[Leica] Why Pros in general and us mateurs do NOT or SHOULD NOT use Leica......

[photo.forrest1 at gmail.com]

That is why I got rid of all my Leica gear save my M4 and DR Cron I took to Iraq. I keep it for sentimental reasons but seldom use it. 3 days after purchasing my M9 new, it went back to Leica for over a month. In the 20 months I owned the camera it was at Leica for a total of 9 months.I was a student part of that time and I was a struggling photographer trying to get started in journalism again. In the end I sold it and have used Nikon digital for work. For my personal photography I carry a Nikon F2 but usually use a set of Mamiya 6 bodies. Leica was nice but proved to me time and again I couldn't count on their gear to be reliable when I needed it. Oftentimes it wasn't even available when I needed it! Phil Forrest
------ Original message------From: Frank FilipponeDate: Thu, Oct 6, 2016 14:56To: 'Leica Users Group';Cc: Subject:[Leica] Why Pros in general and us mateurs do NOT or SHOULD NOT use Leica......
My M9 is STILL at Leica….2 weeks ago Tuesday I was told it would ship that day.Waited a week, checked, and they were going to ship it THAT dayChecked yesterday, it will ship that dayToday, it is still at Leica and will ship today…… It is like the old joke… Free Beer.. Manana Today’s story is that I will get  tracker number this afternoon….. I made 4 calls today to reach someone.. the previous “record” was 10 calls…. And you wonder why only (who cares if it is an exaggeration….!) rich amateurs can afford Leica???????  Pros can not be bothered with the hassle….. It is not a matter of not having a camera to shoot with ( the A7 and the MM can do the job)It is MY camera, and I want it back…..  As an amateur, I am entitled to absolutely NO special service…..  no rush, no nada.The camera was sent to Leica on July 8.  In case you are going to calculate, that is 3 months.It has been sitting on the shelf at Leica, repaired, for at least a week, probably 2 week
 s…. The problem was that the glass cover plate over the sensor fell off… loose….  On the 8th day of a 42 day vacation. Please. No comments on how you got your Leica back in 4 seconds, all fixed, from a basket case of screws nuts and bolts….. My previous experience was an M6 sent on for repair, and when it got back, the body case was so badly bent that a film cassette would not fit…  Are these guys really serious about getting market share? If you NEED to have your camera functional, maybe a Nikon or Canon really is a better choice….  Rant off.  Frank FilipponeRed735i at verizon.net    _______________________________________________Leica Users Group.See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information