Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/12/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Right Jayanand. I sort of thought that was implied in my post. M's through my two 6's (I never had a 7) were tough as nails. Now we have fewer moving mechanical parts and need the electronic equivalent of the precision machining which made a Leica a Leica. I have no complaints re: my M8 and Tina's experience offers anecdotal reassurance just as Nathan's experience offers anecdotal concerns. I'm not losing sleep over any of it. Simply suggesting, if Leica wishes to rebuild the professional base it once had, that they give serious consideration to dependable electronics well protected from the elements in which professionals work. 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 8:03 PM, Jayanand Govindaraj wrote: > George, > Electronics is the main culprit in modern cameras, and it is not > restricted > to Leica. The M2 & M3 had no electronics, and the worst that could > happen in > the M6 due to electronics is loss of metering. Therefore there was > less that > could go wrong with them. With digital, a small malfunction, always > possible, might lead to a whole circuit board being changed - > leading to > expensive repairs for seemingly minor problems. But Leica should > minimise > these by giving a level of weather sealing and dust proofing - like > my Nikon > D300 - not absolutely bulletproof, but good enough. > Cheers > Jayanand > > On Wed, Dec 23, 2009 at 4:11 AM, George Lottermoser > <imagist3 at mac.com>wrote: > >> 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 >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information