Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/12/17
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Jerry, I wouldn't be so hard on the pioneers. They went in with their eyes open, knowing the product had problems. But given Leica's past history with mechanical cameras, they expected the problems to be found and fixed in short order. Notice I said mechanical products. Leica's expertise since the 20's has been in optical and mechanical design and in custom manufacturing. They are not an electronic company. I spent 40 years designing products for an electronic company. The last 20 years or so have been the most difficult. With most of the products today being software and firmware controlled, the products never seem to be 100% right. On a fairly complicated $500 product we release to production knowing there may be up to 100 know bugs or so. Mostly in the firmware. I learned a long time ago you never buy the first one off the line. I fault Leica for not having a long enough Beta test and not forcing the Beta testers to find and report problems. I also feel some of the Beta testers may have been awestruck by the good or great aspects of the product while overlooking it's faults. I don't think leica has the experience to realize this. I fully expect to buy an M8 at some point. But it won't be the first one off the line. Len On Dec 17, 2006, at 2:38 PM, Jerry Lehrer wrote: > Leonard, > > We can't all do the smart thing and wait till all the bugs are out. > Some of us have to play > idiots and want to be the "first kid on the block to own one. > > I give my thanks to those rich pioneers who are discovering all the > problems. Better > them than I. > > Of course, some of the exalted were given FREE M8s to use, but they > were forbidden > to mention the problems to the unwashed, under pain of > excommunication. > > Jerry >> Hi Eric, >> >> There have been reports of the M8 locking up, requiring removing >> then reinserting the battery to get it started. >> >> Missing photos on the SD disc. Or blank photos. >> >> Problems with certain models of SD disc. >> >> I don't know if these are "new" problems or some just becoming >> aware of "old" problems. >> >> I haven't purchased a M8 yet. Just keeping notes. >> >> Len >> >> >> On Dec 17, 2006, at 11:19 AM, Eric Korenman wrote: >> >>> What are the "NEW" problems? >>> >>> Eric >>> >>> >>> On 12/17/06, David Keenan <ausdlk@gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> Well, have you been reading about all of the NEW problems with >>>> the new >>>> "fixed" M8's that are just now reaching people's hands? >>>> >>>> I think now that Leica is doomed with the M8. People are so >>>> hyper-critical >>>> (as a bitterly disappointed former owner, I am too) that the >>>> camera is >>>> being >>>> examined with such fine-toothed comb(s) that I question whether >>>> Leica will >>>> ever "get it right" in the eyes of enough consumers to make it a >>>> success. >>>> >>>> Now people are complaining about flare caused by the filters >>>> that must be >>>> used to suppress the IR problem. And there is a new banding >>>> problem that >>>> is >>>> appearing in the same place on lots of different cameras... >>>> >>>> The R-D1 has the same magenta cast problem that wrecked the >>>> introduction >>>> of >>>> the M8 and no one ever noticed it -- or at least never thought >>>> it was a >>>> big >>>> deal. >>>> >>>> My point is that at some point -- and it best be soon -- more >>>> folks need >>>> to >>>> learn to accept the M8 as it is -- if you are inclined to still >>>> want one >>>> -- >>>> or you might just have to kiss Leica goodbye. >>>> >>>> These recalls, shipping delays, pissed off dealers, large lens >>>> discounts, >>>> pissed off customers (some who will never buy Leica again), free >>>> filters, >>>> et >>>> al, must be really, really screwing with Leica Camera AG's >>>> fragile bottom >>>> line. >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Leica Users Group. >>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more >>>> information >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information