[Leica] Leica M8 -- too fragile for the real world - or don't sweat while using it...

[jayanand at gmail.com (Jayanand Govindaraj)]

George,
Electronics is the main culprit in modern cameras, and it is not restricted
to Leica. The M2 & M3 had no electronics, and the worst that could happen in
the M6 due to electronics is loss of metering. Therefore there was less that
could go wrong with them. With digital, a small malfunction, always
possible, might lead to a whole circuit board being changed - leading to
expensive repairs for seemingly minor problems. But Leica should minimise
these by giving a level of weather sealing and dust proofing - like my Nikon
D300 - not absolutely bulletproof, but good enough.
Cheers
Jayanand

On Wed, Dec 23, 2009 at 4:11 AM, George Lottermoser <imagist3 at 
mac.com>wrote:

> All true enough Geoff.
>
> However, many of us come from using M2's, 3's and 6's
> under the most adverse conditions with very little maintenance;
> beyond the occasional wiping down, and dusting off.
> So the mechanical M's have a reputation
> which the digital M's may not live up to
> without reevaluating the "sealing" issue.
>
> Most of us who chose buy and now love our M8's
> knew we would walk this bleeding edge.
> Fine.
>
> However, now in the third generation of digital M's
> I'm feeling that this particular issue requires immediate and serious
> attention
> (way beyond IR filters, magenta casts, corner issues - the camera has to
> WORK);
> unless Leica wants only dilettante users in air conditioned clean rooms;
> instead of hard working professionals who sweat,
> and regularly shoot near oceans, deserts, swimming pools,
> storms, factories, foundries, ball fields, etc.
>
> Nathan did not abuse his camera.
> 5,000 - 10,000 exposures in a year
> with a little sweat and sea air
> (he didn't sail every weekend
> and I doubt he set the camera in the sand at the beach)
> should not require a $500 + repair.
>
> Nor should he have to choose a different camera,
> other than the $4-5K Leica,
> for a daily hour bike ride.
>
> I appreciate your dedicated love of Leica.
> I share it;
> until the third generation gear self destructs
> under normal advanced amateur
> or professional use.
>
>
> Regards,
> George Lottermoser
> george at imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com/blog
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>
>
>