L
lainer
Guest
It's sad isn't it? The days of hanging onto a camera for decades is long gone. We are now into the disposable camera era.
M9 suddenly died.
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It's sad isn't it? The days of hanging onto a camera for decades is long gone. We are now into the disposable camera era.
L
lainer
Guest
This is why gears and springs will beat circuits and solder nine time out of ten. My M2 works just fine, thank you. So do my M4 and Canon P. But I DO sympathise, and feel bad for the OP.
Which is why I am hanging onto my M6! I love digital, but I will always have a film back-up for when the digital era dies and the re-birth of film begins. I can dream, right? LOL!
L
lainer
Guest
I hope you're right, because the repairs on these cameras are outrageous! Also, because I want to get a M9 eventually.
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
If I had a dime for each time this kind of predictability came about...
...I guess I'd have five M9s by now
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
If I had a penny for every single time a Leica thread spurred a Nikon comparison...
... I'd be able to buy Johnny Depp's island and keep the change.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
Which is why I am hanging onto my M6! I love digital, but I will always have a film back-up for when the digital era dies and the re-birth of film begins. I can dream, right? LOL!
Actually, the M6 was hammered in the first years following its release - because of weak electronics....
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
When I had a fault in my DMR, it turned out to be not the digital part, but the mint R9 that was the problem. The repair was more expensive than a brand-new R8. So into the bin it went....I hope you're right, because the repairs on these cameras are outrageous! Also, because I want to get a M9 eventually.
Ben Z
Veteran
It's sad isn't it? The days of hanging onto a camera for decades is long gone. We are now into the disposable camera era.
My Canon 20D I bought in 2004 is still my most-used camera (it's my office camera). Still works and produces results as good as the day I bought it. I'm also seeing prices on the 5D-I seem to be holding well (prices for used ones appear to be slightly higher than what I paid for a refurb 1 1/2 yrs ago). Even if the M9 comes into plentiful supply, $7K is beyond what a lot of people will spend, and I doubt even a demo or used one will sell for much under $5K until there's an M10. Once everyone who plans on an M9 gets theirs, the supply of used M8's will taper off, and I expect to see it hold steady at or above $2K for the forseeable future. Sure there will always be people who have to buy the latest no matter how slight the improvement, but improvements are not coming in quantum leaps like they used to so a lot of people have pulled back on the reins. Plus of course there's that nasty economy
ruslan
Established
This is a beter, M8 and 1Ds III:
http://www.googlefight.com/index.php?lang=en_GB&word1=leica+M8+dies&word2=canon+1dsIII+dies
Olsen
Well-known
Neither Nikon or Sony make the sensor. It's made by a third company. While Canon produces their own SMOS sensors. All camera producer buy their shutters from the same Japanese company (forgot the name of it). Just like the German car industry, the camera industry is a cluster of sub contractors and suppliers. Canon and Nikon share the same suppliers for some of the tele lenses - I could go on....
Olsen
Well-known
Sorry, but no,
The M9 is far more reliable than both M8 and M8.2 which both suffered the Red Line Problem. That said, Leica has shown great generosity and have repaired all cameras I know of even outside the warranty period and to 2.hand buyers. Having both a Leica M8 and a Canon 1Ds III (and the I & II before that), Leica stands out as both faster, more convenient and far more generous than Canon when it comes to repair. Canon has split up their service facility from the sales so no deals can be done. Is the warranty period over you have to pay. That is not the rule with Leica.
No typical fault has been reported on a large volume of M9 cameras as in the same manner as with the M8/M8.2 (Red Line). Possibly with the exception of low battery life; to which there is an easy fix: Have two batteries.
Regardless; you can count on Leica's willingness to offer service and to be as generous as it is reasonable. Which I think also the thread starter can confirm.
PKR
Veteran
One reason I've stayed with Nikon over the years is their repair policy. I don't know if you remember the "pinched circuit board" problem with the F2. Nikon Replaced all of these cameras with out question. All you did was show up at with your camera at Nikon repair (or ship to them), and they took the top plate off (with the serial number) and put the top plate on a new camera. Kodak has over the years proven to have the worst policy.. my opinion.
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NickTrop
Veteran
Heh... Leica apologists. An M9 body is $7000. Need anyone be reminded? They should not spontaneously die - ever, and they should have a warranty that lasts for years - if not the life of the camera at this price point. As far as comparisons to the Nikon D200? That's a $1900 camera body - bit of a difference there, no? And that's a pro-level camera that doesn't skimp on anything build quality-wise, illustrative of the absolutely laughable price point of the M9. As for the "pages and pages of repair issues on the web" cited by someone for the Nikon? That's a non-starter in light of the difference in sales volume between the M9 and the D200, not to mention the reasonable charge for Nikon wares vs. Leica. The price of an M9 is absurd. The camera's true worth is $4000 at best. The other three grand is for a red dot. But who can fault them if they can get away with it? I'm sure it's cheap to paint a red dot on something. - And nothing illustrates what can only be described as bald schysterism that was exposed when Leica had the balls to sell the various small sensor rebadged (or "redotted") Panasonic digicams for hundreds and hundreds more than the exact same Panasonics over the years. Folks know this, buy them anyway.
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Jamie123
Veteran
I don't know if it's really that cheap. This guy charges quite a premium for his hand-made red dot
The whole discussion around Leica and the M9 is really funny. On the one side there are the ''Leica haters'' who aren't really haters of the product per se but they hate that they want it but can't afford it and on the other side are the Leica apologists who feel they have to justify spending lots of money on an item the price of which might not exactly reflect its performance.
There's no doubt that the M9 is a very expensive camera compared to other digital 35mm offerings. Whether or not it's too expensive really depends on the buyer. There's no such thing as a ''true worth'' of the camera unless you mean the cost of production. As long as Leica manage to sell most of what they produce they're not overpricing their cameras.
I really don't get all the anger towards Leica. They're obviously taking advantage of their monopoly in the digital RF market segment but it's not like they do anything to prevent others of entering this market. There's also nothing unethical about selling a digital rangefinder for $7k. It's basically a luxury item (as most cameras are). There's no one on this earth who can't live without an M9. It's not like they're selling cancer drugs.
NickTrop
Veteran
- This is a broad assumption. If you're indeed referring to me, I don't "hate Leica". They make a fine product, as are the Panny digicams they slap their $400 red dots on. And I can also buy any Leica system if I wanted to though admittedly for me I'd have to tap into funds I wouldn't even consider over a camera for an M9. Have zero interest in that. I'm somewhat sensible, you see. In a nutshell without going in to a lengthy rant, the best analogy I can make about the relationship between Leica and their minions is it's akin to the relationship a woman might have with a significant other who abuses her but keeps coming back. One just sits back - as an observer, and asks, "Why?"... -Then hear the customary and cliched rationalization after rationalization. In either case, tiz a curious phenomenon this to the observer.
To your other point - anything that isn't taxed (in the US) might be considered a luxury item. All cameras are luxury items. This is an item of conspicuous consumption, largely. They don't have a monopoly in digital rangefinders, either. Digital rangefinders are too small a subcategory to qualify as a monopoly. It competes against other camera alternatives and, as well, didn't Epson relaunch their rangefinder? If so, even within this microscopic subcategory, they're not the only player.
L
lainer
Guest
L
lainer
Guest
I am a M9 hater and lover, so which category do I fit in? I hate that the M9 has sensor and other issues, that it costs too much, and the fact that the M9 breaks down. It shouldn't for that price. I was on the list to buy one. I can't really afford it, but I have the funds for it. I love the M9 for the full frame and the lovely files it produces...sometimes. I don't hate Leica because it's out of my reach, as I spent money on Leica, and a lot of it, though on used equipment. I hate Leica's quality control. It's like was said before, spending that kind of money on a product should get the customer a longer warranty and a camera that has no issues. Leica claims to be the best quality. That's where I get angry, because they aren't. If they were, they'd have much less issues with their M8s, and now the M9s. I love Leica though, the lenses, the film Ms, and hopefully one day they will lower their prices and have less issues with the digital M cameras. I can dream, right? (I also think the sweet spot for quality is their M8.2 camera. Why Leica also chose to go back to that plastic LCD on the M9, I'll never know, but it was a bonehead move!) Again, though, they are just computers, and we all know how that goes. No matter how much I wish it, all cameras that are digital will end up in the landfill sooner or later. That's the saddest part of all.
Still, the digital rangefinders as frustrating as they are to use and not the best quality control, they produce (in the right hands) the most lovely images that look like no other from any camera on the market. The lenses are the thing. I wish I could put my Leica M lenses on my Nikon! LOL!
Still, the digital rangefinders as frustrating as they are to use and not the best quality control, they produce (in the right hands) the most lovely images that look like no other from any camera on the market. The lenses are the thing. I wish I could put my Leica M lenses on my Nikon! LOL!
arunrajmohan
Established
What is fair is....
What is fair is....
When $10000 Hyundai Accent has a 10 year 100000 mile warranty, It would only be fair that M9 should have a 7 year 70000 actuations warranty?
What is fair is....
When $10000 Hyundai Accent has a 10 year 100000 mile warranty, It would only be fair that M9 should have a 7 year 70000 actuations warranty?
L
lainer
Guest
When $10000 Hyundai Accent has a 10 year 100000 mile warranty, It would only be fair that M9 should have a 7 year 70000 actuations warranty?
I agree.
Soothsayerman
Established
My audio equipment which is a luxury item if there ever was one, has a 25 year no questions asked warranty. Too bad Bryston doesn't make cameras!
That being said, my nikon FM2n will probably out live me!
Send it in to Leica warranty or no and insist they repair it!
That being said, my nikon FM2n will probably out live me!
Send it in to Leica warranty or no and insist they repair it!