Qustion about the MR/MR-4 Light Meters

[Pirate]

Can they be repaired?

Are there parts available to do your own repairs?

Are they a 'fun project' type of thing to buy in inoperable condition?

Can't find a lot about them on the net so I'm asking here.

Thanks,
P^)

 

[rickp]

i bought an "inexpensive one" and ended up having it pretty much rebuilt/calibrated etc at Quality Light Metric in hollywood. it's a good meter, coupled to the shutter speed dial, with 90mm lens field of view - and gives an m2-4 a nice period look. worst case, you can add about $135 to your purchase price for a CLA.

certainly, there are several more modern and less expensive solutions.

good luck with your project

rick

 

[Pirate]

Thanks Rick. I mentioned this in another thread- after looking at all the M-bodies with the MR-4 meter on it, I bought one. After looking at my M4 body and the scuff marks on the top, I realized that it used to have one of these meters on it in the past. My MR-4 has not arrived yet and it's supposed to be in working condition but I like to tinker with stuff too so I was wondering if these can be a "do-it-yourself" project or not, thinking of getting one or two inops to fool with.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

If the meter cell is working but the meter is jumpy or off cal, you can often restore the whole thing relatively easily. I used to have two of them and I loved them both. One got immersed in the Bay of Cadiz & then it was done for good. i used it for spare parts. The other worked well until I sold it.

Just a small spanner wrench and two screwdrivers are needed to take it apart. It's a very simple device. About an hour with some rubbing alcohol and a pencil eraser to clean everything up can bring them back to life.

Phil Forrest

 

[rickp]

If the meter cell is working but the meter is jumpy or off cal, you can often restore the whole thing relatively easily. I used to have two of them and I loved them both. One got immersed in the Bay of Cadiz & then it was done for good. i used it for spare parts. The other worked well until I sold it.

Just a small spanner wrench and two screwdrivers are needed to take it apart. It's a very simple device. About an hour with some rubbing alcohol and a pencil eraser to clean everything up can bring them back to life.

Phil Forrest

you may have to reheat/redo some solder connections too - that's what i heard from QLM. update to modern batteries with different voltage, then recalibrate - not impossible but worth doing for a thorough project. possible final step? there are some places on the bottom of the meter where thin felt strips can be applied - protects the camera top plate a bit and makes it easier to mount and remove the meter.

post a photo when you're done??

rick

 

[Artorius]

Can they be repaired?

Are there parts available to do your own repairs?

Are they a 'fun project' type of thing to buy in inoperable condition?

Can't find a lot about them on the net so I'm asking here.

Thanks,
P^)

For a possible DYI see here;
http://www.feuerbacher.net/photo/frame.html?repair/Leicameter/Leicameter.html~Main

 

[charchar]

I had three of them. I tried to restore one but ended up using it as parts. Got one CLA by Don for $60 which stayed on my M3. Another one sitting around and waiting for a M4. There is a Leica repair book which has all the photos of the MR-4 meter.

 

[Vickko]

Yeah, just be careful of the hairspring that is exposed. I dropped a tweezers into it, and that was the end of that meter.

Vick

 

[Nokton48]

I have two I got from auctions, and the readings from both are identical, even in different lighting scenarios. One sits on M2, the other on M4-2. Well worth having IMO.

 

[Beemermark]

Most of them when they don't work just need a good cleaning. They come apart very easily. There are enough non-workjng ones cheap you should never worry about spare parts. And I don't think I ever had one with a dead cell. Then again you can usually find a nice working one for a decent price. Black ones are newer and don't seem to mind if you use a mercury or silver oxide battery (they have an internal calibration span to adjust for voltage decay). There is also a tiny screw on the bottom to make adjustments. I have both a chrome one and black one right now, they both work great on my M4. IMHO there is no better meter for the M body.

 

[Pirate]

Thanks for all the replies.

So were the Black MR-4's actually made to take the newer batteries or they just don't "seem to mind" them?