for a mechanical rangefinder body whose only "modern" feature is a built-in exposure meter and if the meter dies on you you are left with a $2000 M2. :-) An M6 with a faulty >meter will function every bit as well as your M2. You'll just need to >eyeball your expossure or use a handheld meter - just like you do with an >M2. > >Bryan > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Doug Richardson <doug@meditor.demon.co.uk> >To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> >Sent: Saturday, May 15, 1999 10:08 AM >Subject: [Leica] Leica can't find the fault! > > >> I recently shipped my M6 back to Leica UK because of an intermittent >> problem with the meter - the LEDs were staying lit for about 10 >> seconds after the photo was taken, and would re-light if I pressed on >> the release. This sounds like the switch which is intended to turn off >> the meter when the shutter is fired is not working correctly. >> >> Leica UK tells me that the camera has been on test for more than a >> week, and has been re-tested by the head of the service department, >> and has behaved perfectly. They now propose to return the camera to >> me. >> >> I'm not sure what to do now - I'm the editor of a magazine, and often >> have to take my own photos (in my field the days when the travel >> budget could stretch to sending a writer and a photographer are over). >> Until recently I've always used my own cameras on assignment, but the >> youngest of these is some 25 years old, one I use quite often is 40 >> years old, and two others are pre-war. However over the last decade, >> several employers have criticised me for doing this - one even >> described my M2 as a "Russian clunker"!. >> >> Worried that one day I'd be left explaining to my publishing director >> that no I didn't get the pictures, and yes, I went on an assignment >> with a camera which he regards as an antique, I opted to get a >> Wetzlar-era M6 which could still form part of my collection, but which >> would be a "modern" camera for work use. (I can't afford to support >> two camera "families" - one for show and one for use - so the >> equipment I buy is chosen to fulfil both roles.) >> >> At the moment the meter problem is simply a minor inconvenience which >> I could live with, but what what worries me is that the meter may one >> day fail by refusing to turn on, and I'll be left explaining to my >> publishing director that no I didn't get the pictures, and yes, I went >> on an assignment with a camera which I knew to have an intermittent >> fault... >> >> Has anyone else been the position of having a camera with a fault the >> manufacturer couldn't find? If so, how did you resolve the problem? >> >> In the short term I could use the M6 rather than my classics for >> leisure photography, and either a classic or the M6+external meter for >> work (in the hope that the fault will finally re-appear so that it can >> be diagnosed). In practice however, I suspect I'd tend to use one of >> the classics (since I know they are reliable), and the M6 would become >> an expensive paperweight on my desk and used only for "happy snaps". >> >> Of course I could always live dangerously and use my 1936 Contax II >> for work ... >> >> Regards, >> >> Doug Richardson >> >> >> >