Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/12/22

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Subject: [Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...
From: photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman)
Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:36:56 +0100
References: <95E139E5-CC69-4274-B648-E91650A21F52@frozenlight.eu> <001601ca8266$5477e8a0$fd67b9e0$@net> <02FBAED9-A6C3-4FD5-AE9E-B9AA0AA16C70@frozenlight.eu> <A59A003D-D1B7-4476-8FB9-843AD2A397AC@mac.com> <D0609D6C-921C-4308-8B9C-CC2BA7CA7BFA@frozenlight.eu> <80A4AD4E-59E0-4B11-8F43-DA7112FAA722@mac.com> <33AB040E-B04E-4299-9EA6-B82CAE34DFEC@frozenlight.eu> <E14F945F-81E6-4EAB-9B8C-36D08A2213B9@mac.com> <36172e5a0912221357g2e14a2dfl504b70efcdf85629@mail.gmail.com>

Yes, I have no reason to lie to this list or to Leica, and I am not ranting 
about the problem, just a bit annoyed that I will be without my favourite 
camera during next week's trip to Andaluc?a/Gibraltar etc. 

The real test will be whether Leica Solms and UK get their heads together to 
fix the problem correctly (i.e. without any additional expense to me and 
with a minimum of administrative runaround). I have not heard back from them 
yet, but given that it is Christmas, and coupled with the weather situation 
in the UK (for all I know, the people who work at Leica UK may not even be 
able to get to their office) I do not expect to hear back until after the 
holidays.

The issue of waterproofing was not relevant with the film Leicas since they 
were largely mechanical until the M7. Even with the M6 the only electronic 
part was the meter. So the risk was minimal compared to an M8/M9. 

Nathan

Nathan Wajsman
Alicante, Spain
http://www.frozenlight.eu
http://www.greatpix.eu
http://www.nathanfoto.com

Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog



On Dec 22, 2009, at 10:57 PM, Geoff Hopkinson wrote:

> George it is not common but clearly it can happen. It has been vigorously
> discussed in the L Camera Forum when another person had an expensive repair
> quote after saying that their camera was only briefly exposed to a rain
> shower. Others including our Tina reported very different experiences.
> There was a clamour there regarding the need for weather sealing. I don't
> remember it coming up before despite every previous M not having that
> sealing either.
> That's the nature of internet groups for you. The discussions are by no
> means limited to people with actual experiences to report.
> 
> Whatever the circumstance, of course we know that Nathan is honest in his
> recollection. I believe that Solms certainly have been truthful as well. 
> The
> specific agent that has damaged Nathan's camera is NOT proven but it does
> seem most likely that it has been a product of the operating environment.
> Specifically humid salty air (sea breeze carrying fine blown sand/salt 
> too?)
> and possibly sweat from handling and using the camera during honest 
> exercise
> cycling around in that environment. Very important to acknowledge that
> Nathan is NOT ranting nor complaining  of course.
> By the way, from my technical maintenance back ground, YES corrosion is 
> very
> bad news and can develop quickly. In this case it has apparently been
> limited to a small switch area, luckily (and due to Nathan getting it dealt
> with promptly).
> 2009/12/23 George Lottermoser <imagist3 at mac.com>
> 
>> So, then, aside from your frustration re: being without the camera,
>> what DO you make of their analysis of the issue?
>> 
>> Do you think
>> the weather conditions
>> salt water proximity
>> sweat
>> what in the world
>> could have caused corrosion
>> in such a brief period of time?
>> 
>> Is it possible that something at the factory
>> actually was not cleaned off during mfg?
>> 
>> It just seems such a weird break down.
>> (and one I've not heard of previously)
>> 
>> Do you read the l-camera forum?
>> Have you checked with that list about this fault?
>> 
>> 
>> Regards,
>> George Lottermoser
>> george at imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com/blog
>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>> 
>> On Dec 22, 2009, at 2:53 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote:
>> 
>> No, I will not treat it any differently. I exercise reasonable care, do 
>> not
>>> walk around with it in rainy weather etc., but at the end of the day I 
>>> have
>>> it in order to take pictures.
>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Cheers
> Geoff
> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
> 



Replies: Reply from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- don't sweat while using it...BUT CASE APPEARS RESOLVED)
In reply to: Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from red735i at earthlink.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)
Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...)