Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Yesterday I had to return a new M6 TTL because the camera would discharge the flash when winding on about every fifth time. This happens with both the SF 20 and a Metz MZ 40-3(i) with SCA 3501 M1 adaptor. In addition, when mounted, the SF 20 flash is next to impossible to get off. It binds in the flash shoe. I was afraid the foot would break off with few mounting/dismounting cycles. I've had the camers about five weeks. When I spoke with Leica NJ they said it would take SIX WEEKS to get the camera fixed, but that if I wrote and asked for expedited repair perhaps it would be three weeks. I did just that. We'll see. Yeah, I'm dissapointed. John Jim Laurel wrote: > > A couple of weeks ago, I decided to purchase a new Leica for my wife as an > anniversary/birthday present. It was to be given to her during our > vacation, so I wanted to make sure it was tested and in good order before > leaving. > > I went down to Glazers Camera Supply here in Seattle, and Russ Sherrel > prompltly produced a shiny new chrome M6 TTL along with a Summicron 35 ASPH. > As I have had several initial quality problems with past new M6 cameras (one > with a vertical misalignment, another with a 1/1000 shutter bounce), I made > it a point to check the camera thoroughly. > > The first body I checked had a terrible vertical misliangment problem. It > would be possible to focus, but the coincident images did not lineup > precisely. Russ agreed and opened up a new box. Second body would not show > the coincident images matched perfectly when the lens was focused at > infinity. I had my "known good" M6s with me, along with lenses, so I was > able to eliminate lenses as a possibility for this problem. > > Russ opened a 3rd box. Finally, I had found a body with no vertical > misalignment and was aligned properly at infinity. > > I don't understand what Leica is thinking. The foundation of thier pitch to > customers is high precision and quality. Yet, on a single day, I found two > clearly defective bodies sitting on a dealer shelf. Some people may not > notice the defects, but they were obvious to me (20/10 vision uncorrected). > My first M6 .85 purchased 2 years ago had a shutter bounce at 1/1000, and > the second had a vertical misalignment. A pretty poor record for one guy in > just 5 years. Thankfully, my dealer is very supportive, but it is > disturbing to see such poor quality control. > > --Jim Laurel