My M9 died today.....

[x-ray]

Well, every Canon DSLR I have ever owned, or used for an extended period, (there are several including pro and consumer models) have failed me at least once resulting in lost photos and/or opportunities. My Leica M8? Never. If I were to follow your thinking I should never touch a Canon camera ever again and stick to Leica's.

You probably shouldn't touch Canon. There are plenty of other fine choices like Nikon. On the other hand I've used Canon professionally for about ten years now and put some heavy use on my cameras without a single problem. Then again I've used leica M's professionally for 44 years and many thousand rolls through them and the only issues have been current equipment made since the 80's. This includes lenses that weren't made properly and would not focus to infinity on any body (summilux asph 50), a 35 v4 that came apart, 90 asph summicron with defective focusing mount, 50 summicron with poorly cut helix in the focus and a new a la carte MP that the shutter failed on within a couple of hundred rolls.

Enjoy your M8, you have one that works.

 

[literiter]

The Leica M9 is a marvelous camera, for those who want a camera like this.

It is a marvelous camera but not nearly as marvelous as the M2, M3, M4 and occasionally the M4-P.

 

[raid]

In my last car purchase, I asked for a seven year warranty. It was very reasonably priced, and I feel better about spending lots of money on a car.I feel similarly about an expensive camera. If it is manual, many can repair it. If it is digital, a long term warranty should be offered.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Would M9 owners take their camera on a two-week trip to another continent without a second camera?

I just did -- two weeks in France, drove about 1800 miles and took about 800 shots. Only the M9, 4 lenses, two batteries, charger -- no problems whatsoever.

 

[bwcolor]

I don't think that anyone buys a Ferrari if reliability is at the top of their wish list.

Leica is not at the cutting edge of reliability, technology, or anything else. What they do is design, assemble and market cameras that have unique features that a small number of people desire and that a small company with limited resources can build. They are meticulous with regards to providing those features... OK, they are number one when it comes to digital mechanical rangefinders.

 

[raid]

I did not buy a Ferrari! I was looking for reliability.

 

[dave lackey]

With the number of documented issues I don't understand why people continue to buy these. It has to be the name leica.

There are way more issues than the sensor. Kodak makes the sensor for a number of cameras including the Hasselblad backs. I've never heard of a failure of any of these high end camera sensors except Leica.

Considering the number of Nikons and Canons vs Leica I would guess the failure rate to be much lower or almost non existent compared to Leica. How many people do you know or have you read complaints about that had Nikons, Canons, Sony or other cameras fail.

I am one! Many others I know with dead D3s upon opening the box. Same price as the M9! So what? Anyone have any RELIABLE failure rates of ANY camera manufacturer? I didn't think so.

Let Leica do its thing. Or sell the camera. Or not.

 

[Turtle]

In addition to the many problems reported for the M9, you have the stupendous cost of repair. It would be one thing if the cost of shutter replacement was $200, but its more like $1000 upwards. The last time I saw a price on this forum it was 900 Euros so more than $1300. This cost of failure is a game changer and is the reason I would never consider a used digital M. With the cost of used M9s, all it takes is one shutter replacement and you are right back to the cost of a new one with 2 year warranty. Heaven knows what a sensor replacement would cost :O

 

[kbg32]

Every time your digital M is repaired, I believe the warranty is extended. Yeah, it's stupid.....

 

[FrankHarries]

Too bad to read that! Hope it will turn out not to be too expensive for you. (and it's one of the reasons why I only use film-Ms..)

 

[jsrockit]

Would M9 owners take their camera on a two-week trip to another continent without a second camera?

Yes.

I can't wrap my mind around spending 7 grand for a Sunday shooter.

Understandable. It was a one time purchase for me that I cannot see myself doing again (even though I do love it).

 

[Calzone]

Good luck Keith.

Cal

 

[Ben Z]

I had an M8 for 3 years, and an M9 now for 1 1/2 years and so far no repairs needed at all. Would I take it on a trip without a backup? Yes. I do in fact. My wife has her p&s, and I could always buy one to get me through the rest of the trip if worst came to worst. I'm not a professional photographer whose livelihood and reputation rests on bringing back the goods from a travel trip, and I don't see any reason why to break my bank and/or back hauling backup gear. But even with a 100% reliable outfit (if such did exist), there's always drop damage and theft. And what if the backup fails too? Unless you're a pro travel photographer on assignment, just how OCD does it pay to be, up to the point of sucking all the fun out of travel?