I just dropped my M9

Darthfeeble

Darthfeeble

But you can call me Steve
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Lets talk about how durable the Leica M digitals are. I've seen comments that talk about how they aren't up to the durability of the film cameras. I just dropped mine from about 3 feet onto a wood floor and put a dent in the floor about an eighth of an inch deep and there wasn't a mark on the camera, everything works fine, the rangefinder seems to be still accurate. Not too bad I'd say.
 
I wonder if anyone else has had this sort of experience. While the camera is working fine now, I hope that I don't have trouble down the road.
 
Darthfeeble said:
I wonder if anyone else has had this sort of experience. While the camera is working fine now, I hope that I don't have trouble down the road.
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A couple of years ago, my newly bought but well used Leica M8 fell out of my bag onto the street, landing on the bottom corner. This caused a small dent in the bottom plate and the vertical alignment to go out of alignment, but everything still worked fine. Coincidentally, having buyer's remorse I was going to return it but the minor mishap changed that.
 
Only dropped it once... try surviving 26 improvised explosive blasts. My M8 did that plus survived being dropped a dozen times. M8 and M9 proved to me being tougher than any Sony/Nikon/Canon plastic crap.
 
My Monochrom and 50 Summicron were dropped by someone else from table height onto a carpeted floor. No injury. (My foot was just clear of the impact zone.) The worst thing I've done is drop my 50 C Sonnar onto a hardwood floor from chest height. Bent a B & W filter lip, but that was all.

Well done to you and happy shooting with your super tough M9.
 
Not a digital, but I once sent an M3 + black paint RF 35mm Summilux down a continuous 2-floors worth of wooden stairs, slinky-style, one step at a time. At the bottom, the prism in the finder had become separated (black finder with only the RF spot) but everything else was working 100%. There weren't any new dents at all! In 50+ years, I think it's the only camera I've ever dropped.
 
Darthfeeble said:
Lets talk about how durable the Leica M digitals are. I've seen comments that talk about how they aren't up to the durability of the film cameras. I just dropped mine from about 3 feet onto a wood floor and put a dent in the floor about an eighth of an inch deep and there wasn't a mark on the camera, everything works fine, the rangefinder seems to be still accurate. Not too bad I'd say.
Click to expand...

Nice to know Leicas are still built like Leicas.

It is said that a Leica fell from the cockpit of a USAF fighter plane to the desert floor. It was found, was in working condition, and (I have read) is now in Leica's museum collection.

There is no doubt that they do take hard knocks.
 

Road Down by unoh7, on Flickr

Several times a week I'm on my way "out", backcountry, ski mountain, whatever. I look at the A7, I look at the M9.

Which one you think I'm most afraid will break?
 
Dropped my MP the day I got it. Concrete floor, table height. RF was baked and had to be replaced. Life happens.... I am assuming RF is the weakest part of every M, wish you all to never drop it!
 
I wasn't so lucky. My M9 with 35mm Summicron attached fell 1ft on to gravel.
Upset the rangefinder mechanism and the lens. It's been in Germany for 5 months . I'm told it should be back by the middle of January.
 
Ole butterfingers here has dropped his M cameras plenty of times, including (but not limited to ;)):

M4 in from carrying height onto Tarmac, got it run over by a city bus, still working with the RF out of whack and lens mount bent. Repair costs 2/3rds of the camera price.

M6 out of a window, one floor into the bushes, no damage.

M8 (including photographer) into a small ravine. Photographer stopped after 1.5 meters, camera went on for 5 more.
Damage: Bumps and bruises, twisted knee, camera was still in one piece but heavily dented, RF out of adjustment, shutter broken, body cracked, bottom plate bent. Repair 1850 Euro.


M9 from car seat into the road: RF maladjusted. Ten minute drive to Will van Manen, repair 5 minutes, glass of wine and natter one hour.

M240 from shoulder onto pavement, minor scratch on bottom plate which is brassed anyway. The M240 RF is redesigned to be more impact-resistant.
 
My M8 has seen a lot of minor bumps over the years. Once it was hit from my hand at a pretty high speed, connected with the pavement perhaps two or three meters from me and then went rolling for a few more. The thin piece on the baseplate broke, but I could continue shooting as long as I pushed the baseplate against the camera. No other issues, even the rangefinder maintained its alignment. I don't remember anymore which lens I had on the camera, but there was no lens damage either.
 
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