Ouch! Base plate retainer has snapped off.

[Richard Marks]

Well I have to say I did drop my M8 although it was in its leather protection case (also shown on picture). As you can see, the base plate retainer has snapped. On the M8 this is a thin slot shaped cut into the edge of the plate as opposed to the more familiar circular one on film M's. The metal on the M8 is very thin at the edge and a relatively small drop has caused it to snap. leica have been very good and have ordered a replacement for me under the passport scheme, but I have to say it certainly is not as strong as a film m at this point. Why on earth did they change it?

Well at least my camera still works, but clearly cant use it on a tri pod until the replacement arrives.

 

[AGeoJO]

Hi Richard,
Mishaps do happen, I guess. I agree though that they need to reinforce that section.

Keep on shooting,
Joshua

 

[Joe Mondello]

Very surprised that that would happen from a drop -- especially in the "camera protector" (I have that too).

I haven't had an M Leica for 19 years but I also thought that the change from the half moon design on the M3 I had to this slot and tab arrangement seemed a bit dicey.

Glad to hear that you are getting a replacement (hopefully faster than one gets filters!).

How high a fall did it take and onto what kind of surface? I've dropped my Canon G7 a few times -- once knocked it off a shelf onto carpet from about 1 meter, once it fell from my jacket pocket to a tile restaurant floor, about 20 inches and once it fell out of my pocket exiting a cab and fell into the cab's footwell also less than 2 feet, and despite some very very small dents, it was completely unaffected.

I expect the Leica not to break easily so I am wondering what it took to break this piece?

 

[Richard Marks]

Hi
1.Thanks Joshua. Ill keep on shooting.
2.Jo it was a fall from waist height onto a pavement, but it landed actually on the point of the base plate, and thats what did the damage. I too am suprised the case did not stop this from happening. The more you think about it though, why on earth did they change their time honoured mechanism. There is nothing functionally different about the base plate. I hope when they get my base plate for inspection that they may make a modification.
Best wishes
Richard

 

[DaveB]

That base plate is pretty light compared to the rest of the M8. It has a rather unsubstantial stamped-metal feel to it.

Given the mass of a M8 with even a small lens I'm not surprised that a drop from a height of a meter would bust that little band of stamped metal.

On the other hand, it demonstrates how robust that metal tab that it mates with is!

 

[Richard Marks]

Dave I think you are right about the base plate. is anyone in a position to compare its weight with an M film base plate?

 

[GrahamWelland]

I find the new design with the slot more cumbersome to mount when I exchange cards too. A larger tab/button would be much easier to engage when I re-attached the plate.

I'm surprised the tab broke though - it must take some energy to do that, especially inside the leather case.

 

[DaveB]

On a related note, I wonder whether the Leica handgrip for the M8 is fabricated in the same pressed metal manner?

The additional torsion applied by the handgrip might make failure or bending at the tab even more likely.

In the 72 hrs that I've had my M8 I've wished frequently for a handgrip. Particularly with no rewind lever to hang my thumb on.

 

[usccharles]

i just got a handgrip and have been using it with my 75/1.4 and i too have been wondering, even before Richards camera drop, how sturdy the baseplate and the tab are. it made me uncomfortable just hand carrying my camera on the handgrip and after this thread i'm making sure the strap is around my neck first. definately do not want my M8 falling on the floor with the handgrip still on my hand 🙂

 

[Richard Marks]

Well I can see why some folks want a handgrip. This however does mean you can not put the protective case on as well. I actually find the case (which has a small in built grip) nice to hold so dont really require the additional grip. But clearly the protective case is not up to much!
I suspect the base plate is going to get modified sooner or later.

 

[neelin]

Ouch!

Ouch!

http://www.leicagoodies.com/ the SLING is amazing to keep the Leica in your hand. It's purpose is twofold, 1. hold your Leica 2. allow you to fumble long enough so you don't have to shake hands with people with a cold 😉

robert

 

[GrahamWelland]

i just got a handgrip and have been using it with my 75/1.4 and i too have been wondering, even before Richards camera drop, how sturdy the baseplate and the tab are. it made me uncomfortable just hand carrying my camera on the handgrip and after this thread i'm making sure the strap is around my neck first. definately do not want my M8 falling on the floor with the handgrip still on my hand 🙂

I use the leather case when I'm walking around as it has enough 'grip' but have a couple of the handgrip plates that I use with tripod plates. Since the plate is screwed into the body at one end there's no real worry about it coming lose. It would have to be a catastrophic failure for the whole assembly to fall apart in normal use.

I'd just wish the tab were a little easier to engage when putting the plate back on - being somewhat clumsy myself 😕

 

[Richard Marks]

Well its certainly easy to fit it on with my modification!
I seem to remember my fillm M had a sort of heal to reinforce the base plate above the hole which fits onto a pin on the body. presumably that eveolved from previous trial and errors. Clearly the real prblem with the current base plate is that there really is not enough metal on the outer edge of the retaining slot. Having said that, we should perhaps get some perspective in that one really should not drop cameras period.

 

[GrahamWelland]

Perhaps you've now got the prototype rapid mount plate 😀

 

[Richard Marks]

Perhaps you've now got the prototype rapid mount plate 😀

Yes thank you Graham
it also makes battery and SD card changing an absolute breeze. Maybe Leica designed it as a special bonus for me to make up for the non arrival of my infra red filters. Incidentally, I hope they are screw on filters! Well you have to laugh!
Best wishes
Richard

 

[ducttape]

Please pardon my ignorance, caused at this time by my being too darn cheap to just order the M8.

However, since the bottom doesn't 'hide' the 'film', it should serve no light-tight function, correct? It would seem the camera would still be usable until Leica gets the replacement out.

Or, is there a button inside someplace that tells the driver the trunk is open and won't let the unit operate?

 

[GrahamWelland]

Yes - there's a button/microswitch that indicztes whether the base is on or off. If it's off, it won't shoot.

 

[Richard Marks]

Yes - there's a button/microswitch that indicztes whether the base is on or off. If it's off, it won't shoot.

Hi
I have sent my base plate off to leica UK and they are sending me the replacement by return. Interestingly i have shoved a piece of blue-tac over the micro switch and then covered the base with the leather outer case and can carry on shooting. Not ideal, but where there's a will...
Leica UK tell me that they have ordered an additonal spare base plate in black (yes just one) in case this happens again. They also agree to obtain a reply from Germany as to why they changed the design. i will of course keep you all posted if and when they reply.
Best wishes
Richard