So I’d like some advice. My beloved brand new (as of march 2026) Q3 43 (that I was once trying to sell here) was dropped in early June onto a cement sidewalk. It damaged the lcd housing but not the lcd itself and left a bad nick on the bottom edge where it hit and a nick on the lens cap. I had purchased a 4 year Allstate plan so I wasn’t too worried but didn’t want them to touch it. I only wanted Leica to do the repair. So I sent it off and just got it back and I was expecting it to be in like new condition. The LCD now is scratched, there’s a weird film on it, and the LCD has some kind of bubble under it. I’ve tried blasting Leica all over social media but it seems they couldn’t care less. The repair center said the lcd was already scratch when I sent it in. I’ll attach pictures of where the damage was and how it looks “repaired” the first three pictures are how it was after it fell. The rest are after it was repaired by Leica.
Yes I even called them this morning and just so happened to speak to the lady I’ve been emailing from their repair center in New Jersey. She was pretty hot headed and seemed frustrated that I expected to receive the camera back in like new condition. She told me they don’t fix cosmetic damage and which is a lie because they put it in a new housing and gave me a new lens cap. I told her I’ve bought 4 of these now all brand new and never have I received from the factory all screwed up. I also asked her how there is now a scratch on my LCD and I said and how in the hell does a bubble get underneath the lcd. She just about lost it then and transferred me to her supervisor who of course it just went to voicemail. Meanwhile I’ve been blasting this on social media and someone from instagram replied back saying always send your camera to Germany for repairs. He even said you can mail it to their USA repair center and ask for them to send it to Germany. He said he’d never let Leica USA touch his camera. I think in the future I’ll take his advice.
Meanwhile I’m thinking of getting this repaired “correctly” and selling it, and buying a new one. The camera strap I’ve been waiting 6 months for is supposed to finally ship today as per B&H
Also, this still makes me so mad because I never drop my expensive things. I’ve had every single iPhone except the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 4 because I was waiting on the white model. I’ve never had a case on any of my phones and I never drop them. Ugh 🤦🏻
Blainee wrote:
Meanwhile I’m thinking of getting this repaired “correctly” and selling it, and buying a new one. The camera strap I’ve been waiting 6 months for is supposed to finally ship today as per B&H
I would review the scope of work - the LCD screen needed to be on it for them to repair it. My experience with them is that they generally do a good job but communications is often a bit slow and turnaround times are best case ok, not great. However if the LCD repair is not on the SOW, they cannot do it.
On repairing the LCD to new, I think most repair shops have to follow the scope of work due to consumer protection laws. E.g. if they over-repair your product, that is a legal risk to them so they have to follow the letter of the SOW.
Rationally, you should just keep it at this point if you can get over your OCD. The resale value is likely to be extremely poor plus I assume you just spent a bunch of money trying to repair it.
Blainee wrote:
"Also, this still makes me so mad because I never drop my expensive things. Ugh 🤦🏻"
Most of us can relate. I've learned to be hyper aware of my gear. I'm not as worried about minor cosmetic defects, but more about damaging sensitive components. Let it go brotha.
Firstly you dropped your camera so that's your fault. You can't expect Leica to return your camera brand new. They will replace what's wrong or what's not working and fix that.
Secondly there's clearly a screen protector that was applied at factory or at repair on there. Can you not see that?
Take it off and all your "problems" will be gone and this thread will be resolved.
Blainee wrote:
Yes I even called them this morning and just so happened to speak to the lady I’ve been emailing from their repair center in New Jersey. She was pretty hot headed and seemed frustrated that I expected to receive the camera back in like new condition. She told me they don’t fix cosmetic damage and which is a lie because they put it in a new housing and gave me a new lens cap. I told her I’ve bought 4 of these now all brand new and never have I received from the factory all screwed up. I also asked her how there is now a scratch on my LCD and I said and how in the hell does a bubble get underneath the lcd. She just about lost it then and transferred me to her supervisor who of course it just went to voicemail. Meanwhile I’ve been blasting this on social media and someone from instagram replied back saying always send your camera to Germany for repairs. He even said you can mail it to their USA repair center and ask for them to send it to Germany. He said he’d never let Leica USA touch his camera. I think in the future I’ll take his advice. ...Show more →
So you drive your car through a bunch of branches and bushes and stuff, scratch everything all to hell-
Then you take it to the dealer for some warranty work-
You get the car back and are pissed they didn’t fix all the damage from the bushes??
How does this make sense?
Also yes- Always take random users on Instagram’s advice. Clearly Germany would have just sent you a brand new camera to make up for you dropping yours.
Blainee wrote:
I just have severe OCD (actually take a huge dosage of clomipramine for it) and in my brain this camera is now “no good” unless it is replaced 😔
It would help with your OCD if you told yourself to STOP working on this issue (after taking off the screensaver) and refocused your attention on actually using the camera to take pictures. Most working photographers have and happily use cameras that are all beat to hell and back. They sometimes feel affection for all the scars. Or they just don't care about them. Cartier-Bresson's Leicas were heavily marked and scarred.
Indulging your OCD makes matters worse. Refocus your attention on taking pictures with the camera. Redefine the scars as part of the camera's personal history with you that make it your personal camera.
Many people don't know that all the LCD screen come from the factory with a cover installed. It is a bit more difficult than the aftermarket ones to replace but most camera repair shops or DIY people can do it. In your case, first just remove the aftermarket cover that seems to have been installed. That should fix everything I can see in your pictures. Then put a new one on.
Since the camera is no longer cosmeticaly perfect, just go out and shoot the heck out of it without worring if it stays perfect. That may turn out to be a creative gift...
Leica Q3 43 botched repair
