[Leica] Re: Viewfinder's Sensitive?

[drodgers@nextlink.net]

Derek

>>You Wrote:

>>The viewfinder of my "new" M4-P is in perfect condition, and I'd like to
>>keep it that way.  Is the viewfinder glass delicate, or fairly robust?

I often carry my M4-P in a side pouch on bag in which I carry my laptop. I
travel with this. I'm not overly careful. Sometimes other things end up in
the pouch; pens, film containers, papers, even small tools. I've never had
a problem with scratching.I'm careful not to bang it around too much.

The worst mishap I ever had with an M happened when I my M4 on a table. The
strap caught me and I pulled the body off the table and onto a chair about
18 inches below. Not a big shock, but it was enough to knock a mirror loose
in the rangefinder. Leica gave me a quote to replace the rangefinder. I
opted first to send it to a gentleman who repaired my Rollie TLRs and
CLA'ed my Hasselblad lenses. He glued the mirror back into place. He
charged me $75 (about 5 years ago). I was extremely fortunate because I
think he spent quite a bit of time on the repair. (An associate of his told
me that the gentleman loved to work on Leicas and he did it just to see if
it could be done). I used the M4 for 3 more years.

I'm not sure if Leica would have replaced the viewfinder, or if they would
have tried to repair the exiting veiwfinder. Overall, I've had far fewer
problems with Leica than any other cameras I've owned.

Dave