M9 paint flaking off engraving. Options?

M9 paint flaking off engraving. Options?

  • Return it to Leica. You paid that much money after all.

    Votes: 93 65.0%

  • Live with it. You plan to keep this camera as a user after all.

    Votes: 40 28.0%

  • Do something else (as indicated in the comments).

    Votes: 10 7.0%
  • Total voters
    143
  • Poll closed .
Al Kaplan said:
Why is it that a generation that pays hrough the nose for jeans that have been sandpapered, beaten on rocks 'til they're , bleached, torn, and ripped, wants a pristine new looking camera? When you were a little tot we all wanted to look like we'd survived a war or two, crawled through the Vietnamese jungle or Kuwaiti sand on our bellies, knife clenched in our teeth, Leicas being dragged along behind us. What's next for the properly attired Leica shooter? A make-up mirror on the back flap? Please excuse my rant.

And if you ever do use that camera to make a few bucks that $100 won't matter at all. Don't even get me started on half cases (sorry, Luigi) and how many missed shots they'll cause, or how careful you'll need to be not to scuff the elegant leather finish.
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And why is it that people feel the need to generalise? Not EVERYONE in the OP's generation wants things to look broken-in.

Besides, the OP paid full price for something he wanted and so deserves to get it in the "new" condition in which he expected it to arrive and wants a reasonable explanation as to why some of the paint is already wearing off after a couple of weeks of ownership. Nothing wrong with that, especially for a camera that costs as much as it does.

Personally, I might just live with it (if I were willing to pay for a new M9, which I'm not) but I don't begrudge the OP for considering his options in this matter.
 
scottwallick said:
That's a good point, i.e., consider the number of 'stealthing' threads.

Like a 20-year-old with gray hair, perhaps I should think of it as premature aging. 😛
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That's a positive spin. Certain manufactured items like double struck coins that have defects maintain large premiums. I like the stealth look of your M9 BTW.

I kinda think the defect is cool. What would be cooler is if the rest of the paint on the engraving also came off unintentially, but I like the red dot.

Calzone
 
Besides, the OP paid full price for something he wanted and so deserves to get it in the "new" condition in which he expected it to arrive and wants a reasonable explanation as to why some of the paint is already wearing off after a couple of weeks of ownership. Nothing wrong with that, especially for a camera that costs as much as it does.
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Nothing stays new forever. It's wear and tear. And he's worn it out more than most in a short period of time.

He needs to ask himself how often he's handled the camera since purchased. And when holding the camera does his finger rest on top of the logo. When he carries it, is there any direct contact with clothing on the logo.


Personally, I'd just keep it. The camera will start brassing anyway in 3 months. It's paint.
 
Using nail polish

Using nail polish

250swb,

I have used nail polish on a lot of my vintage cameras to fill in lost paint, without any negative effects. My black Summicron had a lot of the white paint missing in the recesses of the distance scales, so I used my handy 99-cent nail polish and then wiped away the excess. These paints are basically varnish-based enamel and are bright and rock-hard when dry. The other paints dry slower and may react to the black base, though I am not sure. In any event I never worried that much since these were all "users".
 
Those who say 'ignore it' are made of sterner stuff than I, or have never had new gear and seen it age prematurely.

I still freak out at the scratch marks on the black paint of my M8.2, caused by a finder coming off and chewing up the paint as it was jostled in my camera bag.

Cheers,

R.
 
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Roger Hicks said:
Those who say 'ignore it' are made of sterner stuff than I, or have never had new gear and see it age prematurely.

I still freak out at the scratch marks on the black paint of my M8.2, caused by a finder coming off and chewing up the paint as it was jostled in my camera bag.

Cheers,

R.
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Good point Roger. All my gear is all used gear. Although about half of my Leica lenses (two of four) are like new, I guess I'm use to seeing gear that is well used. I never owned a new car either.

I still like the missing paint on the engraving though and one day the rest of the M9 will be less perfect, but $7k is a lot of money.

Calzone
 
I can't believe there is even an option for ... 'just live with it!'

Damn! ... if I had the money to buy a Jag or BMW or similar and it started to lose paint anywhere, even under the hood, I wouldn't just bite my tongue and do nothing because ... "after all, it is nice to drive!"

Self stealthing M9's ... what will Leica think of next to sell cameras? 😀
 
IdeaDog said:
I voted "live with it" because everything else is spot-on with the camera. I tape over my logos. Not because Hank Bresson did, but mainly to avoid the "weenie factor" of friendly strangers pointing at my camera and hollering, "Is that a Pentax? My brother-in-law shoots Nikon!". I also am averse to advertising for others unless I am PAID to do so. So I tape over the logos of Canon, Holga, Voigtlander, Zeiss Ikon, GE (kitchen appliances) and so on. I also don't wear clothing with logos or sayings. I let a black waterproof marker seep into the bright white threads of the annoying "THE NORTH FACE" logo on my jacket and biking gloves. (Are you getting the picture?)
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Heh, you are the antithesis to this guy...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigmoontattoo/2514998242/
2514998242
 
Roger, I have had new gear and have seen all kinds of things happen. Live with it. Get a white paint stick and re-whiten the M9. If it was big flakes of black paint coming off that would be another story. The camera is working spot on, keep it.
 
scottwallick said:
After a day shy of two weeks with the M9, I'm really pleased with this camera. Although, I must admit I'm slightly stumped by the learning curve associated with digital post-processing. That is another thread.

And perhaps I will have some time to just play with my photos on my computer, as I'm considering sending my M9 back to Leica. See attached image.

The paint has started to flake off the 'M9'. While my M9 has performed fine, exposures are as I take them, rangefinder is spot on, buttons respond, etc., I'm a bit disappointed that after just two weeks I have paint wear.

This is, after all, my 'first Leica', and I'd at least like to have it look new while it is new. It's one of those things that will just bug me if I let is slide. Or maybe I should. Haven't made up my mind.

Thoughts?
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😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

I would not be a happy chappy if I'd just dropped multo-dollarage for a flaky paint job - sure I love my beat-up M6, but I bought it 'well used' and only paid a fraction of the price of new one - and even the white paint on the M6 is intact....


I'd send it back to be repaired
 
IdeaDog said:
To the original poster, though: genuinely sorry your brand new M9 is flaking paint. That's a drag and the first scratch is the hardest.
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Thanks. The funny thing is, there isn't a scratch on it yet, including the LCD. It's still brand new—except for the flaking paint. And the spots that get touched and used, the shutter dial and the LCD buttons, aren't flaking—yet, at least.

IdeaDog said:
When I get good optics or a well-aligned rangefinder, I don't like mailing it around more than really needed, so I'd consider taping it over and shooting like mad.
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And that, sir, is my dilemma. 😛
 
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