Nice video! I live in Northern Germany and was in Wetzlar twice as a stop over on my way to Italy. It is an amazing company and it is definitely worth a visit. For the saltwater problem I think the best is to take out your batteries asap and put the electronic device in tap water then in distilled water. The corrosion will stop as there are no electrolytes in the water. Repeat this and rinse everything properly. The clean distilled water will not harm the electronics. Then take it out and dry it for a couple of days. If you are lucky everything works fine again. This actually happened to a colleague of mine. Some burglars broke into our research institute and they stole an expensive oscilloscope. Half a year later my colleague found this oscilloscope by pure chance at the bottom of our little pond under ice because of the orange color. The burglar must have dropped it there because it was too heavy. My colleague rescued it: he cleaned it, put it in distilled water and rinsed it thoroughly , dried it and voila, it worked again.
Hi Matt, Great information, many thanks! I was very happy for you that your photography allows you to be able to go on such exciting adventures and meet such interesting people All the very best for Christmas and the New Year ahead Very kindest regards, Ron
I’m not surprised with the info you shared. “Back in the day”, many moons ago etc, most of my photography mentors encouraged purchasing multiple camera bodies in order to diminish risk of cancellation of jobs. 1 body in use; 1 body in transition; and 1 body in the shop was the expectation in my workdays. Skilled support technicians are always appreciated, imo!
this is a big positive for choosing the M11 since, if they are often in service, then you only have one to shoot with. If you’re down to just one camera the M11 is the only one with dual storage
Thank you so much for the useful video, I recently sent back my D-Lux 109 which has the zoom error issue that many users often come across, and after watching the video I learned a lot.
Hey Matt✌ Nice that you were also in Wetzlar, I haven't had the opportunity yet. but if it comes up, I will of course make a visit and I'm really looking forward to it.👌 Hopefully soon-😉 I can imagine it or you read a lot that you have to wait a long time. Especially with the old M, but this means you have another piece of technology that will hopefully do its job again for years, whether as a collector or user. I prefer to use them and enjoy the results and pictures👍na I'm looking forward to the next video from Wetzlar that you will show us. Lg Anderl
This reminds me of the E Type Jaguars. Beautiful, expensive machines, but you need to hire a tow truck to follow you around because it’ll eventually break down.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Yeah, I had a 1976 Fiat 124 Spider that was so fun to drive, but the clutch cable kept leaving me stranded. FIAT = Fix It Again, Tony. To be fair, Italians probably only drive a mile to work. Here in California, driving 50 miles one way to work is a normal thing. I could easily put 150 miles on the odometer on a “short” weekend cruise. Those Fiat’s were not built for American driving, that’s for sure.
Hi Matt. Thanks for sharing your experience and information with everyone who follows you. Dispiriting to hear there are so few technicians especially given their workload. Overworked & under resourced! I got my Leica M Typ 240 back after 5 months in mid-October. Camera looked great & turned on. Sadly within a few weeks the shutter stopped working! After discussions with the folks at London Mayfair it’s been sent off to Leica again! 😢
Hi Stuart, sorry to hear this and I hear it before also sadly. I'm not sure what the answer is but it's so frustrating when it's your main camera that is away for many months at a time. I hope you get it resolved soon. (Perhaps ask about buying a newer model instead if they can't fix it and get discount off the next one). The shop I bought from tried to do this with me and my M10 but I said no as prices had increased so it was worth more than a refund and rebuying.
Thanks Matt appreciate you taking the time to respond. Shame to hear that but not entirely surprising either. I’ll keep that in mind once I hear back from them in the new year. Real shame as this is my first Leica. Only plus side is I’ve focused a lot more on my film photography & been enjoying it.
It depends on what you have done, see the full conversion info video linked at the end of this video or search M10-M10P MrLeica and look out for the slide showing the info received from Leica.
Thanks for info. Yes Nikon is faster but they are mass produced so not really a fair comparison. I love my Nikon film cameras too.. I need to review my FM3a!
Canon once rebuilt the nose end of a super telephoto lens and realigned the IBIS in my camera in 26 hours. Canons and Nikons are made for professionals. Unless you can afford a basketful of Leicas, they are hobby cameras. (Yes, I have my professional Canon and OM Systems cameras. The Leica really is an art / hobby camera for me.)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Likely fast to fix, but despite moving production to China and then expanding production there x100vis are still out of stock nearly a year after release. So us Fuji peasants still get a small taste of the Leica Experience 🙃
Great video Matt; very enlightening regarding Leica's service operations (and it all makes perfect sense). Is the primary reason for M-Cameras coming in for service for rangefinder adjustments, or something else like shutter speed adjustments (I had a Leica IIIf that had an issue with the 1 second shutter speed; it was as if it was in Bulb instead of 1 sec).
Very interesting to hear the details. I bought a new 28mm summilux this year and after only a few rounds of light usage, it literally came apart. It took me a while to get to Leica Boston to get support, but they claimed 6-8 weeks (dropped it off in early Nov.), so I'll see how they do with my lens! And as you referenced, would be nice to have it for the holidays! Cheers (Oh, and as a result, ended up adding to the longer end of the mm scale, buying a used 75mm Voightlander from Leica Mayfair when I was in London when the 28 actually fell apart - they were good to work with!)
@@FrankGrauStudio For me, anomalies don’t drive decisions. There are occasional problems with all products, but otherwise Leicas are amazing. Definitely expensive, but worth it - for me. You do you.
I own a small manufacturing company, largely hand-building our products where others use machines. We have extremely high customer satisfaction and in fact, after 50 years, only just started advertising a bit to test the waters. But once in a while a problem gets through. As soon as we hear about it, we take care of it, making our customers even happier. We ALSO charge a premium, and people recognize the value anyway. I believe in that way we are like Leica. But we’re not for everyone either.
The information statistics we never really see is which cameras go faulty most often , say canon v leica v olympus ? but its good that leica answered your questions about service for faults or wear issues. I use olympus or OM system cameras for wildlife and leica for people and scenic pics and have not yet had any issues luckily , interesting video.
Thanks Stephen! Yes agree, it's hard to know. Most cameras probably go in the trash after 10yrs so Leica make themselves a lot more work as their cameras last a lifetime (well film esp). I'd imagine Nikon to last a long time like their film cameras, not sure about other brands. Leica are the most complicated so like a Rolex or Omega you need to service them more often (I think).
Amazing timing for this video. I am finally getting my SL back, nine months after I sent it for repair! It may have taken more than the 2 to four you mentioned because at first I balked at paying $1600 for the repair. (That is another question I wish you had asked. Why so expensive?) Anyway, it is supposedly coming back next week . Happy expensive Xmas to me.
I'm glad it's coming back soon, hopefully they sent a quote before the work, they do normally so you can say yes/no. My SL is battered but still works so far.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom They did send the quote - it was 1600 euros. That's why I hesitated. You and I discussed just buying a "new" used one, but ultimately I couldn't find one for that price and decided that it was better to just pay for mine which has essentially been refurbished to new (I hope). Like Apple, loving Leica can me likened to an abusive relationship: they treat you like crap but you can't let go. ;-)
If you ever visit I think if you email in advance you might be able to get help on the day you arrive (if a quick fix like M10 firmware*).. just email customer service email from Google, I did.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Funny thing.. I've been to Germany a few times- Before i was into shooting Leica. I flew into Frankfurt and stayed there for a while.. I had no idea that Leica Park was so close. I will be sure to visit there the next time i'm in town. i hope by the time i'm in Germany i'll already have my "M"' Rangefinders.
Hope you managed to visit the Solmser Fotobörse, which is held twice a year. In spring and end of November. A legendary event for collectors at the Taunus Halle in nearby Solms (where the Leica factory was located from 1986 until they moved it back to Wetzlar ten years ago).
Reliability is why I still won’t use one when I teach or lead workshops. I can’t afford my camera fail on me when on location. It’s happened to my students with their Leicas. Error messages and faulty exposure metering even when shooting fully manual matching exposures to other cameras.
Tell students to drop out their battery if their cameras lock up. It's extremely rare for a Leica to brick when out and about. Most cameras are going back for calibration and CLA I think.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The electronics crapped out in the first used SL I bought. Fortunately, I bought it from Leica Soho in NY where a friend of mine worked and he hooked me up with a phone call to the main Leica repairman in the US. He said I needed to get it replaced and my friend sent me a "new" used one within a month or so.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom We had to re-instal the firmware again. Popping the battery in and out didn’t fix it but thankfully the reloading the firmware got it working again.
I sent my OM System OM-1 for repair on Saturday, from Switzerland to Portugal. DHL are delivering the repaired camera to me today (4th working day since I sent it). Just saying.
The data is interesting......sounds like more time spent in quality manufacturing would yield a reduced number of returns and hence a shorter turnaround time on repairs........ Kind of shatters my view of Leica quality given the really high number of repairs. So far, I have been lucky with mine.............
Thanks Bill, Leica do feel like they are built for life (not sure about the future of digital) but for sure I think many M cameras go back for calibration.
@6:55 Leica Wetzlar does not repair any film camera . I asked them to service my M5 and they refused saying they no longer work on them. I understand that they also do not service R film cameras.
Interesting, they seem to but maybe they don't cover the M5 as that is less Leica than the other models which are all very similar. (It's more like the CL film). They didn't mention R but that is possible. I have those and they do break.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom After Don (DAG camera) found out my M5 had shutter drum roller broken, he tell me Leitz changed the design for the roller and it's not up the take. Also Don tooks all of parts from ELCAN when they were close down and no more parts for M5's roller for repair .
Leica USA has had my M10M since mid-November. I approved the minor repair within 10 minutes but they missed it. I resent the approval 10 days later, they said it was then in the queue. Ugh. The tracking system is circa 2004… terrible. My camera still doesn’t show up as in repair. If they send to Germany I guess it will be another 5-6 months.
Really interesting but as many comment, their after sales and repair service is not up to scratch. It is unfortunate that Leica have such a following that people are prepared to put up with this. If it was any other brand you could imagine that brand suffering the consequences of what seems to be a long term underinvestment. Are there any alternatives for repairs or servicing?
@ I feel your pain because as a professional your camera is your means to earn a living and Leica don’t seem to be interested in supporting that area. Long gone are the days when Leica cameras were synonymous with the working professional being now the preserve of the hobbyists or collector. I think it’s a shame. I had, many years ago, an M6 and thoroughly enjoyed using it. The lenses were superb with clarity and even contrast across the film which made for lovely black and white prints.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It's not that simple. A camera shutter is a complicated mechanism with a variable slot width and is much more than just a piece of fabric.
In 2012, my Canon 24-105 f/4 lens just died on me. I sent it to Canon in Van Nuys, California and had it back around 10 days later. In 2015 I sent my ME for service in Leica NJ and that simple CLA took six months. This is wholly inexcusable.
45 employees on the workshop is a very good effort and investment of any brand in any place in the world. We can only read a dubious distilling series of complaints here, but there are infinite more people who could also share how high quality and professional all the repair process was. Let Leica for all those who can and want to afford, those who can't or don't won't to, please go and enjoy your cameras and preferences happily and without bitterness
I take a lot of photos at the beach, and there is salt water in the air. I'm wondering what the leica repair folks would say to occasionally rinsing off (a quick shower or just under the tap for a few seconds) a Q2/3 or an SL2/3 camera to clean off the salt water residue from the air. 😃
Thanks John, yes agree and I understand. I used to work for a big manufacturing co so I kind of get their issue. The backlog built up faster than they can train techs to repair them so hiring new students to teach now will not fix the issue for another 3 years.
Great video, but in the end you did not say why the wait is so long for repair. You gave some reasons, like 100 repair packages per day and 40 technicians and mechanical camera repairs being more complex, etc. However, the obvious reason is they do not employ nearly enough technicians to handle the job. They need to clear out the backlog and then maintain a wait of no more than 1-week. Anything more for such an expensive instrument is outrageous. To put this in perspective, Canon in the US typically gives a repair estimate within 1 to 2 days after a broken camera arrives. The owner is notified of the estimate immediately and once the owner approves the estimate (typically the same day) the camera is shipped back to the owner by fast mail. This entire process typically takes a week or less (that's right, the camera is back in the owner's hands within a week of sending it off in the mail). Sony and Nikon are not nearly as good, but the Canon service model is what we should all expect. Oh, one more thing...Canon service is cheap. The last camera I sent in for repair needed a new shutter and the sensor looked at. This 5DM2 camera is used in research and the shutter failed after many many millions of exposures and I was also concerned the sensor might have been damaged by high power laser flash (part of the experimental apparatus). In the end, the shutter was replaced and the sensor remapped and I think the repair came to $250 with shipping and back in my hands in less than a week. Unbelievable.
Had intended to comment a few weeks ago that if you were going to introduce more 'watch content' then a factory visit to Wetzlar followed by a trip down the road to the Sinn factory and museum in Frankfurt would make a great video.....but I didn't....
Absolutely ridiculous turn around times. I know of several photographers here in Australia, totally bailed out from Leica, because they were trying to run a business, and then their camera would disappear off into the dark rabbit-hole of repairs in Germany, not to see the light of day for a long time. It would be akin to buying a Ferrari for 250K, then being told you have to wait three months for a service. Remembering too that to buy one of these contraptions here in Australia costs well over 10K (12,000 dollars at the moment for Q3). I won't be buying Leica anytime soon!
Actually, paying 600k for a Ferrari, you DO have to wait a long, long time for service -- and pay the price of the average Ford for the service once you get it! (It's part of the charm.)
@@gewglesux Thanks - yes I've been shooting with two Nikon Z cameras now for a few years, for all of my paid shoots and personal stuff. Flying out today for 5 weeks in New Zealand and I just bought the Z26mm 2.8 pancake lens to trial. There is lots of lovely gear out there without having to sell mortgage the house, like you would to buy a Leica.
@@philipsutton8921 Nice!! I've never been there. I am in the M (FILM)system and in the Q system.I figured next year i'll be in at least ONE of the digi Range finder systems.
All I ever hear in Leica vs anybody videos is how Leica is better built than every other camera. So why are their cameras constantly being sent in for repairs if they’re built so well? I would dig a Leica digital camera (but not their stupid bottom-loading film cameras), but it’s such a steep price for something that seems like it’ll eventually need repairs. If they’re going to charge so much, they should build something that actually lasts.
Thanks Frank, the fact is they do last seemingly forever (like my various 1930s models) but you will need to service them. Most Leica are rangefinders so many of those will be coming in for calibration issues. Yes they are built like tanks but if you drop them you need to realign the RF inside.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I obviously wouldn’t fault Leica if people drop a camera or misuse it. But I’m curious how many cameras are sent in for repairs because of user error verses regular servicing verses design flaws. I’d be interested in a video where you walk us through what kind of regular servicing is required so that potential buyers have an idea of what they’re getting themselves into. I have an old Canon 50D that still works like a champ and has never needed servicing, nor has it ever occurred to me that it might ever need servicing (so long as I don’t drop it or misuse it). I suppose I expected the same kind of build from a Leica, at least from their digital cameras which have far less moving parts. With film cameras I can see where all those moving parts would eventually wear and require servicing. Again, I wouldn’t look at that kind of wear as a design flaw (though I don’t know why Leica stuck with fabric shutter curtains while Canon and Nikon went to using far more durable metal). I still think Leicas are beautiful and all, but for the price, I just wish they were more reliable.
My first camera was a Leica M3 in sad shape. My father got it from a German friend of his. The prism was very dim. So in 1970-71 I asked a friend who had a car if he would go on a short trip to New Jersey to the Leica facility there to ask them what they could do with the M3. We lived in Westchester County New York so it wasn't a long trip. I handed the receptionist the camera and a technician came and got it. A little while later he came out and said the prism was covered in some sort of fungus and would cost about $200 to fix it. That's about $1,300 in 2024 but I was but a poor high schooler back then. My father didn't have or want to pay for it either so I traded it in for a Canon Canonet QL17 GIII. The Canonet was a far inferior experience even when compared to a beat-up Leica!
@@jlwilliams Actually the viewfinder in the Canon was kind of dim and low contrast, not as bad as my fogged-up M3 but the Lecia build quality felt so much better. The Canon's shutter sound was toy-like compared to the Lecia. However, you are correct, the new Canonet was easier to focus!
Sorry to hear, yes Leica are expensive but nothing comes close for build quality for me. Yes we can take near identical photos with other cameras on film but I still gravitate to the nice feel and sounds of Leicas. Hopefully you can pick up a cheaper Leica one day, Leica III early models are the best made Leica of any Leica (1930s black ones)
I think the same things that make their cameras and lenses so great, namely a tradition of solid design and engineering coupled with highly skilled people assembling the products, also explains why these are high-priced, relatively niche products and why there are long waiting periods to obtain newly released models as well as long repair times. If they cranked out mass production gear like the giant manufacturers, they would lose the very qualities that make Leica products unique and desirable.
Exactly, and that is actually part of the fun of ownership: realizing the precision and complexity of the mechanisms (reminds me of spending hours gazing at those see-through illustrations of Porsche 911s).
I think there is only a couple of things you need to know about Leica CS 1. They don’t care about their professional users 2. It takes forever to do something Canon takes 1 week to do Dreadful CS 6 months to change the shutter and motherboard on a Leica SL2-s
@ but the SL range of cameras are marketed at pros and yet the support is just not there. They tell me the SL is a pro camera yet treat me like one of the Leica people that sits in front of his cabinet with a box of Kleenex…
@ you don’t see it at sports because the SL range is not good enough to track like the Sony. A quirk of the system is that it won’t track when set to the highest FPS rendering it useless in the modern day.
I worked with Canon and Nikon for more than 25 years and never had to send a camera for any repairs. Since I started working with Leica, I had to send the M240 two times and the M10 Monochrom one time to Wetzlar for repairs. The worse for me is the ridiculous time it takes for the repairs and the total lack of customer service. I have more customer service when buying a cheap gadget online. Don't get me wrong. I love my Leica, but now they (Leica) had the best year ever; they might consider investing in their clients instead of ads via UA-cam hypers and fashionistas who "elevated" the brand as a fancy thing to have. It's a working tool not a jewelry thing!
I cannot think of any other company who has customers satisfied with repair jobs measured with waiting time in *months*. Personally, I find that unacceptable and is making me reconsider becoming an owner of a Leica-brand camera. I'll stick with the Voigtlanders for now.
From my experience, Voigtlander after sales service is non-existent at least in the US. I finally had DAG to recalibrate the back focus issue on my 35mm Nokton. So far all the lenses I got from Leica are spot on.
So with, lead times going up, basically people are breaking their Leica gear faster than Leica can grow its repair service. Doesn't sound like a good brand to be invested in.
You didn't happen to see my DR Summicron there whilst you were passing did you?... It's been 8 months since I've laid eyes on it. I have lots of lenses so I can wait, but to be honest, I'd just rather send my stuff to DAG instead. I emailed Leica London a few days ago and I'm still waiting for a reply to my enquiry. That's not great.
Most Leica users in Germany are rich dentists, who need a professional service for their IT system, but not for their camera. 🤣 I had a couple of repairs on a Leicaflex SL2 from the 1970s, which is not serviced by Leica anymore, but Leica recommended me an independent repair shop, who did that it less than 2 weeks including shipment. After reading this I will not buy a Leica M, I do not want to support any ignorant company.
Thanks, yes the dentist joke is always a funny one. Yes sadly they need to clear the big backlog asap. I send non-digital to local techs not Wetzlar like you did.
@Now that’s restraint! At Peter Karbe’s suggestion, I got an APO-Elmarit-R 100 mm f/2.8 + APO-R 2x Extender for that lens this past Summer. It’s a great lens for use on my M11 Monochrom. I’m just now testing to see whether it, a Macro-Elmar-M 90 mm f/4 (+ Macro Adapter M), or Macro-Elmar-R 100 mm f/4 will work best at digitizing my ancient 35 mm B&W negatives.
Ask another brand that was MAKING cameras in the 1930s and they might say yes, although offhand I can't think of any test cases except maybe Linhof. I think we have to let Canon off the hook, since while their first production camera (1935) used the Canon name, the parent company was still called Seiko Kogaku...
Matt ; what Nicholas is addressing is simply " human muscle memory " the ear , eyes , and hands are of a UNIT and this UNIT must work cohesively , what this means is with our sweet fetishization of the instant , we have foregone the knowledge and innate skill of the human element that can produce the same results as a digital camera but in a much different way , film has grain it is not as flexible as the " I want it now " Digital. Strengths and weakness , I have fallen out of love , with digital. The snick , smooth crank , and even the focusing in the MA and M3 range finder , the glowing saturated depth of the Rollei Fresnel ... glowing light , these are the " muscle memory " systems of the human being . What is important ? this depends. Models want now , paying customers want now ....but a person who loves the glow of Art , and yeah struggles of film ... it is a struggle at times ... Well ; you have to decide or combine. I have combined the SL3 with my beloved film cameras and yet at the same time cannot divorce myself from the perhaps limiting , but liberating feel of the organic. There is so much more in this living in light , than the models we all desire and thrill at , there is an inner peace a place , and nothing can enter this private garden of light. Today in deep evening light I shot 100 speed film into the rich dusk of the Pacific Northwest . That is my garden of light , and you must find yours. Cheers.
Thanks Chris, nicely put. I was just editing a film scan before reading and I agree film is still king for sure! 4x5 in an amazing way to enjoy time in nature and just enjoy the light as you say, the same is true with any film camera if you get into the zone.
Leica really needs to create a Pro support program like NPS (Nikon) CPS (Canon) and others. 4-6 months of repair downtime for a professional is unacceptable. And the cost of Leica equipment makes it harder to get a replacement while yours is gone. Now that Leica is growing and making record profits I hope they invest in making their repair services to be more robust. These long delays worry many Leica shooters always in the back of your mind you may have to loose your camera for 1/2 of a year for a repair.
Thanks, do you have more info on this as I've never seen any proof? I'm a UA-camr photographer rather than paid for photos but all the pros I know use other brands for their day job and Leica for the good stuff.
@@LensForgotten I'm a CPS gold/gold member since many years. My 24-70 2.8L lens broke in Dubai. Got a free replacement to use. Lens waa repaired and sent to Switzerland, where I returned the replacement lens. Of course the repair was not free, but I got the lens back after 2 weeks. This is service!!
Kudos to Leica for still servicing every camera they ever made. In contrast, Japanese camera companies stop servicing cameras (and manufacturing parts) after a relatively short period. I sold a 2003 Nikon 200-400mm f4 lens to a sports photographer because he had the exact same lens develop a problem and Nikon refused to service it and you can't buy parts for it. It has created a cottage industry for 3D printing of parts.
@@Mike-dh8gr I was about to say I was skeptical that they could perform ANY service on EVERY camera they ever made. Those M6 meters were one example; parts became unavailable (for RoHS reasons, I suspect) so they had to redesign the metering system for the re-introduced M6. And didn't they give up on repairing corroded M9 sensors? Aren't some of the all-electronic R-series SLRs basically unrepairable? Would they really be willing or able to repair the Minolta-developed zoom lenses from the years of the Leica-Minolta partnership? Of course the really old cameras can still be repaired: basically they were made by craftsmen in a well-equipped machine shop, so craftsmen in a well-equipped machine shop can still make parts, especially if the original drawings are still available.
Leica itself was unable to service screw-mount cameras for many years. But there was an external technician who did that for many years. Even Leica itself sent him his cameras. But recently, they bought all his tools, and technicians in Vienna were trained to do service and repairs for screw mount Leica also. This happened when Leica itself started with their own classic store.
Thanks Thomas, yes thanks to Leica that I can still use models from the 1930s (some of my all time favourite cameras!). It's sad others don't offer the same.
l have owned a couple of modern Leicas a R4 and an M6 plus a 1937/8 lllB... the lllB was serviced by an independent Leica specialist...the other two suffered no problems ...l did have a problem with a 19mm R lens.... a gritty feel to the focus ring.... this was exchanged...l called in to my local dealer, he put a brand new, still sealed box on his counter saying Leica had told him to give me a new lens....No quibbling about l may have been responsible etc, etc!.....mid eighties, early nineties....
A very informative video, thank you. I haven’t got a Leica, but of course I aspire to own one, I watch your channel because it’s interesting. But another thing people need to realise, the two year warranty that comes with a new Leica in the UK is NOT transferable. So if I wanted to buy a used Leica, say a Q3 that’s maybe 6 months old, the only warranty you get is with the reseller or if you buy privately you’ve zero warranty, even though there’s technically 18 months warranty left. Imagine if car makers did this? I know people who have waited 4/5 months to get their relatively new Leica repaired, it’s pretty disgusting. These two reasons alone (the warranty and repair times) is why I’m very reluctant to ever get a Leica.
Thanks David and yes an interesting reminder about warranty. I try to buy from shops when I buy used so to get at leat 6 maths warranty. (Like my M10 if you followed that story). Yes Leica don't always help themselves.
When I asked I was told the remaining warranty is passed to the new user (from a private sale on an M at least). The extended year didn' pass on. Leica then confirmed it with me prior to purchase. Bit in any case you basically lose a large part of your warranty with it sitting at repair if anything goes wrong with it. Shocking the situation exists in the first place but even more shocking they dont extend it to compensate
I love leica and what they are but why is a nearly brand new camera going back for repair or service it just should not happen. The older ones seem to he a lot better my M2 and M4 seem to be bomb proof but not these newer ones.
Not getting it right the first time is bad. But the fact that they told you it would take another 2 months to finish what they didn’t do the first time doesn’t speak well. Then you had to take time, money to make the trip so they could fix it the same day. I would think long and hard before buying another Leica.
Yes not ideal, shipment times from UK to EU adds more delays so it was a good excuse to make my first visit to Leica and to meet up with friends. I was lucky to have friends that could help otherwise I would have had to send it the normal route.
Why is it not possible to book a slot, like a car service, then you can keep using the camera until just before due, rather than have it sitting on a shelf for six months.
Maybe I'm evil, but Leica likes to put out new Limited Editions and does not care abt professional clients or serious customers. I guess I will sell my SL, SL2 plus several M's (M6 etc.) Will keep my M2, M8.2 Safari Set, M9 and M240 (9 months for CLA!!) to get an Canon 1DxIII. It's not abt bashing Leica (my Granadad owned one of the 1st batch IIIb). Much talk abt clients but if you're not a kind of celeb using Leica you're not "important"". I'm not a fanboy. But Canon has the best support around the world. Leica would doing much much better to improve the support than bringing out one special edition after another. So I will return to my Canon roots. Sadly.
Yes agree Leica need to clear their backlog. Nikon and Canon etc will always have better servicing but you can't compare mass production units to rangefinder cameras. I think we buy Leica knowing they are more complicated insight and that's why we like them. It makes sense to have a non-Leica body for pros unless you are lucky to own lots of spares if one dies. I got zero preferential treatment even after 10+ years of Leica reviews.
I’m a big fan of Leica, having owned from new an M9, M11, Q2 and now Q3, but their build quality is atrocious. Their profit margins are at record highs, they now need to invest in improved build quality and their software processes
Regarding the waiting times for repair - this is plain bad management by Leica. Especially when one considers that M cameras have become less and less reliable and/or prone to issues in recent years (e.g. M11 freezing issues; M11-D formatting issues; Q3 43 filter thread...). To be clear, I'm not a hater but rather a Leica fan, having been to Wetzar myself. Just find this sad.
Thanks yes it's sad that the latest models have had so many issues but those that remember older models apparently it was also true in the past for new concept cameras. Like you I like Leica but i'm not making excuses for them.
Because they have abandoned service in major markets like the USA, so if I send my camera to Leica USA they send it on the Germany! Thus guaranteeing delays. That’s why I send my Analog cameras to skilled independent service technicians. I recently received a IIIg with 50 mm collapsible summicron back from a full overhaul. Complete with a complete lens tear down CLA IN 6 weeks from DAG..
It's an absolute sin that Leica stripped parts delivery to independent repair people with their backlog. I would never by a digital M, nor would I ever send my film M to Leica. There are still a few top notch repair people who have parts, but it is just disgusting that Leica crippled most of them.
These cameras only sell because of supposed coolness factor, because HCB used one back in the days when their was no choice. If he was starting out today he'd probably use a Canon, Nikon, Fuji, etc. Toys for people with too much disposable income.
Confirms the bad hype Leica customer service is known for. For the price of camera and lenses, service should be much faster and more efficient. Not enough customer service centers and personnel to cope with the demand. 3 years apprenticeship to become specialized technician is btw normal in Germany since they have to spend 50% of their apprenticeship time in school outside of work. Glad that there are third party repair shops in the US for film-based Leica M cameras. Turn-around time was often less than 4 weeks from my experience. That they didn't do the M10-P upgrade job correctly but fully charged you is really bad.
@ I heard the same. Leica is no longer supplying parts to third parties. Leica wants to cash in on the repair business without providing better service.
It is appalling that the Trolls of Wetzlar did a half-assed job. But not surprising. They are just about the last people in the world I would want working on a Leica of mine, but there we are. They are quite obviously understaffed and undertrained. Schade! They could be worse, but it would take some real effort.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom They could do better. Being owned by private equity does not seem to help. I just pray my gear never has to go to them. Cheers
Possibly Leica cameras are good and possibly also the lenses. The prices are absurdly high. But how useful is the promise of quality if the service works at the speed of a snail? Leica products are not tools for photographers but lifestyle products for people who have a lot of money and don't take pictures. And Leicas that stand in a display case and are occasionally dusted off are not sent in for servicing. From my personal point of view, everything that shows the Leica logo has one of the worst price-performance ratios. Any other company with such a service offer for photographers would have no chance of survival. But there are people who don't take photos and want to afford it. For me, that is unacceptable. I give my money to a company that offers good value for money with very competitive photographic equipment and good service. If something needs to be repaired, I get it back within a week.
Yes I understand your view, most modern cameras can take nice photos in 2024. I enjoy using Leica as I like the process and feel of the cameras. I have a cheap Lumix too that can capture similar photos but it doesn't inspire me to pick it up so it doesn't get used.
Sorry, but what a joke - they're happy to keep selling them but don't update their service processes to keep up with demand. How on earth can they expect people to wait 3-4 months+ under warranty on a camera body that costs £8K!!! Only had my M weeks but I'll sell it soon. So underwhelmed by the camera and the band. They are nice objects to look at and hold, but that's where it ends - the rest is just a mindset that we could apply to literally any camera.
Thanks yes Leica don't help themselves when it comes to CS. Hopefully they can fix going forward. Yes once you've used a Leica you can apply the same mindset if you don't mind user another camera. I find Hasselblads are nice too but bigger but most other brands I'm not a huge fan of when it comes to using them.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I dont think they will to be honest, they're more a luxury brand now - it's all about brand and lifestyle. I mean what sort of company doesn't complete a job and then says 3-4 months to fix, or get you to drive to their HQ in another country!? I mean surely they could expedite via courier or just send you a replacement at that point. It's also shocking that you can jump the queue by going there directly. Now, of the cameras worked properly and were more reliable, less of an issue. Hats off to you and others for your loyal support, I'm just struggling with the whole Leica ownership at the moment, and I have a Q as well. I think many of us are lured in by their marketing which they're great at of course. Have found plenty of useful info from your channel, apologies for the negativity!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Indeed. That's why Nikon (and most others) abandoned problematic and parallax-challenged rangefinder film cameras and went with far more reliable, durable and accurate SLR cameras. Many many thousands of pro photographers then switched to Nikon SLRs as a result.
@@Mamo878 I love my Nikon SLRs too, I still need to make a video on my FM3a but as for digital, not interested in the slightest. Selling my D800 for the M9 was the best move of my photography life.
Talk about service needs. EVERY M9 had to have the entire sensor completely replaced because Leica screwed up and originally installed a sensor that corroded and prevented the camera from functioning correctly. Yikes
Unacceptable on $10k investment per unit. Premium kit deserves premium service. If something will take 12 months (🤯) then you should be supplied a 'loaner'....and I don't care "that will be expensive for them". ((BTW I understand Hasselblad is a nightmare also on the digital range.)) One exception is the 'vintage' varieties.
Haha that's an interesting take on things. Yes I guess those people using them to pose with won't care if they never use the camera. (Sadly if 100 are coming back a day it seems people that own Leica do use them).
My comment juts before watching the video: it does not matter why it takes months or nearly a year - it is way too long. If you want to serve professional clients, service and repair times need to get heavily down. and for that it does not matter if this are premium products or not. That's a fact. (next comment after watching the video).
Thanks, sadly Leica are like Rolex and Omega watches, as I understand. They are more of a luxury and more complicated so as such need more care and attend over the years as you often buy for life not a throwaway purchase.
Nice video! I live in Northern Germany and was in Wetzlar twice as a stop over on my way to Italy. It is an amazing company and it is definitely worth a visit. For the saltwater problem I think the best is to take out your batteries asap and put the electronic device in tap water then in distilled water. The corrosion will stop as there are no electrolytes in the water. Repeat this and rinse everything properly. The clean distilled water will not harm the electronics. Then take it out and dry it for a couple of days. If you are lucky everything works fine again.
This actually happened to a colleague of mine. Some burglars broke into our research institute and they stole an expensive oscilloscope. Half a year later my colleague found this oscilloscope by pure chance at the bottom of our little pond under ice because of the orange color. The burglar must have dropped it there because it was too heavy. My colleague rescued it: he cleaned it, put it in distilled water and rinsed it thoroughly , dried it and voila, it worked again.
Wow great story! Thanks for sharing and the tips!
Hi Matt,
Great information, many thanks!
I was very happy for you that your photography allows you to be able to go on such exciting adventures and meet such interesting people
All the very best for Christmas and the New Year ahead
Very kindest regards, Ron
Thanks Ron, very kind. Yes I am very fortunate to meet such great people through my photography.
I’m not surprised with the info you shared. “Back in the day”, many moons ago etc, most of my photography mentors encouraged purchasing multiple camera bodies in order to diminish risk of cancellation of jobs. 1 body in use; 1 body in transition; and 1 body in the shop was the expectation in my workdays. Skilled support technicians are always appreciated, imo!
Thanks Jeff, great insight! I thin all pros need to carry 2 digitals for all jobs as we always need a backup + ideally a 3rd away for service! :)
this is a big positive for choosing the M11 since, if they are often in service, then you only have one to shoot with. If you’re down to just one camera the M11 is the only one with dual storage
@@jeffdrew625 I have 3 SL bodies. My point was that 6 months to fix an SL body is outrageous
Thank you so much for the useful video, I recently sent back my D-Lux 109 which has the zoom error issue that many users often come across, and after watching the video I learned a lot.
Thanks John, hopefully they can get that fixed and back to you quite quick. M cameras are slower to work on.
Hey Matt✌
Nice that you were also in Wetzlar, I haven't had the opportunity yet. but if it comes up, I will of course make a visit and I'm really looking forward to it.👌 Hopefully soon-😉 I can imagine it or you read a lot that you have to wait a long time. Especially with the old M, but this means you have another piece of technology that will hopefully do its job again for years, whether as a collector or user. I prefer to use them and enjoy the results and pictures👍na I'm looking forward to the next video from Wetzlar that you will show us.
Lg Anderl
Thanks Odin! Yes like you I like that these cameras can go on for years.
Fred Picker was right when he said, “When shooting 35, take a Leica and a Nikon. That way, when one breaks down, you always have the Nikon.”
This reminds me of the E Type Jaguars. Beautiful, expensive machines, but you need to hire a tow truck to follow you around because it’ll eventually break down.
That's a great saying. I enjoy Nikon film cameras too and they are bulletproof for sure! FM3a video still to come!
Haha or Italian sports cars :)
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Yeah, I had a 1976 Fiat 124 Spider that was so fun to drive, but the clutch cable kept leaving me stranded. FIAT = Fix It Again, Tony. To be fair, Italians probably only drive a mile to work. Here in California, driving 50 miles one way to work is a normal thing. I could easily put 150 miles on the odometer on a “short” weekend cruise. Those Fiat’s were not built for American driving, that’s for sure.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Certainly looked Vietnam proof...
Very helpful. Good to know. If you shoot Leica you must be prepared for some downtime. It’s not like Canon, Nikon or Sony.
Yes ideally owning 2 cameras in case one needs to be sent away.
Hi Matt. Thanks for sharing your experience and information with everyone who follows you. Dispiriting to hear there are so few technicians especially given their workload. Overworked & under resourced! I got my Leica M Typ 240 back after 5 months in mid-October. Camera looked great & turned on. Sadly within a few weeks the shutter stopped working! After discussions with the folks at London Mayfair it’s been sent off to Leica again! 😢
Hi Stuart, sorry to hear this and I hear it before also sadly. I'm not sure what the answer is but it's so frustrating when it's your main camera that is away for many months at a time. I hope you get it resolved soon. (Perhaps ask about buying a newer model instead if they can't fix it and get discount off the next one). The shop I bought from tried to do this with me and my M10 but I said no as prices had increased so it was worth more than a refund and rebuying.
Thanks Matt appreciate you taking the time to respond. Shame to hear that but not entirely surprising either. I’ll keep that in mind once I hear back from them in the new year. Real shame as this is my first Leica. Only plus side is I’ve focused a lot more on my film photography & been enjoying it.
Matt maybe I missed it but what was the cost for the conversion?
It depends on what you have done, see the full conversion info video linked at the end of this video or search M10-M10P MrLeica and look out for the slide showing the info received from Leica.
Leica NJ takes 3-6 months to service an item. Nikon USA takes 3-6 days.
Thanks for info. Yes Nikon is faster but they are mass produced so not really a fair comparison. I love my Nikon film cameras too.. I need to review my FM3a!
Canon once rebuilt the nose end of a super telephoto lens and realigned the IBIS in my camera in 26 hours. Canons and Nikons are made for professionals. Unless you can afford a basketful of Leicas, they are hobby cameras. (Yes, I have my professional Canon and OM Systems cameras. The Leica really is an art / hobby camera for me.)
Nikon still repairing machines from their HQ in NY? I live close to there
@@gewglesux give them a call or check their website. I’m on the west coast and that is where their west coast service center is. I bet they do in NY.
@@husshardan3511 Thanks for the reply. I'll check them.
At the Fuji strategy meeting: "We need to be more like Leica, what can we do?"
Head of manufacturing: "I've got a brilliant idea"
Haha nice. Those are mass produced so Fuji should be super fast to fix.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Likely fast to fix, but despite moving production to China and then expanding production there x100vis are still out of stock nearly a year after release. So us Fuji peasants still get a small taste of the Leica Experience 🙃
Great video Matt; very enlightening regarding Leica's service operations (and it all makes perfect sense). Is the primary reason for M-Cameras coming in for service for rangefinder adjustments, or something else like shutter speed adjustments (I had a Leica IIIf that had an issue with the 1 second shutter speed; it was as if it was in Bulb instead of 1 sec).
Thanks, yes as M are more mechanical I believe it's everything to do with that vs Q/SL/S etc. Calibration will be up there for sure.
Very interesting to hear the details. I bought a new 28mm summilux this year and after only a few rounds of light usage, it literally came apart. It took me a while to get to Leica Boston to get support, but they claimed 6-8 weeks (dropped it off in early Nov.), so I'll see how they do with my lens! And as you referenced, would be nice to have it for the holidays! Cheers (Oh, and as a result, ended up adding to the longer end of the mm scale, buying a used 75mm Voightlander from Leica Mayfair when I was in London when the 28 actually fell apart - they were good to work with!)
Why would you stick with a camera system so poorly built ?
Sorry to hear Daniel, yes the Mayfair guys are nice and the Voigtlander 75/1.5 is fantastic!
I think normally Leica are well built and will go on forever with servicing but you do hear about such stories.
@@FrankGrauStudio For me, anomalies don’t drive decisions. There are occasional problems with all products, but otherwise Leicas are amazing. Definitely expensive, but worth it - for me. You do you.
I own a small manufacturing company, largely hand-building our products where others use machines. We have extremely high customer satisfaction and in fact, after 50 years, only just started advertising a bit to test the waters. But once in a while a problem gets through. As soon as we hear about it, we take care of it, making our customers even happier. We ALSO charge a premium, and people recognize the value anyway. I believe in that way we are like Leica. But we’re not for everyone either.
Been there this spring/summer and I really enjoyed it. Bought the 28mm Summaron.
Hi there, are you enjoying your Summaron? I just got mine and am looking forward to taking it for a photo walk in London.
It is my most used lens.
Great stuff! I hope to go again next year.
The information statistics we never really see is which cameras go faulty most often , say canon v leica v olympus ? but its good that leica answered your questions about service for faults or wear issues.
I use olympus or OM system cameras for wildlife and leica for people and scenic pics and have not yet had any issues luckily , interesting video.
Thanks Stephen! Yes agree, it's hard to know. Most cameras probably go in the trash after 10yrs so Leica make themselves a lot more work as their cameras last a lifetime (well film esp). I'd imagine Nikon to last a long time like their film cameras, not sure about other brands. Leica are the most complicated so like a Rolex or Omega you need to service them more often (I think).
interesting info about M as most selling camera! cool! thanks.
Yes a surprise for me too but I guess there are lots of models so it total it makes sense.
Amazing timing for this video. I am finally getting my SL back, nine months after I sent it for repair! It may have taken more than the 2 to four you mentioned because at first I balked at paying $1600 for the repair. (That is another question I wish you had asked. Why so expensive?) Anyway, it is supposedly coming back next week . Happy expensive Xmas to me.
I'm glad it's coming back soon, hopefully they sent a quote before the work, they do normally so you can say yes/no. My SL is battered but still works so far.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom They did send the quote - it was 1600 euros. That's why I hesitated. You and I discussed just buying a "new" used one, but ultimately I couldn't find one for that price and decided that it was better to just pay for mine which has essentially been refurbished to new (I hope). Like Apple, loving Leica can me likened to an abusive relationship: they treat you like crap but you can't let go. ;-)
That's so cool...i love my US but man let me tell you The things you can get accomplished. in Europe with the proper contacts... it's just amazing.
If you ever visit I think if you email in advance you might be able to get help on the day you arrive (if a quick fix like M10 firmware*).. just email customer service email from Google, I did.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Funny thing.. I've been to Germany a few times- Before i was into shooting Leica. I flew into Frankfurt and stayed there for a while.. I had no idea that Leica Park was so close. I will be sure to visit there the next time i'm in town. i hope by the time i'm in Germany i'll already have my "M"' Rangefinders.
good infos you got from them to us
I also call this video: why I send my cameras to a local professional repair service
Thanks! Yes for film local good repair techs are a top answer, I only send digital to Wetzlar.
Matt, I never hear you say what your upgrade to 10P cost, would you mind sharing?
It's in the M10-P video linked at the end. I share the slide, price will depend on which upgrade you decide to go for.
Hope you managed to visit the Solmser Fotobörse, which is held twice a year. In spring and end of November. A legendary event for collectors at the Taunus Halle in nearby Solms (where the Leica factory was located from 1986 until they moved it back to Wetzlar ten years ago).
Thanks! Not yet, many in the future, this was a short video sadly.
Insane. Your Leica can never be your only camera.
Yes you need multiple or alternatives as backups for sure.
Reliability is why I still won’t use one when I teach or lead workshops. I can’t afford my camera fail on me when on location. It’s happened to my students with their Leicas. Error messages and faulty exposure metering even when shooting fully manual matching exposures to other cameras.
Tell students to drop out their battery if their cameras lock up. It's extremely rare for a Leica to brick when out and about. Most cameras are going back for calibration and CLA I think.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom The electronics crapped out in the first used SL I bought. Fortunately, I bought it from Leica Soho in NY where a friend of mine worked and he hooked me up with a phone call to the main Leica repairman in the US. He said I needed to get it replaced and my friend sent me a "new" used one within a month or so.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom We had to re-instal the firmware again. Popping the battery in and out didn’t fix it but thankfully the reloading the firmware got it working again.
I sent my OM System OM-1 for repair on Saturday, from Switzerland to Portugal. DHL are delivering the repaired camera to me today (4th working day since I sent it). Just saying.
That's very impressive!
The data is interesting......sounds like more time spent in quality manufacturing would yield a reduced number of returns and hence a shorter turnaround time on repairs........ Kind of shatters my view of Leica quality given the really high number of repairs. So far, I have been lucky with mine.............
I have been lucky with my M6 film rangefinder. I have had nothing but bad luck with.my two M10 digital rangefinders.
Thanks Bill, Leica do feel like they are built for life (not sure about the future of digital) but for sure I think many M cameras go back for calibration.
Sorry to hear about your M10s, my M6 now has a new meter and I hope to collect in January from a buddy and will make a video to explain all.
@6:55 Leica Wetzlar does not repair any film camera . I asked them to service my M5 and they refused saying they no longer work on them. I understand that they also do not service R film cameras.
Interesting, they seem to but maybe they don't cover the M5 as that is less Leica than the other models which are all very similar. (It's more like the CL film). They didn't mention R but that is possible. I have those and they do break.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom After Don (DAG camera) found out my M5 had shutter drum roller broken, he tell me Leitz changed the design for the roller and it's not up the take. Also Don tooks all of parts from ELCAN when they were close down and no more parts for M5's roller for repair .
fancy scarf tie , very arty , Darlin !!! :D although you need a more spectacular color and pattern ... you have to go all in , or nothing at all.. .:D
Haha thanks, trying to mix it up a bit.
Great video
Thanks Charles!
Some years back I send my Nikon FX in for a repair (lens mount was ripped off), I picked it up 3 days later. I still would like to have an Leica....
Nikon film cameras are great too and seem to last forever but yes Leica are my go to most of the time.
@ I do like my Nikon F3 and FA. But I am trying to save up to get an M4-P or M6. There is a thing about Leica which is unbeatable.
@@casperghst42 Picked up an FA this past summer... love it.
Leica USA has had my M10M since mid-November. I approved the minor repair within 10 minutes but they missed it. I resent the approval 10 days later, they said it was then in the queue. Ugh. The tracking system is circa 2004… terrible. My camera still doesn’t show up as in repair. If they send to Germany I guess it will be another 5-6 months.
Sorry to hear, they definitely had an issue with emails in November, they missed my emails too so didn't even know I was arriving til the last day.
Really interesting but as many comment, their after sales and repair service is not up to scratch. It is unfortunate that Leica have such a following that people are prepared to put up with this. If it was any other brand you could imagine that brand suffering the consequences of what seems to be a long term underinvestment. Are there any alternatives for repairs or servicing?
Thanks, you can send film Leica to your local tech but I believe soon everything will need to go through Leica.
@ I feel your pain because as a professional your camera is your means to earn a living and Leica don’t seem to be interested in supporting that area. Long gone are the days when Leica cameras were synonymous with the working professional being now the preserve of the hobbyists or collector. I think it’s a shame. I had, many years ago, an M6 and thoroughly enjoyed using it. The lenses were superb with clarity and even contrast across the film which made for lovely black and white prints.
Bucket list trip!
Yes you must, it's an amazing place!
Can they repair the shutter of an 1980th M6? I dont think so.
Of course (well if not most Leica tech around the world can). It's only a piece of cloth.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom It's not that simple. A camera shutter is a complicated mechanism with a variable slot width and is much more than just a piece of fabric.
its a shame there is no Leica repair centres in the UK
There are for film but I send digital to Germany
do they add the quiet shutter in the M10-to-M10-P upgrade?
They can yes, see that video and I explain the options and why I asked them not to fit it.
10:03 Beautiful Benz!
See part 2 for the Benz model shoot!
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom ❤👍👌Benz W124
'vintage' camera standard service?
Vintage and analogue are classed as the same so 12 months. I would get a local tech to look at your film camera instead.
In 2012, my Canon 24-105 f/4 lens just died on me. I sent it to Canon in Van Nuys, California and had it back around 10 days later. In 2015 I sent my ME for service in Leica NJ and that simple CLA took six months. This is wholly inexcusable.
Sorry to hear, yes I know the likes of Canon and Nikon are much better as CS.
45 employees on the workshop is a very good effort and investment of any brand in any place in the world. We can only read a dubious distilling series of complaints here, but there are infinite more people who could also share how high quality and professional all the repair process was. Let Leica for all those who can and want to afford, those who can't or don't won't to, please go and enjoy your cameras and preferences happily and without bitterness
@@rickyzagalo thanks that’s a nice way to approach the comments.
@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom Hi Matt. Sorry, I forgot to thanks you for another very interesting and entertaining video. Cheers and happy holidays to you
Matt, you should've gotten them to add the "P"! 👊🏽
Ha yes, I think they have to keep as a 10 as that is what the serial number refers to.
I take a lot of photos at the beach, and there is salt water in the air. I'm wondering what the leica repair folks would say to occasionally rinsing off (a quick shower or just under the tap for a few seconds) a Q2/3 or an SL2/3 camera to clean off the salt water residue from the air. 😃
I think you should be fine with Q2/Q3 just don't drop it in the sea!
They should have three times as many techs. For what we spend on these cameras, the CS is ridiculous. It’s why I went back to Nikon.
Thanks John, yes agree and I understand. I used to work for a big manufacturing co so I kind of get their issue. The backlog built up faster than they can train techs to repair them so hiring new students to teach now will not fix the issue for another 3 years.
And that is why I have seven Leicas.
Haha SAME! (Well a lot)
Great video, but in the end you did not say why the wait is so long for repair. You gave some reasons, like 100 repair packages per day and 40 technicians and mechanical camera repairs being more complex, etc. However, the obvious reason is they do not employ nearly enough technicians to handle the job. They need to clear out the backlog and then maintain a wait of no more than 1-week. Anything more for such an expensive instrument is outrageous. To put this in perspective, Canon in the US typically gives a repair estimate within 1 to 2 days after a broken camera arrives. The owner is notified of the estimate immediately and once the owner approves the estimate (typically the same day) the camera is shipped back to the owner by fast mail. This entire process typically takes a week or less (that's right, the camera is back in the owner's hands within a week of sending it off in the mail). Sony and Nikon are not nearly as good, but the Canon service model is what we should all expect. Oh, one more thing...Canon service is cheap. The last camera I sent in for repair needed a new shutter and the sensor looked at. This 5DM2 camera is used in research and the shutter failed after many many millions of exposures and I was also concerned the sensor might have been damaged by high power laser flash (part of the experimental apparatus). In the end, the shutter was replaced and the sensor remapped and I think the repair came to $250 with shipping and back in my hands in less than a week. Unbelievable.
Yes to recap the reason for the long wait IS the backlog. They can't clear that so every new job backs up.
Had intended to comment a few weeks ago that if you were going to introduce more 'watch content' then a factory visit to Wetzlar followed by a trip down the road to the Sinn factory and museum in Frankfurt would make a great video.....but I didn't....
Ah thanks David, I didn't know Sinn were so close but let's just say stay tuned if you like German watches :)
They need to make more reliable cameras... I had to send in my M11-p after a few months and they had to replace an entire board!
Sorry to hear, yes I think they've had issues with the M11 series as you've probably read about already.
Absolutely ridiculous turn around times. I know of several photographers here in Australia, totally bailed out from Leica, because they were trying to run a business, and then their camera would disappear off into the dark rabbit-hole of repairs in Germany, not to see the light of day for a long time. It would be akin to buying a Ferrari for 250K, then being told you have to wait three months for a service. Remembering too that to buy one of these contraptions here in Australia costs well over 10K (12,000 dollars at the moment for Q3). I won't be buying Leica anytime soon!
Yes I fully understand people's frustrations on this. Hopefully times will speed up if they read some of these comments.
Actually, paying 600k for a Ferrari, you DO have to wait a long, long time for service -- and pay the price of the average Ford for the service once you get it! (It's part of the charm.)
Well for you there are many other choices perhaps a Nice Canon.. people seem to like them these days.
@@gewglesux Thanks - yes I've been shooting with two Nikon Z cameras now for a few years, for all of my paid shoots and personal stuff. Flying out today for 5 weeks in New Zealand and I just bought the Z26mm 2.8 pancake lens to trial. There is lots of lovely gear out there without having to sell mortgage the house, like you would to buy a Leica.
@@philipsutton8921 Nice!! I've never been there. I am in the M (FILM)system and in the Q system.I figured next year i'll be in at least ONE of the digi Range finder systems.
There are so many independent repair shops that can repair or service analoge cameras, why not go there?
Yes I only send digital to Leica and I'd recommend others to use third party techs too (the good ones ofc).
All I ever hear in Leica vs anybody videos is how Leica is better built than every other camera. So why are their cameras constantly being sent in for repairs if they’re built so well? I would dig a Leica digital camera (but not their stupid bottom-loading film cameras), but it’s such a steep price for something that seems like it’ll eventually need repairs. If they’re going to charge so much, they should build something that actually lasts.
Thanks Frank, the fact is they do last seemingly forever (like my various 1930s models) but you will need to service them. Most Leica are rangefinders so many of those will be coming in for calibration issues. Yes they are built like tanks but if you drop them you need to realign the RF inside.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I obviously wouldn’t fault Leica if people drop a camera or misuse it. But I’m curious how many cameras are sent in for repairs because of user error verses regular servicing verses design flaws. I’d be interested in a video where you walk us through what kind of regular servicing is required so that potential buyers have an idea of what they’re getting themselves into. I have an old Canon 50D that still works like a champ and has never needed servicing, nor has it ever occurred to me that it might ever need servicing (so long as I don’t drop it or misuse it). I suppose I expected the same kind of build from a Leica, at least from their digital cameras which have far less moving parts. With film cameras I can see where all those moving parts would eventually wear and require servicing. Again, I wouldn’t look at that kind of wear as a design flaw (though I don’t know why Leica stuck with fabric shutter curtains while Canon and Nikon went to using far more durable metal). I still think Leicas are beautiful and all, but for the price, I just wish they were more reliable.
Why is that handsome blonde fellow taking a picture of an M3 with an M3 ? Pure genius
Haha that random guy did all the great b-roll too so top guy!
First leica, M3 or M6?
what focal length do you prefer?
M3 for me but only if you shoot 50mm, if you shoot 35mm get a M2 or get the M6 if you need a light meter in the camera.
My first camera was a Leica M3 in sad shape. My father got it from a German friend of his. The prism was very dim. So in 1970-71 I asked a friend who had a car if he would go on a short trip to New Jersey to the Leica facility there to ask them what they could do with the M3. We lived in Westchester County New York so it wasn't a long trip.
I handed the receptionist the camera and a technician came and got it. A little while later he came out and said the prism was covered in some sort of fungus and would cost about $200 to fix it. That's about $1,300 in 2024 but I was but a poor high schooler back then. My father didn't have or want to pay for it either so I traded it in for a Canon Canonet QL17 GIII.
The Canonet was a far inferior experience even when compared to a beat-up Leica!
"Inferior experience" but probably took better pictures, since you could actually see through the viewfinder...
@@jlwilliams Actually the viewfinder in the Canon was kind of dim and low contrast, not as bad as my fogged-up M3 but the Lecia build quality felt so much better. The Canon's shutter sound was toy-like compared to the Lecia. However, you are correct, the new Canonet was easier to focus!
Sorry to hear, yes Leica are expensive but nothing comes close for build quality for me. Yes we can take near identical photos with other cameras on film but I still gravitate to the nice feel and sounds of Leicas. Hopefully you can pick up a cheaper Leica one day, Leica III early models are the best made Leica of any Leica (1930s black ones)
Last time I drove directly from London to Wetzla, took me 8 hr
Wow, it took Thomas the same from NL
I think the same things that make their cameras and lenses so great, namely a tradition of solid design and engineering coupled with highly skilled people assembling the products, also explains why these are high-priced, relatively niche products and why there are long waiting periods to obtain newly released models as well as long repair times. If they cranked out mass production gear like the giant manufacturers, they would lose the very qualities that make Leica products unique and desirable.
Yes spot on. It's the same for Rolex and Omega. High price, niche, great engineering but need servicing to keep them running smoothly.
Exactly, and that is actually part of the fun of ownership: realizing the precision and complexity of the mechanisms (reminds me of spending hours gazing at those see-through illustrations of Porsche 911s).
I think there is only a couple of things you need to know about Leica CS
1. They don’t care about their professional users
2. It takes forever to do something Canon takes 1 week to do
Dreadful CS
6 months to change the shutter and motherboard on a Leica SL2-s
Sorry to hear, yes I know most pros use non-Leica and keep their Leica for the fun photos.
@ but the SL range of cameras are marketed at pros and yet the support is just not there. They tell me the SL is a pro camera yet treat me like one of the Leica people that sits in front of his cabinet with a box of Kleenex…
@@Dpul945 the SL is by far my most used Leica.
Why do i never see a Leica on the sidelines or any sporting event? or on Safari in Kenya? They have the Glass..
@ you don’t see it at sports because the SL range is not good enough to track like the Sony. A quirk of the system is that it won’t track when set to the highest FPS rendering it useless in the modern day.
I worked with Canon and Nikon for more than 25 years and never had to send a camera for any repairs. Since I started working with Leica, I had to send the M240 two times and the M10 Monochrom one time to Wetzlar for repairs. The worse for me is the ridiculous time it takes for the repairs and the total lack of customer service. I have more customer service when buying a cheap gadget online. Don't get me wrong. I love my Leica, but now they (Leica) had the best year ever; they might consider investing in their clients instead of ads via UA-cam hypers and fashionistas who "elevated" the brand as a fancy thing to have. It's a working tool not a jewelry thing!
Thank Paul, sorry to hear your story and I understand your frustration.
I cannot think of any other company who has customers satisfied with repair jobs measured with waiting time in *months*. Personally, I find that unacceptable and is making me reconsider becoming an owner of a Leica-brand camera. I'll stick with the Voigtlanders for now.
Thanks Chris, yes I understand why people think like this. I'm lucky to own a few cameras so I can work if one goes away.
From my experience, Voigtlander after sales service is non-existent at least in the US. I finally had DAG to recalibrate the back focus issue on my 35mm Nokton. So far all the lenses I got from Leica are spot on.
So with, lead times going up, basically people are breaking their Leica gear faster than Leica can grow its repair service. Doesn't sound like a good brand to be invested in.
You didn't happen to see my DR Summicron there whilst you were passing did you?... It's been 8 months since I've laid eyes on it. I have lots of lenses so I can wait, but to be honest, I'd just rather send my stuff to DAG instead. I emailed Leica London a few days ago and I'm still waiting for a reply to my enquiry. That's not great.
Sorry to hear, yes other techs might be better in future for lenses and film bodies.
Most Leica users in Germany are rich dentists, who need a professional service for their IT system, but not for their camera. 🤣
I had a couple of repairs on a Leicaflex SL2 from the 1970s, which is not serviced by Leica anymore, but Leica recommended me an independent repair shop, who did that it less than 2 weeks including shipment. After reading this I will not buy a Leica M, I do not want to support any ignorant company.
Thanks, yes the dentist joke is always a funny one. Yes sadly they need to clear the big backlog asap. I send non-digital to local techs not Wetzlar like you did.
I thought you said your camera had a “sh!tter” not shutter. LOL. Carry on.
Haha sorry the accent!
And you didn’t buy any vintage goodies while at the Leica Classic Store?
No I was very good! (We did look!) :)
@Now that’s restraint!
At Peter Karbe’s suggestion, I got an APO-Elmarit-R 100 mm f/2.8 + APO-R 2x Extender for that lens this past Summer. It’s a great lens for use on my M11 Monochrom. I’m just now testing to see whether it, a Macro-Elmar-M 90 mm f/4 (+ Macro Adapter M), or Macro-Elmar-R 100 mm f/4 will work best at digitizing my ancient 35 mm B&W negatives.
Yes, it seems to take a long time to get your Leica repaired. But ask another camera brand to repair their 1930s camera.
Ask another brand that was MAKING cameras in the 1930s and they might say yes, although offhand I can't think of any test cases except maybe Linhof. I think we have to let Canon off the hook, since while their first production camera (1935) used the Canon name, the parent company was still called Seiko Kogaku...
Thanks Tobi! Yes I love my 1930s Leicas.
Matt ; what Nicholas is addressing is simply " human muscle memory " the ear , eyes , and hands are of a UNIT and this UNIT must work cohesively , what this means is with our sweet fetishization of the instant , we have foregone the knowledge and innate skill of the human element that can produce the same results as a digital camera but in a much different way , film has grain it is not as flexible as the " I want it now " Digital. Strengths and weakness , I have fallen out of love , with digital. The snick , smooth crank , and even the focusing in the MA and M3 range finder , the glowing saturated depth of the Rollei Fresnel ... glowing light , these are the " muscle memory " systems of the human being .
What is important ? this depends. Models want now , paying customers want now ....but a person who loves the glow of Art , and yeah struggles of film ... it is a struggle at times ...
Well ; you have to decide or combine. I have combined the SL3 with my beloved film cameras and yet at the same time cannot divorce myself from the perhaps limiting , but liberating feel of the organic. There is so much more in this living in light , than the models we all desire and thrill at , there is an inner peace a place , and nothing can enter this private garden of light. Today in deep evening light I shot 100 speed film into the rich dusk of the Pacific Northwest . That is my garden of light , and you must find yours. Cheers.
Thanks Chris, nicely put. I was just editing a film scan before reading and I agree film is still king for sure! 4x5 in an amazing way to enjoy time in nature and just enjoy the light as you say, the same is true with any film camera if you get into the zone.
Leica really needs to create a Pro support program like NPS (Nikon) CPS (Canon) and others. 4-6 months of repair downtime for a professional is unacceptable. And the cost of Leica equipment makes it harder to get a replacement while yours is gone. Now that Leica is growing and making record profits I hope they invest in making their repair services to be more robust. These long delays worry many Leica shooters always in the back of your mind you may have to loose your camera for 1/2 of a year for a repair.
They do have a Pro support, Matt Osborne ain't a pro. That's all.
Thanks yes hopefully they can get the backlog down so it's back to 2-3 weeks to repair cameras.
Thanks, do you have more info on this as I've never seen any proof? I'm a UA-camr photographer rather than paid for photos but all the pros I know use other brands for their day job and Leica for the good stuff.
@@LensForgotten I'm a CPS gold/gold member since many years. My 24-70 2.8L lens broke in Dubai. Got a free replacement to use. Lens waa repaired and sent to Switzerland, where I returned the replacement lens. Of course the repair was not free, but I got the lens back after 2 weeks. This is service!!
Who ever's shooting professional stuff with Leica must have some strong reasons...
Very interesting Matt ! I hope my Leica CL mirrorless never has to be send back to Wetzlar!
Thanks, my CL went back once when part of a SD card broke off in the camera. Not the camera's fault.
Kudos to Leica for still servicing every camera they ever made. In contrast, Japanese camera companies stop servicing cameras (and manufacturing parts) after a relatively short period. I sold a 2003 Nikon 200-400mm f4 lens to a sports photographer because he had the exact same lens develop a problem and Nikon refused to service it and you can't buy parts for it. It has created a cottage industry for 3D printing of parts.
I wish Leica could service all of their cameras, but they can't even replace a light meter in a classic or ttl m6.
@@Mike-dh8gr I was about to say I was skeptical that they could perform ANY service on EVERY camera they ever made. Those M6 meters were one example; parts became unavailable (for RoHS reasons, I suspect) so they had to redesign the metering system for the re-introduced M6. And didn't they give up on repairing corroded M9 sensors? Aren't some of the all-electronic R-series SLRs basically unrepairable? Would they really be willing or able to repair the Minolta-developed zoom lenses from the years of the Leica-Minolta partnership? Of course the really old cameras can still be repaired: basically they were made by craftsmen in a well-equipped machine shop, so craftsmen in a well-equipped machine shop can still make parts, especially if the original drawings are still available.
From what I understand, they haven’t been replacing or repairing the bad sensors on the M9 for some time now (please correct me if I’m incorrect).
Leica itself was unable to service screw-mount cameras for many years. But there was an external technician who did that for many years. Even Leica itself sent him his cameras. But recently, they bought all his tools, and technicians in Vienna were trained to do service and repairs for screw mount Leica also. This happened when Leica itself started with their own classic store.
Thanks Thomas, yes thanks to Leica that I can still use models from the 1930s (some of my all time favourite cameras!). It's sad others don't offer the same.
The only point I'm disappointed with Leica service is that they no offer any way to solve the corrosion on the Leica M9sensors
They did make replacement sensors but only for a short period. See my CCD video where will talk about which version are corrosion proof.
l have owned a couple of modern Leicas a R4 and an M6 plus a 1937/8 lllB... the lllB was serviced by an independent Leica specialist...the other two suffered no problems ...l did have a problem with a 19mm R lens.... a gritty feel to the focus ring.... this was exchanged...l called in to my local dealer, he put a brand new, still sealed box on his counter saying Leica had told him to give me a new lens....No quibbling about l may have been responsible etc, etc!.....mid eighties, early nineties....
Thanks Brian, those sound like great times! I was alive but much later to Leica.
A very informative video, thank you.
I haven’t got a Leica, but of course I aspire to own one, I watch your channel because it’s interesting.
But another thing people need to realise, the two year warranty that comes with a new Leica in the UK is NOT transferable. So if I wanted to buy a used Leica, say a Q3 that’s maybe 6 months old, the only warranty you get is with the reseller or if you buy privately you’ve zero warranty, even though there’s technically 18 months warranty left. Imagine if car makers did this?
I know people who have waited 4/5 months to get their relatively new Leica repaired, it’s pretty disgusting.
These two reasons alone (the warranty and repair times) is why I’m very reluctant to ever get a Leica.
Thanks David and yes an interesting reminder about warranty. I try to buy from shops when I buy used so to get at leat 6 maths warranty. (Like my M10 if you followed that story). Yes Leica don't always help themselves.
When I asked I was told the remaining warranty is passed to the new user (from a private sale on an M at least). The extended year didn' pass on. Leica then confirmed it with me prior to purchase.
Bit in any case you basically lose a large part of your warranty with it sitting at repair if anything goes wrong with it. Shocking the situation exists in the first place but even more shocking they dont extend it to compensate
I love leica and what they are but why is a nearly brand new camera going back for repair or service it just should not happen. The older ones seem to he a lot better my M2 and M4 seem to be bomb proof but not these newer ones.
I think many returns are for calibration. Yes the m11s have had issues and I can’t excuse those. I can’t answer for everything in between.
Have been to Leica HQ in Wetzlar several times, and found customer service to be uncomplicated and friendly. Nothing bad to report here, really.
Yes super nice guys and a great experience visiting the HQ. I'll share more about the trip in part 2
Matt. I saw you video on sl-2s deal and it was even better.
I got a second battery and the leica M to L adapter free plus no tax or shipping.
Not getting it right the first time is bad. But the fact that they told you it would take another 2 months to finish what they didn’t do the first time doesn’t speak well. Then you had to take time, money to make the trip so they could fix it the same day. I would think long and hard before buying another Leica.
Yes not ideal, shipment times from UK to EU adds more delays so it was a good excuse to make my first visit to Leica and to meet up with friends. I was lucky to have friends that could help otherwise I would have had to send it the normal route.
I don't understand how they can charge these high prices and deliver such slow service.
I think Rolex and Omega do exactly the same. It's often for high end things.
Why is it not possible to book a slot, like a car service, then you can keep using the camera until just before due, rather than have it sitting on a shelf for six months.
Great suggestion, hopefully they can do that in the future.
Maybe I'm evil, but Leica likes to put out new Limited Editions and does not care abt professional clients or serious customers.
I guess I will sell my SL, SL2 plus several M's (M6 etc.) Will keep my M2, M8.2 Safari Set, M9 and M240 (9 months for CLA!!) to get an Canon 1DxIII.
It's not abt bashing Leica (my Granadad owned one of the 1st batch IIIb).
Much talk abt clients but if you're not a kind of celeb using Leica you're not "important"".
I'm not a fanboy. But Canon has the best support around the world.
Leica would doing much much better to improve the support than bringing out one special edition after another. So I will return to my Canon roots. Sadly.
Yes agree Leica need to clear their backlog. Nikon and Canon etc will always have better servicing but you can't compare mass production units to rangefinder cameras. I think we buy Leica knowing they are more complicated insight and that's why we like them. It makes sense to have a non-Leica body for pros unless you are lucky to own lots of spares if one dies. I got zero preferential treatment even after 10+ years of Leica reviews.
9 Months for a CLA for my M240 !!!
Long time to wait. I also have a M240; hope it will keep functioning excellently.
Hope you where happy with the result of the CLA?
Sorry to hear, I think my M10 was about 5-6 months if I remember.
@@PhotoArtBrussels Mine came back the first time with failure. Self timer did not work (after 6 months CLA) -> back to Leica for the next 3 months.😳
@@62smarty That is very disappointing, indeed. You're the third person I know that had an issue after repair. 😕
I’m a big fan of Leica, having owned from new an M9, M11, Q2 and now Q3, but their build quality is atrocious. Their profit margins are at record highs, they now need to invest in improved build quality and their software processes
Nice, yes agree I think they need to iron out their current issues and reduce the repairs backlog.
Regarding the waiting times for repair - this is plain bad management by Leica. Especially when one considers that M cameras have become less and less reliable and/or prone to issues in recent years (e.g. M11 freezing issues; M11-D formatting issues; Q3 43 filter thread...). To be clear, I'm not a hater but rather a Leica fan, having been to Wetzar myself. Just find this sad.
Thanks yes it's sad that the latest models have had so many issues but those that remember older models apparently it was also true in the past for new concept cameras. Like you I like Leica but i'm not making excuses for them.
Nicholas Kaufmann? Is that the son of the owner?
Great question! I'm not sure tbh.
Thats a great excuse to road trip to Wetzlar! Why couldn't you download the firmware online to a computer and load the SW to an SD card for install?
Yes they said couldn't do it remotely so perhaps more than firmware/ quick install.
Because they have abandoned service in major markets like the USA, so if I send my camera to Leica USA they send it on the Germany! Thus guaranteeing delays. That’s why I send my Analog cameras to skilled independent service technicians. I recently received a IIIg with 50 mm collapsible summicron back from a full overhaul. Complete with a complete lens tear down CLA IN 6 weeks from DAG..
Great stuff, I hear that soon everything will need to go through Germany as parts will not be available to third party techs sadly, I hear.
It's an absolute sin that Leica stripped parts delivery to independent repair people with their backlog. I would never by a digital M, nor would I ever send my film M to Leica. There are still a few top notch repair people who have parts, but it is just disgusting that Leica crippled most of them.
Yes that makes no sense especially when they can’t keep up with demand.
MATT : News flash :
Analog Camera Experts: KANTO CAMERA OF JAPAN .... stop banging your head on the walls already. KANTO . 🇯🇵
Thanks Chris! I hear they do great paint jobs too!
These cameras only sell because of supposed coolness factor, because HCB used one back in the days when their was no choice. If he was starting out today he'd probably use a Canon, Nikon, Fuji, etc. Toys for people with too much disposable income.
Thanks for your thoughts. Yes I'm sure many would think the same re. the watches.
Confirms the bad hype Leica customer service is known for. For the price of camera and lenses, service should be much faster and more efficient. Not enough customer service centers and personnel to cope with the demand. 3 years apprenticeship to become specialized technician is btw normal in Germany since they have to spend 50% of their apprenticeship time in school outside of work. Glad that there are third party repair shops in the US for film-based Leica M cameras. Turn-around time was often less than 4 weeks from my experience. That they didn't do the M10-P upgrade job correctly but fully charged you is really bad.
Thanks, sadly I hear soon all Leica will need to go through Leica but not sure if this is true.
@ I heard the same. Leica is no longer supplying parts to third parties. Leica wants to cash in on the repair business without providing better service.
It's your fault I have three Leica M's now.
Ha sorry Martti! I hope you are loving them!
It is appalling that the Trolls of Wetzlar did a half-assed job. But not surprising. They are just about the last people in the world I would want working on a Leica of mine, but there we are. They are quite obviously understaffed and undertrained. Schade! They could be worse, but it would take some real effort.
Thanks Sandy, quite a strong comment from you but I understand.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom They could do better. Being owned by private equity does not seem to help. I just pray my gear never has to go to them. Cheers
Possibly Leica cameras are good and possibly also the lenses. The prices are absurdly high.
But how useful is the promise of quality if the service works at the speed of a snail?
Leica products are not tools for photographers but lifestyle products for people who have a lot of money and don't take pictures. And Leicas that stand in a display case and are occasionally dusted off are not sent in for servicing.
From my personal point of view, everything that shows the Leica logo has one of the worst price-performance ratios.
Any other company with such a service offer for photographers would have no chance of survival. But there are people who don't take photos and want to afford it.
For me, that is unacceptable. I give my money to a company that offers good value for money with very competitive photographic equipment and good service. If something needs to be repaired, I get it back within a week.
Yes I understand your view, most modern cameras can take nice photos in 2024. I enjoy using Leica as I like the process and feel of the cameras. I have a cheap Lumix too that can capture similar photos but it doesn't inspire me to pick it up so it doesn't get used.
Be glad you don't shoot Sony it would take you weeks to drive to their factory😂😅
Haha nice Rob :)
This is the reason I will not jump into Leica. No pro support or even reasonable consumer timely support.
Yes understood, I don't think Leica are helping themselves.
the swiss barely understand electronics....
Thanks!
Sorry, but what a joke - they're happy to keep selling them but don't update their service processes to keep up with demand. How on earth can they expect people to wait 3-4 months+ under warranty on a camera body that costs £8K!!! Only had my M weeks but I'll sell it soon. So underwhelmed by the camera and the band. They are nice objects to look at and hold, but that's where it ends - the rest is just a mindset that we could apply to literally any camera.
Thanks yes Leica don't help themselves when it comes to CS. Hopefully they can fix going forward. Yes once you've used a Leica you can apply the same mindset if you don't mind user another camera. I find Hasselblads are nice too but bigger but most other brands I'm not a huge fan of when it comes to using them.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom I dont think they will to be honest, they're more a luxury brand now - it's all about brand and lifestyle. I mean what sort of company doesn't complete a job and then says 3-4 months to fix, or get you to drive to their HQ in another country!? I mean surely they could expedite via courier or just send you a replacement at that point. It's also shocking that you can jump the queue by going there directly. Now, of the cameras worked properly and were more reliable, less of an issue. Hats off to you and others for your loyal support, I'm just struggling with the whole Leica ownership at the moment, and I have a Q as well. I think many of us are lured in by their marketing which they're great at of course. Have found plenty of useful info from your channel, apologies for the negativity!
Um, more like 10 reasons _not_ to buy a Leica.
Yes buy Nikon film cameras if you don't want the hassle of sending in for servicing.
@@MattOsborne-MrLeicaCom
Indeed.
That's why Nikon (and most others) abandoned problematic and parallax-challenged rangefinder film cameras and went with far more reliable, durable and accurate SLR cameras. Many many thousands of pro photographers then switched to Nikon SLRs as a result.
@@Mamo878 I love my Nikon SLRs too, I still need to make a video on my FM3a but as for digital, not interested in the slightest. Selling my D800 for the M9 was the best move of my photography life.
Talk about service needs. EVERY M9 had to have the entire sensor completely replaced because Leica screwed up and originally installed a sensor that corroded and prevented the camera from functioning correctly. Yikes
This is yet another reason why German industry is going downhill.
Yes I saw on the news Germany isn't doing great right now (like the UK)
Leica statement just confirms what kind of amateurs are running that company now days.
Hopefully they can get back on track in 2025
Unacceptable on $10k investment per unit. Premium kit deserves premium service. If something will take 12 months (🤯) then you should be supplied a 'loaner'....and I don't care "that will be expensive for them".
((BTW I understand Hasselblad is a nightmare also on the digital range.))
One exception is the 'vintage' varieties.
Thanks, understood. They did used to offer loaners many years ago when I got into Leica in 2013.
why should they care? most leica user nowadays are only posers anyway
Haha that's an interesting take on things. Yes I guess those people using them to pose with won't care if they never use the camera. (Sadly if 100 are coming back a day it seems people that own Leica do use them).
The after-sale service of Leica ( Repair of M digital cameras or lenses take times so Long ) is very disappointed to the most of users worldwide.
Sadly yes not the answers we want to hear. Hopefully they can reduce the backlog in 2025.
My comment juts before watching the video: it does not matter why it takes months or nearly a year - it is way too long. If you want to serve professional clients, service and repair times need to get heavily down. and for that it does not matter if this are premium products or not. That's a fact.
(next comment after watching the video).
Thanks, sadly Leica are like Rolex and Omega watches, as I understand. They are more of a luxury and more complicated so as such need more care and attend over the years as you often buy for life not a throwaway purchase.
So you not just only met the magic of Leica in Wetzlar but also the „Magic of Light“?!
Ha nice idea.. look at the clip, I'm not sure if you are correct but you'll see in the next video!