Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2012/11/30

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use
From: scottgregory at mac.com (Scott Gregory)
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:35:40 -0500
References: <CCDD79FD.21655%chris@chriscrawfordphoto.com> <CCDD7D10.26EF3%mark@rabinergroup.com> <20121130004812.2699ab85@linux-mh41.site> <CAE3QcF4Qcp=Wy9w821=Kqr7ChO+qVL-7x38bfwaVTCa8=wkzkQ@mail.gmail.com>

Geoff and Phil I would have to think Phil is right when he talks about the 
failure rate of M9's and M8's.
I've had experience with both. My M8 was a pretty good example with really 
no issues. I count myself fortunate. My M9...and not being an early adopter 
of the model, had an issue which I was never given a proper explanation by 
Leica repair in NJ. 
I was on a photo trip to NYC last spring and was using the camera 
extensively. Up until I got home and started really looking at low light 
shots blown up I realized I had the vertical line issue in most of the shots 
which of course could only be seen at high magnification. So off it went to 
Leica for repair. I have to say the correspondence and turn around was 
excellent as they remapped the sensor and it is working fine now. But they 
also told me the sensor was out of proper line. Now I've never dropped, 
mishandled or rough handled this camera ever but they could or would not 
tell me how that could happen after many requests. So in my mind that leaves 
it at faulty production but I'm not sure. I never noticed an issue with the 
photos which makes it stranger for me to understand. Overall it left me with 
a poor feeling of investing that type of money for a camera when I've never 
had any issues with my Nikon full frame cameras. I'd have to think long and 
hard about buying another one really. Probably just keep shooting the m9 as 
overall it's still a great camera to use. 

Scott

On 2012-11-30, at 1:49 AM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com> wrote:

> Phil I am genuinely astonished that you report 10 M9s in your area that
> have all had to go back to Leica a few times.
> a 2 or 300% failure rate!!?? I have never heard of such a thing of any
> brand anywhere.
> 20 digital Leicas with a 100% failure rate!
> 
> Sorry Jim Shulman there is some kind of bad Leica karma going on in Philly.
> No more visitors for you ;-)
> 
> Cheers,
> Geoff
> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman
> 
> 
> 
> On 30 November 2012 15:48, Phil Forrest <photo.forrest at earthlink.net> 
> wrote:
> 
>> Nope, won't happen.
>> The Leica M9 failure rate was far too high for news professionals to
>> consider using them for work. It's a fun hobby camera but for the hard
>> working journalist, the Leica doesn't cut it. Both my M8 and M9 spent
>> about 40% of the time I owned them out at Leica for repairs. I
>> personally know owners of a total of nine other M9s in the Philadelphia
>> area and every single one of them had to go back to Leica a few times.
>> One of my friends went through three shutters in his M8 then two
>> shutters and a sensor in his M9. 


Replies: Reply from red735i at verizon.net (Frank Filippone) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)
Reply from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)
In reply to: Message from chris at chriscrawfordphoto.com (Chris Crawford) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)
Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)
Message from photo.forrest at earthlink.net (Phil Forrest) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)
Message from hopsternew at gmail.com (Geoff Hopkinson) ([Leica] Cameras Real Pros Use)