Re: [Leica] M6 Shutter accuracy?

["Henning J. Wulff" <henningw@archiphoto.com>]

Donj wrote:

>Until the last few years the Leica cameras and lenses were really tops and
>almost everyone was very loyal and protective of Leica.  Now, since the "bean
>counters" were placed in charge of Leica, it appears Leica quality and
>quality control has depreciated to the point that persons who have no
>"quality control" training are find more and more factory defects that should
>have been caught at the factory.
>
>I now wonder what Leica USA does in regard to protecting USA customers.  Does
 etc.

I've used Leicas for nearly 40 years, and they have had quality glitches at
all times. Whether they were as bad as the present ones, I can't say, but
my general memory seems to indicate that it was. My IIIg and Ig had the
shutter speed 'wedging' problem, and I never did get it fixed properly; an
M3 had a rangefinder that had a strange 'arcing', so that the 1m and
infinity were even on the vertical adjustment, but the 2m was off; 2 M4's
had film advance problems, in the 70's a couple of lenses had serious
problems, and Oh! the terrible M4-2's! Nikons have given me problems at
times, probably not quite as often, but then I didn't pay as much for them,
so the memory of the pain probably faded quicker, and Konica SLR's _never_
gave me problems, except for the racket they made when shooting and the
flare from some of their zooms.

I should mention that I've had about 25 Leica bodies over the years, and
about 75 lenses.

Now my M4 and M6's are adjusted properly, don't scratch film (never did),
and I have a bunch of lenses I'm happy with, only waiting for the 90 Apo.
So the lousy QC has generally faded into history again.

When I buy a new body or lens, I check them out thoroughly. Adjusting the
rangefinder seems to be an added 'tax' on Leicas.

I don't worry too much about it, but also find it upsetting in a camera of
this price, but then, Hasselblad is certainly no better, and with them, the
problems often continue. At least most Leica's, once adjusted properly, are
generally tough and durable.

As for their brochures, they were always bad. Good paper, bad photos.

   *            Henning J. Wulff
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