[Leica] The Famous Fernando M6 Adventure / Dan, Bill & Charlie

[Leikon35 <Leikon35@aol.com>]

 One of the more interesting LUG threads (for me at least) was about 6 months
 ago when one of the members from the Philppines, Fernando de Lu, was about
 to purchase a M6.  He was naturally reluctant to spend such a large amount of
 money for an item that at least 6 members had problems with at that time.

Fernando proceeded to compile a list of complaints & praises from those that
had bought M6s in the 2 significant time periods of pre & post 1996?, and that
included both Wetzlar & Solms. The  roster that I had put together at that
time 
showed we had about 500 members but I don't know how many of them owned
M6's or what percentage of those that did - had replied to Fernando but in any
case, there were much too many faulty plastic counter gears involved although
there were several statisticians that said the figures were not in thereselves
of
significance.  It seems that Solms thought differently.

The LUG message, thanks to Fernando & other concerned members, did reach
Solms and a letter was written to (I think Pete Meyers) or another LUGger that
the problem had been taken under advisement & was consequently corrected.

For this reason - I have written private mail to those that in jest,
criticized the
Leica reps that happened to be LUGgers ( Alan Karadagi & Dorthea Schorer
from Solms).  Both Herr Karadagi & Frau Danner (nee Schorer) have been
very polite & helpful to the LUG people that asked for info and that is why I 
asked the jesters to apolgize to Alan & Dorthea as well as the entire LUG.

The unfortunate anti-climax to this adventure was that after all of Fernando's
efforts, the new M6 he received was a lemon and had to be replaced.

Marvin Moss
===========================================================
 In a message dated 98-03-14 21:14:02 EST,  Bill wrote:
<< 
 Unfortunately, I do not have the computer capacity to save every message on
the Leica User's Group (herein after "LUG").  However, I believe that the
number of problems is more by different people is more than 6 (1% based upon
your estimate of 600 members).  You also fail to account for the folks who do
not have M-6s and subscribers that are using either pre-M Leicas or SLR
Leicas.  I for one have put all buying decisions on hold pending some
clarification from Leica (yes, now they have been damaged).  I am seriously
looking at a Contax system, which apparently has better damage control as
regards their cameras which do not operate perfectly.  The amazing thing is
the apparent overlap in subscriptions between the LUG, the Contax-G list, and
the Rollei list.  Based upon the quality control comments and the perceived
attitude of Leica USA, I would have a hard time at the moment buying anything
warranted by Leica USA.
 
 Regards, Bill Larsen
 
 -----Original Message-----
 From: Dan Cardish <dcardish@microtec.net>
 To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
 Date: Saturday, March 14, 1998 4:41 PM
 Subject: Re: [Leica] M6 vs Contax quality control
 
 
 |At 06:15 PM 14-03-98 EST, you wrote:
 |>LUGers,
 |>
 |>With all of the discussion on LUG about quality control (or lack of it) on
 |the
 |>M6, I'm wondering if I'll ever follow through with adding an M6 to my two
 |M3s.
 |>Does anyone know if similar quality control issues are associated with the
 |>Contax G1?
 |>
 |>Charlie
 |
 |
 |Consider that there are over 600 members of the LUG, yet I don't think that
 |there have been more than a handfull of reports of problems with M6s.
 |Maybe 1% ?  Certainly less than 5.  Not exactly a crisis situation.  The
 |first couple of rolls of film through my new M6 are perfect, and I must say
 |the the camera hasn't any problems whatsoever.  This mechanical finish is
 |flawless, the rangefinder's alignment is perfect, and the wind lever does
 |not drag into the top plate of the camera.  I don't think I am in the
 |minority.
 |
 |Dan C.
 |