Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/11/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hello, Javier/group.... I can't comment on the prestigious tech and their opinions on electronic cameras...but I can speak from my own experience... I have nothing against the R3/4/etc....I think they're nice cameras...I don't however, see the feasibility of providing parts in the long run...the "boards" are quite un-serviceable, save for factory replacements...and the discrete components, as has been discussed here, are proprietary. I have a service manual on and have repaired many Canon A-series cameras, mostly problems with the release combination magnet. However, once parts support is taken away, (the camera maker often out- sources electronics, of course)....it's a paperweight....perhaps we NEED to look upon cameras as disposable, and buy accordingly-- I can't decide.... AS for fear of electronics, not my problem....I've bought, restored, traded amateur radio gear (mostly Collins) for 25 years...and I listen daily to a scratch-designed-and-built stereo preamp/amp... I have successfully repaired surface mount (non-flex) boards in VHF/UHF handheld radios, although these are often deemed "disposable"... just depends on what is wrong (if you get the radio for free, there's nothing to lose!)... It's just differing philosophies...most of my peers buy gear for the short (10yr max) haul....I don't...but neither position is "correct"..... Walt On Sun, 12 Nov 2000, Javier Perez wrote: > Guys > > It's funny how so many of these prestigeous techs don't do electronic cameras. > I'll bet that 99.99% of the time they can't because they don't understand anything about how > these cameras work or because they are afraid of all the tiny little wires! > Allow me to counter the next argument before it's made. > Please don't tell me that electronic cameras are disposable junk. The better ones are infact > quite serviceable. This goes for every R ever made most Contaxes most Electronic Nikons. > Also, even though I haven't been in a latest generation camera, I'm sure that the circuitry > is lots vbetter arranged and the active components far more modular than thety were > 10 or 15 years ago > As for some of these techs being able to do mods that Leitz won't do, let me say this. > There is nothing 3rd party techs can do that Leitz can't. Leitz is just more interested > in selling a new camera and declines certain types of jobs. There is no magic to be found > in third party techs. As for the mods, while some of them may desireable, few can really > be described as improvements. How many of these guys can give you a production line > meterisation mod on the M? Or how about a full electronisation (meter and shutter) on > an M? How about increasing the top speed and flash speed to something > respectable? How about shutterspeeds viewable in the finder? These are real mods! > Can any of your dream techs do these? They are all do-able BTW. It's just a question of > how much money wou are willing to sink into a limited use camera. > > I wonder sometimes what's a tricked out M is supposed to look like? > > See Ya > Javier > > PS: BTW: In case you didn't know, Sherry's a guy. > > > > Walt, > > > > You won't get Sherry to fix R3-R8 cameras even today. She doesn't do R-bodies. Leicaflexes, yes. R, no. > > > > I agree, if you can get full value out of an electronic-dependant camera within a few years, by all means, buy it and use it up! I'm an amateur and I can't justify replacing my equipment every few years so a camera that can be repaired 30 or 40 years from now makes more sense for me. BTW Sherry has CLA'd both of my SLs in the last couple of years, so they should be good for another couple decades of work. > > > > Doug Herr > > Birdman of Sacramento > > http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/telyt > > -------------------------------------------------- > > Stay in touch with Northwestern and the world. Click http://www.nualumni.com to get your FREE Northwestern StartPage. Customize your own collection of the latest news, sports, stock quotes, and more. Check it out today! > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. > http://im.yahoo.com > >