Leica is cheaper than any other because Leica cares !

TheClueless said:

That's pretty impressive...

...especially as a D-Lux will go straight to a Panasonic service depot from Leica.

I'm not sure you could expect that kind of aftercare with an LX100.

The question I have is, what was so wrong with it that it needed 4 extensive repairs in 4 years? It's a Panasonic, not a Wetzlar Leica - which will be that maintenance intensive.

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Russar said:

TheClueless said:

That's pretty impressive...

...especially as a D-Lux will go straight to a Panasonic service depot from Leica.

I'm not sure you could expect that kind of aftercare with an LX100.

The question I have is, what was so wrong with it that it needed 4 extensive repairs in 4 years? It's a Panasonic, not a Wetzlar Leica - which will be that maintenance intensive.

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Well, Mr. Clueless, you certainly picked the right nick. Let's not argue where D-Lux and LX-100 are manufactured or repaired (even when I know personally Leica USA service office Allendale, NJ and visit them from time to time). But the difference in cameras of similar design and especially in lenses of the same design is in the adjustment which for the best results is done semi manually.

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camfan1 said:

Hi,

In other Forums people tend to ridicule Leica for their pricing policy.

But, in my case, my D-Lux 109 is by far the cheapest camera I ever owned.

I used it extensively, in fact close to abuse (taking the number of shots into account).

In the 4 years I owned it Leica has serviced it (sensor cleaning) and *completely* refurbished (replaced close to anything) it 4 times for the exact amount of ... 0 euro/USD. It's in fact still a brand new camera.

This is, surely in Europe!, something *no other* company would even consider doing !

My (Belgian) Leica/Fujifilm shop owner told me this is no exception at all ...

Leica really cares about their customers ... a lot.

My humble DLUX has served me so well and I will cherish it for as long as I can because ... I would be real crazy not to.

Of course ... YMMV, but I sure hope it doesn't !

Kind regards,

Stefaan

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camfan1 said:

Hi,

4 repairs in 4 years are imho not unusual because I used this camera for more than 20000 shots and lots of video's. Moreover it was used all over the world under sometimes harsh conditions. Allow me to put it this way... If it would not have needed repair in those 4 years it would have been a pro wr camera, not a cheap digicam. Freezing and boiling temperatures, wind blowing Sand Storms ... That was my use case. Nevertheless Leica did it... They in fact replaced my camera even after I always honestly told the shop owner just why it Needed serviceing. No wonder Leica never became Canon size wise

It might be a good idea to indeed post a link to some of my work, just to show why I fell in love with this compact Leica Jewel!

Kind regards,

Stefaan

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Russar said:

TheClueless said:

That's pretty impressive...

...especially as a D-Lux will go straight to a Panasonic service depot from Leica.

I'm not sure you could expect that kind of aftercare with an LX100.

The question I have is, what was so wrong with it that it needed 4 extensive repairs in 4 years? It's a Panasonic, not a Wetzlar Leica - which will be that maintenance intensive.

Click to expand...

Well, Mr. Clueless, you certainly picked the right nick. Let's not argue where D-Lux and LX-100 are manufactured or repaired (even when I know personally Leica USA service office Allendale, NJ and visit them from time to time). But the difference in cameras of similar design and especially in lenses of the same design is in the adjustment which for the best results is done semi manually. Which is especially difficult for the multiple optical components lenses. I used to know personally a fellow, whose main job was lens alignment for satellites. On a side he did a private job: will take a camera lens and fine-tune it. Professional photographers payed well for it and were very happy with the results.

Another great example: most of the Soviet cameras were not only stolen western designs, but after WW2 German camera and lens manufacturing equipment was brought to the USSR. Leicas were renamed FED and Zorki, Contax – Kiev. Well, the quality of the USSR made cameras, sin the same designs, parts, manufacturing equipment, was much lower.

So, the bottom line: it's mainly Panasonic design but Leitz modification, quality control, service.

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Who can say why today tomorrow will be yesterday?

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camfan1 said:

camfan1 wrote

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camfan1 said:

4 repairs in 4 years are imho not unusual because I used this camera for more than 20000 shots

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HeatherJG said:

You might not feel the same way about Leica if you had been the owner of an MM with corroded sensor. And Leica unwilling to do anything about it.

I paid €7,000 for that camera. I couldn't afford the €1,000 Leica demanded to replace the sensor, and in the end I swapped that MM plus a 50mm Summicron for Fujifilm X-T3 and 18-55 lens. And my Canon gear for an 80mm X macro and an X 100-400 zoom.

It was a good move. Suddenly I realised that spending vast sums on Leica bodies - which lack features standard on other camera a sixth of the price, and will go obsolete just like all other bodies- was a mug's game.

I'm a Fujifilm babe now, and happy with it!

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