Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/07/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]sounds like they didn't understand what you needed done? why did they mention flare?? when i send in my m6es to leica usa, they get the focusing to within a half-inch at 6 feet. - -rei > From: "Daniel Ridings" <dlridings@hotmail.com> > > About a year ago I dropped my M3. (I had already clobbered my M4). The M3 > was hurt very bad, but it had been 30 years since I had it looked over so I > packed both of the cameras up and send them to Solms. > > The M4 had a cracked body. Solms fixed it up like new. Wonderful work. > > The M3 ... now that's a sad story. I got the estimate back (twice as much as > the M4, but hey, we're talking about a cost that only recurs every 30 years > ... so no big deal). > > Among other things, Solms thought I need a new rangefinder. I kind of > shrugged my shoulders and thought ... they know what they're talking about. > > They put one in and the poor camera has been useless since then. I can't get > it to focus and don't dare use an aperature less than f8.0. > > So, before the repair warranty went out, I sent it back. > > Today I got a friendly letter from Solms: > > "Function in Tolerances > > Dear Daniel, > > We checked the camera completely and can not find a problem with the > rangefinder. Due to its technical design we can not improve the performance > of the finder regarding the flare. > > Best regards, > > XX (=a nice guy, so I'm not providing his name)" > > So, in print they admit: it works within their tolerance, but their > tolerances are not what they used to be. > > M3 owners. Do not, I repeat, do not let Solms or any authorized Leica > repairman convince you to replace the rangefinder. > > My poor M3 is more or less junk now. I don't dare use it because the only > thing I can rely on is it not getting the focus right or it not being able > to focus at all because of the flare. This flare business is not a rare > thing ... I run into it all the time. It was my first Leica, now it's doomed > to the shelf. If the modern Leicas have this new rangefinder in them ... > then quality is not a word I would apply to Leica. > > Leicas are good and the best thing about them are that they are quiet. But > as far as reliability ... that rangefinder in them is about as sensitive as > it can be. Bounce it and it breaks. An F3 will run circles around an > M-camera when it comes to durability. > > I guess I'll just have to learn to like my M4 as much as I did my M3. > > Daniel Ridings - -- Rei Shinozuka shino@panix.com Ridgewood, New Jersey - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html