Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/05/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Further to that and my own speculation, I would add a couple of points: At the M9 announcement there was actually pre=positioned stock so that some supply was immediately available. Following that though demand greatly exceeded their expectations (planning?) and waiting lists grew. The M9 used as much (established) M8 technology/design/parts/mechanical commonality as feasible and was considered a relatively low risk project. The firmware partner relationship was already established too. All of that paid off for Leica Camera in sales of course. In contrast the M (typ 240) is entirely new (despite being externally superficially similar), and entirely organic with a new partner for sensor. At announcement it was not ready for market. A trickle of stock appeared in the promised window (first quarter 2013) but of course demand and expectation was already pent up due to that 5 month gap. I am only aware of one actual rported example of the loose strap lug problem but it rapidly and understandably became discussed in the fora and rightly generated a recall/rectification program including a promise that any camera or mounted lens damged by such failure would be replaced withnew items. AFAIK that never had to be implemented, thus far at least. Reportedly this possible fault was limited to the production delivered prior the start of April. Rectification I presue was by Customer Service which is separate from the assembly and testing facility at Solms (to be Wetzlar in the future). In theory it ought not to have had a major effect on new production although I expect that additional checking was implemented. So I think that the M (typ240) is more akin to the S2 (lso all new) in gestation and production than the M9 My prediction is that production will stutter and lag into this year and the camera will then go on to be at least as successful as the M9. Right now, if I wasn;t number one on a list and with a better deal negotiated with dealer, I personally might be tempted to just wait six months and try again. But then what would I stack in Barcelona at the LUG gathering in September? *Breathe in, breathe out, move on* -- Jimmy Buffett Cheers Geoff http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman On 20 May 2013 06:39, Robert Adler <rgacpa at gmail.com> wrote: > Just pure speculation on my part... > No other reasonable explanation, IMO, for a company trying to make a > buck... > > > On Sun, May 19, 2013 at 1:19 PM, John McMaster <john at mcmaster.co.nz> > wrote: > > > So an issue with production other than (lugs withstanding) the few which > > have been released? There also seems to be issues with the 50mm APO > > production, only about 50 are thought to have been made so far! > > > > john > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > On Behalf Of Robert Adler > > > > > > I tend to agree with Steve. They seem to be producing next to nothing > (if > > > not nothing at all). My guess is the few trickling out are the ones > with > > > the strap lug fixed whose original owners were either given some of the > > > original, post strap M's or who wanted a refund. > > > Something serious has happened, IMO, and production has simply ceased > > > until > > > they figure it out. Good that they are not sending out until right; bad > > > that they set expectations and aren't saying why expectations aren't > > being > > > met. > > > > > > > > > On Sun, May 19, 2013 at 12:54 PM, John McMaster <john at > > > mcmaster.co.nz> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > There are a few people who have used the camera quite heavily for the > > > past > > > > few months, the only thing I have heard is about the white > balance.... > > > > > > > > Of course it should not have happened, but at least Leica put their > > hand > > > > up in public and admitted it and also covering any damage to camera > or > > lens > > > > resulting from it. It only seems to be some of the original > production > > run > > > > so either a person or a component was at fault, the plus and minus of > > hand > > > > assembled cameras ;-) > > > > > > > > I don't think Nikon have ever admitted to problems with the LHS AF > > points > > > > in the D800 range, they will fix it if you send the camera to them. > > Same > > > > for dirty sensors on the D600? X-100 lens assemblies... > > > > > > > > ;-) john > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On May 19, 2013, at 3:05 AM, Frank Dernie > > > <Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com> > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > The two dealers I regularly use have neither had any cameras yet, > > and > > > > can > > > > > get no info from Leica as to when they may receive their first. > > > > > > I have placed an order but have pretty well decided to cancel it > > for > > > > the time > > > > > being. > > > > > > The Fuji (which I bought at about the time I ordered the M) is > > getting > > > > the > > > > > job done and the M saga is very much worse than the M9 in my case > so, > > > as > > > > an > > > > > engineer, I am somewhat concerned that they are having major > > > > > manufacturing difficulties, something like parts supply or > component > > > > quality > > > > > variation. > > > > > > Getting one in 12 months may be a better choice for me. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I have heard that the problem is far graver than strap lugs being > > loose > > > > (which > > > > > they could accomplish 75 years ago), this is an $8000 camera > guys... > > > > > > > > > > (for pete's sake) > > > > > > > > > > Steve > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > FD > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 19 May, 2013, at 03:01, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at > > > > > > gmail.com > > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > >> On Friday I was actually within 100 metres of 3 M's ( the 2 > > dealers > > > > here are > > > > > only 5 doors apart) so I can claim to have actually have seen one > > (demo > > > > not > > > > > for sale at the boutique) and each dealer had one awaiting customer > > pick > > > > up. > > > > > Oz actually only got these first ones two months after USA, Europe, > > Japan > > > > > and probably Outer Mongolia for all I know. I suppose that means > they > > > are > > > > > post strap lug fault production. This is getting old waiting > though. > > My > > > > original > > > > > order was six months ago. > > > > > >> > > > > > >> Cheers, > > > > > >> Geoff > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > > -- > Bob Adler > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >