XPan II rangefinder problem

[msmmgr]

I am a Leica user and found a new Xpan II at the local store recently, which was the last one in that store.
I put 45mm and tried to focus, but the range finder patch didn't move except near infinity. Salesperson spent a few minutes and fixed the problem. I asked him how he fixed it, and he said he touched the range finder coupling (small round metal piece) on the top inside of lens mount of the camera.

I have thought about having a second camera with my MP and thought XPan is a good choice, but felt a little bit uncomfortable with the stablity of the range finder of the camera. I have used my Leica MP for 3 years, but I have never had a problem with the range finder. It comes with one year US warrenty, but what if the range finder doesn't work after the warrenty is expired?

These days it's getting harder to find a new XPan II and I need your advice. Is it a good idea to buy a discontinued model by the way? If I pass Xpan, I may go for M8.

Question on photo stitching for XPan images:
Could it be possible that some Xpan images are not stitchable?
Someone mentioned that he was not able to stitch Xpan images sometimes and bought a flatbed scanner that I hate to use and don't have any more.
I like to utilize my MK 5400 for scanning XPan photos.

[Jim Watts]

I have an XPan I not II, which I brought Secondhand over 3 years ago. The rangefinder has never been a problem and has never needed adjustment. It's proved as stable as my M4. Build quality of the Xpan is very high and it should prove durrable for years to come. The cam follower had probably just stuck in this case and was not engaging the cam.

Others in this forum report using the MK 5400 succesfully when stitching, here and others if you do a search:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/foru...highlight=5400

[Joe Henry]

I love the camera, but have had the rangefinder worked on 3 times by Hasselblad. It still isn't right. It was always off in the vertical plane...and still is. I just got the 90mm lens back from Hasselblad (repairing a dinged front filter thread-damaged by Hasselblad on a previous adjustment) and now the 90mm is off in the horizontal plane also.
Am I going to send the camera body and 90mm back for the 4th rangefinder adjustment? No. I prefer the 45mm.
Anyone interested in buying the 90mm. Just CLA'd.
Joe

[wdenies]

Only once I had a focussing problem on my XPAN I, but the problem was caused by me!
When mounting a lens, you have to turn it until you hear a (very noisy) click.

Wim

[MP/CLE]

No problems with my xpanII, and used it almost exclusively for nine months... I love this thing. I have barely used the 90, while the 45 gets about 35% and the 30 about 50% of the use. Its really fun going wide...

[SHERPA]

No problems with my xpanII, and used it almost exclusively for two years ago...

I Allway l use it every day

[Parkes Owen]

Bought my xpan 2 years ago second hand(mint cond) and it`s been everywhere with me, rangefinder has always been perfect. I love this thing.