Help-stuck in Phuket with a frozen M7 shutter

[jalLee2001]

Help anyone, just unpacked my M7 and the shutter is frozen (plus the rewind). Does anyone know of a reputable dealer or repair shope in Phuket, Thailand. This has never happened in 7 years of using the camera, and I am not easy on my camera!

John

 

[Austerby]

I had a much more minor problem with my MP when I was there last year - the screw retaining the shutter dial fell out. It took me all day walking around Phuket town to find anyone who could help. In the end it was a Fuji-branded camera shop down near the big shopping centre but I couldn't be more precise than that. The staff were very helpful and most kind but they didn't really do much with older cameras and may not be what you're looking for, but they may just know someone who might if no one else here comes up with a better suggestion. Good luck.

 

[jalLee2001]

Thanks, will try them

 

[35mmdelux]

what about the backup camera?

If a shutter "froze" I think I would drop out the bottom and rip out the film. This might loosen things up as its probably the film that is jacked up. Then Id check the battery compartment, make sure its cleaned out.

Maybe these dudes have a Olympus Epic they could sell you just to get shooting?

 

[urban_alchemist]

I had a similar problem a few months ago in Israel. Took it to my local camera repair men - they wouldn't touch it because of the electronic shutter. Ended up going back to Solms...

 

[craygc]

Phuket is not a place where I would go to anyone to repair any camera, let alone an M7. Be warned...

 

[silverliner]

I believe you should follow what 35mmdelux has advised. Neither camera shop in Bhuket nor Schmidt marketing in Bangkok can offer any help for M7 repair they will anyway send it to Solm.

 

[whitecat]

Did you try to change the shutter speed with the dial?

 

[FrankS]

Now aren't you glad you brought along that mechanical back-up camera?

 

[monochrome_joy]

Not Leica related but a friend of mine had his 5D die in Cambodia. You can read his account here: http://kevingerman.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-cambodian-adventure.html

Essentially, he rode a motorcycle for hours to finally find a guy on the side of the road repair his camera for $30 USD. Canon CPS was acting shady and he was on assignment anyway and couldn't afford the wait.

He picked up an M6 last week with a 35 'cron 😉

 

[chanyapat]

John,

I have no idea where you can go for leica repair man in Phuket. But, I could recommend 2 rescpectful camera store in Bangkok that (may be) you can ask them for help.

- AV Camera Tel:0-2237-1041-2, 0-2234-4786 (Ask for Mr.Mana) or you can MSN them at avcamera@hotmail.com

- Camera Collection Tel:02-632-8433, 02-632-8434 (Ask for Mr. Eddie Siu)

Hope you can find some solution for your M7 and have a nice trip.

Pat

 

[Debusti Paolo]

buy a contax g2 or a bronica rf645 and use your m7 as back up😀

 

[rxmd]

Now aren't you glad you brought along that mechanical back-up camera?

That sounds a little bit inappropriate towards a guy who just had his camera die in the field, but maybe that's just me.

So before we start touting the values of buying an MP and everything: are all speeds frozen or do 1/60 and 1/125 work (when you remove the battery!)? Those are mechanical; if they work, it's an electronics problem, otherwise it's a mechanical problem.

EDIT: reading the OP again - if the rewind is blocked as well it's more likely than not a mechanics problem. Try getting out the roll of film first and see if that does the job already. Good luck. Otherwise this looks like another entry for the Leica Breakages Index.

Philipp

 

[Austerby]

This thread could cause a tiny spike in MP sales.

This was what I did - in my preparation for a long trip around SE Asia earlier this year I bought an MP as a back-up for my M7. Only it was the MP that needed attention on the trip (though v.minor) and the M7 has been faultless!

 

[MartinP]

John,

I have no idea where you can go for leica repair man in Phuket. But, I could recommend 2 rescpectful camera store in Bangkok that (may be) you can ask them for help.

- AV Camera Tel:0-2237-1041-2, 0-2234-4786 (Ask for Mr.Mana) or you can MSN them at avcamera@hotmail.com

- Camera Collection Tel:02-632-8433, 02-632-8434 (Ask for Mr. Eddie Siu)

Hope you can find some solution for your M7 and have a nice trip.

Pat

That is a helpful and concise first post, so probably you registered especially to help a fellow photographer. Well done for the assistance that you have given to the OP and I hope the camera problem can be resolved.

 

[jalLee2001]

I tried new batteries, the shutter works with a cable release (go figure). I agree, probable not agood idea to let any one touch thecamera here. Guess it is time for that back up m6-damn

thanks for help guys

 

[FrankS]

Very good to hear that you have that back-up. Other responders were giving you good advice on what to do and how to diagnose your problem, but I was trying to help others who may be considering travelling to far off locations (or shoot a paid assignment like a wedding) with a single camera. That would be a foolish thing to do if the travel photography is important. Murphy's law and all that.

 

[jalLee2001]

First, thanks for everyone who has responded to the plea for help. The camera was sent back to Solms and the response was that I had some “impact damage”. So I will have a M7 with a new shutter mechanism amongst some other minor issues. In addition I am in possession of new R2A. It seems to be a pretty nice little camera. So I will never have this issue again!