M meters and quality generally

[Thomas Pindelski <ThomasP@POSTOFFICE.nacm.com>]

"This simply isn't true -- look at the side of any of these meters.  They
were ALL manufactured by Metrawatt AG of Nurnburg, the same firm who today
produce the light-metering circuitry for the M6."

Sorry, I meant to say Metrawatt. Like it says on the back! Wish they were 
made by Gossen, though.

"All of the Leica meters produced by Metrawatt from the original LC60 of 
1939
are tough, durable, and accurate.  They are all worthy additions to the
Leica system -- after all, Leica marketed them as an integral part, and
Leica would and will not sell something through its dealers which is of
lesser quality than the camera."

I cannot speak for the LC60, but both the MC meters I own and the 2 MR 
meters I once owned are simply not, in my opinion, up to the quality 
standards of the M cameras. I recently compared half a dozen MCs in Sandy 
Ritz's store in Arizona and they were all over the place - probably age, but 
quality? The fit is, at best indifferent, and they scratch the top plate. 
Further, the machining of the range switch with its sharp serrations 
suggests Russian rip-off not German-original and the chrome is a different 
hue from that on the M body.  Finally, the attachment slides for the MC 
booster are very fragile and asking for damage in the event of an 
inadvertent knock - the earlier plug-in booster for the M, which I have not 
used, looks like a better design. My MCs are holding up well in my 
amateur-use life but I don't know what hard living pros would make of 
them......and would be interested to hear from the professionals on this 
list.

As for Leitz not selling lower quality goods through their dealers, hmmm. 
 Let's think.  Ah! yes - the little plastic projector masquerading under the 
Pradovit name, any number of lens hoods which fall off as easily as they 
clip on, the Angenieux lenses for the early Leicaflex with their matching 
(?) finish, the rubber lens hood for the Tele-Elmarit which splits, the 
superb range of point-and-shoot compacts, the plastic viewfinders for the 
21/28mm, the great quality control referenced in recent mailings on this 
forum...yes, I see your point.

None of this is bad in itself; Leica is a for profit corporation and will 
either remedy these problems or make lower profits. Maybe even go out of 
business. But slavish association of quality with all things marked Leica? 
I'm not so sure about that. I'm happy to live with the compromises but not 
willing to deny the failings.


Thomas