Re: [Leica] Re: Leica's woes(?)

[Jeffcoat Photography <jeffcoatphoto@sumter.net>]

Paul: buy the R-8,so far so good and talked with my rep and he said its the best
camera they've made (R type)
Cheers Wilber

Paul Bolam wrote:

> I find it surprising that so many complaints are registered about the poor
> robustness i.e. breakdowns of the R8.
>
> Recent correspondence has also compared Nikon's service performance against
> Leica's. It's good to hear that Leica wins hands down. However, R8 owners
> should not have to rely on backup support to keep their product functioning,
> especially on recent purchases. Are Leica actively trying to change the R8's
> poor reliability record?
>
> I'm more than happy with my M6 & M2 but have a concern that having sold my
> Nikons (F4S, F90 and F3 HP) I can't assume that the R8 will fill the gap for
> long telephoto shots etc.
>
> This I find disappointing, as I have built up strong loyalyty to Leica in
> the last few months and naturally assumed the R8 would be on my 'wishlist'.
>
> Maybe, the F5 is the more reliable choice longer term (certainly, I've never
> had breakdowns with Nikons in the past)? However, the Leica M chromes stand
> out on the light box so I know the Leica chunks of glass are superior.
>
> The R6.2 would be considered but I wanted an alternative to Nikon's matrix
> metering.
> N.B. I'm quite happy to use incident light readings with short focal lengths
> but haven't found it reliable on long telephoto.
>
> I'd appreciate your advice, is the R8 really that bad or is it a case of
> wrong perception? I'm taken with its hunchback shape and would rather stick
> to Leica in the future. What the hell do I do?
> Kind regards,
> Paul.
>
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Date: Fri, 09 Jul 1999 11:50:55 -0400
> > From: Jeffcoat Photography <jeffcoatphoto@sumter.net>
> > Subject: Re: [Leica] Leica's woes(?)
> >
> > When I bought the Nikon Equipment it was not in need of service. Over the
> years that
> > I did use it and ddid need service-it started down hill. I've always been
> treated
> > right with Leica and yes I do expect-demand service at the highest level
> no matter
> > what the price of the equipment as new. This is the same way we render
> service to
> > our clients for the past 30 yr. Your right, and we don't crawl or suck up
> Period.
> > Cheers Wilber
> >
> > > Dan S wrote:
> > >
> > > Snip:
> > >
> > > > So, you got a replacement of a 2000+ dollar camera on request.  I'd
> say that
> > > > is pretty good service. Try that with Nikon...
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Big deal, "pretty good service". If I buy a $2000 camera, I expect a
> $2000
> > > service.
> > > If I buy a $25 camera, I can only expect a $25 service.
> > > It has  got nothing to do what lousy - as I read between the lines from
> your
> > > comment -
> > > service Nikon provides. If you know beforehand, that the service is not
> up to
> > > scratch, why buy it?
> > > However,  from a manufacturer, who prides himself, to have the best
> cameras, you
> > > would expect nothing, but the best service.  If you actually get it, you
> don't
> > > have to crawl and suck up to them, just because you received, what
> should be
> > > normal anyway.
> > >
> > > Horst Schmidt
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> >