Any trouble with M leicas on long flights

N

Nikon Bob

Guest
We may be making a long flight and I was wondering if anyone had had problems with their M leicas, or lenses for that matter, getting out of whack on long duration flights. I am trying to decide between taking my FM2n, which has done long flights with no ill effects, and an M4 which is an unknown quantity in that reguard. I seem to recall trouble with rangefinder alignment due to vibrations.

Bob
 
You're carrying your M's with you right Bob?
I mean, you're not thinking of putting those into your checked luggage are you?

I've never brought one on a long flight but I will be taking them to New York City in December with me (1.5 hour flight). I would think that they should be ok if they're packed properly (i.e. in a proper padded camera bag).

Dave
 
as long as they are part of your carry-ons, they will be fine.

I've travelled with my M6s thousands of miles, no problems with alignment or other issues.
 
Long flight or short flight - no difference to the camera.
All flights in cabin of course.
 
Thanks to everyone so far. I tend not to have the camera loaded and ready to go while flying because of all the security BS and some want to open it up and otherwise monkey with it. Just too much hassle. I also would never consider putting anything of value in checked luggage, dirty underwear maybe. Travelling today is just so much fun but the destination usually makes up for it.

Bob
 
If it is your carry on they will search it because they don't really recognize them on the scanners... when I travelled to To europe I took my 111a and my zorki 1 and I got searched at every airport because the don't look like the average camera...
 
Hey, it's a Leica M. If they can go to war, they can certainly fly in airplanes in carry-on without a problem.
 
Skinny McGee said:
If it is your carry on they will search it because they don't really recognize them on the scanners... when I travelled to To europe I took my 111a and my zorki 1 and I got searched at every airport because the don't look like the average camera...
Click to expand...

I just went through 2 airports today with a IIIa in my hand bag and nobody said boo. I travel all over the world frequently and haven't had anyone outside the US go poking in my camera bag, and even in the US, not since the TSA took over and no more minimum-wage grunts screening bags.

As to the effect of plane travel, I've never had any problems and my Leicas have flown probably millions of miles over the years. That said, I always carry them in a small well-padded bag which is inside my carry-on wrapped in clothing, and that then placed in the overhead bin. I wouldn't want to vouch for what would happen if I used one of those unpadded burlap bags (like the M-Classic) or the thin-padded Domkes, and set the bag in direct contact with the overhead bin or worse, the floor of the plane. Those places can really get to vibrating, not to mention getting knocked and kicked about.
 
I have had no problems with my IIIa or M's - always been in a Billingham or similar bag in the over-head lockers and they have had plenty of "air-mileage" including about four 6,000mile long haul trips every year. I do always pack them with some silica gel due to the changing air moisture and condensation on and off the plane.

Dan
 
It's a well-known fact that Leica M's, unlike other cameras, become lighter in proportion to the inverse square of their distance from the center of the earth: hence the oft-mentioned floating camera problem.
 
The only thing I would do different is not remove the lenses. On my way to Paris this summer I took two M bodies and three lenses in a billingham bag. I mounted two lenses end to end with two end caps taped together. In the airport xray the M5 looked like a brick of something or another, and the lenses looked like a long tube of who knows what. When I saw the image on the xray screen even I was startled, and of course I was hand checked.
On the way back I left the lenses on and the familar profile of a camera was fine.
 
I've taken Leicas all over the world without any problems nor would I expect any.

I do suggest, as others have done already, that you carry your Leica in a bag with a bit of padding around it. The last people to board a plane can use an astonishing amount of force to cram their luggage into the overhead bin. Better yet, put the camera bag under your seat.
 
To follow up on Ben Z's comment, I'd worry about vibration, specially coming through the floor of prop planes used in shorter flights. In a sense, longer flights may be safer for our camera, as the bigger planes seem less prone to vibration.
 
I just got back from 4 weeks of travel in Asia. I went through security with a Bessa R and a Bessa R3A plus two extra lenses in: Vancouver, Seattle, Narita, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dempasar, Mataram, Chiang Mai, Colombo and Hong Kong, and not once did they ask me to pull my cameras out of my carry-on bag, so I wouldn't worry about extra hassle.
 
My M4 just returned from a visit to DAG for rangefinder adjustment. It travelled about 4000 miles on its return trip over 3 days and was received just fine. I assume that most of it were air miles!

rtphotos :D
 
jja said:
To follow up on Ben Z's comment, I'd worry about vibration, specially coming through the floor of prop planes used in shorter flights. In a sense, longer flights may be safer for our camera, as the bigger planes seem less prone to vibration.
Click to expand...

Mine have have been in 2 seater prop planes, jets, dropped, bounced around in jeeps, and NYC cabs for 25+ years. Never had a problem.
 
Keith, good to know Leicas are as tough as you describe. Still, when I can help it, I'll just be careful.
 
jja said:
Keith, good to know Leicas are as tough as you describe. Still, when I can help it, I'll just be careful.
Click to expand...


Being careful is always good idea. They are tough though!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom