Re: [Leica] Leica revisited & production tolerances

[Robert Stevens <robsteve@istar.ca>]

Donj:

Can we let this thread die?  Erwin explained that there were about 100
pressure plates made by a worker that was filling in for the normal
worker that was off sick.  This is a small number in comparison to the
thousands of M6s made.  These pressure plates probably go in a parts bin
and are later put in the cameras.  I doubt if Leica could tell which
particular camers used these plates.  You happened to be unlucky and
have gotten one.

In all your rants, you have not once told us whether you got it fixed or
not.  As others have said, it is a cheap part and does not need a
technician to install it.  So even if you bought your camera used and
without a warranty, it is not an expensive repair.  You have probably
spent more than the $30-$40 for a new pressure plate in the energy you
have put towards this thread.

As for polishing up the pressure plate, try a car polish that claims to
clean away oxidation, which is pretty well all of the modern polishes. 
Just put a dab on a clean rag and rub it in  and then polish it off with
a clean part of the rag.  It may be all that you need.  BTW, the back
comes off a M6 just by sliding the hinge pin sideways. 


Regards,

Robert

 

DonjR43198@aol.com wrote:
> 
> We are indebted to you for passing on the following comments.
> 
> Your comment: There is NOT a problem. Leica has told me, and Erwin, that it
> was a small batch of cameras. All of them non-TTL cameras is what I was told
> as well.
> And all it takes to fix the problem is a bit of polishing of the pressure
> plate.
> 
> This post raises some very, very interesting questions as follows:
> 
> 1.  Does this mean pressure plates that scratch the back of film in the M-6
> cameras are considered by Leica not to be a problem?  Maybe not for Leica,
> but it is not a desirable trait for a $2,000.00 camera body that the owner
> expects to meet very minimal standards that are met by $50.00 cameras world
> wide.
> 2.  Does "non-TTL" mean those cameras that do not have the through-the-lens
> flash exposure capability?  If so, that would mean the very great majority of
> M-6 cameras were produced with faulty pressure plates since the TTL flash
> capability M-6 cameras are relatively new on the market.
> 3.  How many thousands of "non-TTL" M-6 cameras has Leica sold?
> 4.  If there are thousands of Leica M-6 cameras with faulty pressure plates,
> does the above comment mean that Leica is serious when it says "There is not
> a problem."
> 5.  Does this comment mean the faulty pressure plates were culled from
> production and then intentionally installed in just the "non-TTL cameras" or
> were the good pressure plates set aside to be installed in just the TTL
> cameras?
> 6.  Does this mean that it is the conscious decision of Leica to install
> known inferior parts in the non-TTL cameras while only acceptable parts are
> installed in the TTL cameras?
> 7.  Does this mean the non-TTL M-6 cameras are assembled using faulty parts
> so Leica will have an outlet for inferior parts that it has bought from
> subcontractors?  (It is my recollection form an earlier post comment from Mr.
> Puts in which he advised that Leica is now buying many parts from
> subcontractors.)
> 8.  The comment stated: "And all it takes to fix the problem is a bit of
> polishing of the pressure plate." What does Leica mean by "polishing" the
> pressure plate.  Enough to remove the black anodizing, so the aluminum mirror
> finish of the pressure plate will reflect light off its mirror surface and
> bounce back through the film thus degrading the image?  Or does Leica mean
> removing the anodizing, re-polish or re-lap the pressure plate, then anodize
> the pressure plate?
> 
>  The "bean counters" saga continues and with each revelation, Leica's
> reputation is brought into greater question.