Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/12/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> All true enough Geoff. > > However, many of us come from using M2's, 3's and 6's > under the most adverse conditions with very little maintenance; > beyond the occasional wiping down, and dusting off. > So the mechanical M's have a reputation > which the digital M's may not live up to > without reevaluating the "sealing" issue. > > Most of us who chose buy and now love our M8's > knew we would walk this bleeding edge. > Fine. > > However, now in the third generation of digital M's > I'm feeling that this particular issue requires immediate and serious > attention > (way beyond IR filters, magenta casts, corner issues - the camera has > to WORK); > unless Leica wants only dilettante users in air conditioned clean rooms; > instead of hard working professionals who sweat, > and regularly shoot near oceans, deserts, swimming pools, > storms, factories, foundries, ball fields, etc. > > Nathan did not abuse his camera. > 5,000 - 10,000 exposures in a year > with a little sweat and sea air > (he didn't sail every weekend > and I doubt he set the camera in the sand at the beach) > should not require a $500 + repair. > > Nor should he have to choose a different camera, > other than the $4-5K Leica, > for a daily hour bike ride. > > I appreciate your dedicated love of Leica. > I share it; > until the third generation gear self destructs > under normal advanced amateur > or professional use. > > Regards, > George Lottermoser > george at imagist.com > http://www.imagist.com > http://www.imagist.com/blog > http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist > > On Dec 22, 2009, at 3:57 PM, Geoff Hopkinson wrote: > >> George it is not common but clearly it can happen. It has been >> vigorously >> discussed in the L Camera Forum when another person had an >> expensive repair >> quote after saying that their camera was only briefly exposed to a >> rain >> shower. Others including our Tina reported very different experiences. >> There was a clamour there regarding the need for weather sealing. I >> don't >> remember it coming up before despite every previous M not having that >> sealing either. >> That's the nature of internet groups for you. The discussions are >> by no >> means limited to people with actual experiences to report. >> >> Whatever the circumstance, of course we know that Nathan is honest >> in his >> recollection. I believe that Solms certainly have been truthful as >> well. The >> specific agent that has damaged Nathan's camera is NOT proven but >> it does >> seem most likely that it has been a product of the operating >> environment. >> Specifically humid salty air (sea breeze carrying fine blown sand/ >> salt too?) >> and possibly sweat from handling and using the camera during honest >> exercise >> cycling around in that environment. Very important to acknowledge that >> Nathan is NOT ranting nor complaining of course. >> By the way, from my technical maintenance back ground, YES >> corrosion is very >> bad news and can develop quickly. In this case it has apparently been >> limited to a small switch area, luckily (and due to Nathan getting >> it dealt >> with promptly). >> 2009/12/23 George Lottermoser <imagist3 at mac.com> >> >>> So, then, aside from your frustration re: being without the camera, >>> what DO you make of their analysis of the issue? >>> >>> Do you think >>> the weather conditions >>> salt water proximity >>> sweat >>> what in the world >>> could have caused corrosion >>> in such a brief period of time? >>> >>> Is it possible that something at the factory >>> actually was not cleaned off during mfg? >>> >>> It just seems such a weird break down. >>> (and one I've not heard of previously) >>> >>> Do you read the l-camera forum? >>> Have you checked with that list about this fault? >>> >>> >>> Regards, >>> George Lottermoser >>> george at imagist.com >>> http://www.imagist.com >>> http://www.imagist.com/blog >>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist >>> >>> On Dec 22, 2009, at 2:53 PM, Nathan Wajsman wrote: >>> >>> No, I will not treat it any differently. I exercise reasonable >>> care, do not >>>> walk around with it in rainy weather etc., but at the end of the >>>> day I have >>>> it in order to take pictures. >>>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Cheers >> Geoff >> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 Wow THIRD GENERATION of digital M's! I don't thinks so!! The M8 came out shakily 3 years ago. What's the second generation the M8.2!?? I don't think so. We may not still be on day one with digital M's we're on day two. A built it rangefinder and interchangeable lenses are still a few years off. I'm happy they're just beginning to get it figured out. Mark William Rabiner