[Leica] Report of M8 Base Failure

[dlr at dlridings.se (Daniel Ridings)]

Gene,
Maybe the conclusion is that Leica shouldn't make such fast (and BIG) 
lenses :-)

I've said it in another posting, but cracked body shells is hardly 
unique to the M8. I have a couple of them to my name when it comes to 
traditional M's. Sonny might very well be right when he described this 
as "pilot error".

If I was an M8 users I wouldn't be too bent out of shape. I'd sure be 
careful with tripods bending things out of shape, but that is nothing 
new. Just try putting a Rolleiflex on a tripod without any special 
additions to the body and you can run into problems pretty quick too.

Daniel

grduprey@mchsi.com wrote:
> Daniel,
> 
> Overall i would agree, but the single piece body is much costlier to 
> produce and probably repair.  Since everyone seems to beat on Leica about 
> the cost of initial purchase and repair costs, and the need to reduce 
> these in future products, this is probably why they went this route.  Then 
> again just about every other camera company uses this method with little 
> or no problem.  Another reason they probably did it this time.  I am 
> leaning on waiting to see what the analysis of the failures shows at this 
> time.  I am using mine on a hand grip mounted to the m8 so i can shoot one 
> handed, and so far it has worked just fine with no indications of loose 
> fit it stress.  I have another 7 weeks to go before i have use of both 
> hands again.  The down side is it is very clumsy to work this way with the 
> camera, and one handed is not good for shakeiness.  ;-)
> 
> Gene
> 
>