Do not buy this Leica M body cap by Nisha

Timmyjoe

Timmyjoe

Veteran
Local time
10:28 AM
Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
3,983
Just a warning to anyone who is thinking about buying this body cap for their Leica M, or who already has one. I bought a Leica M4 from Ken Hansen a number of years ago and it came with one of these Nisha body caps. It looks like one Leica used to make, and even has the same Leica part number molded inside. But it's made of a different type of plastic, one that is much more brittle than the one Leica makes. Today, one of the little plastic ears broke off and dropped into the shutter channel of my M4. They're black and not something you would notice. When I tried to use the camera the shutter jammed with the first shutter curtain open and the second not moving. I could see the end of the little black piece of plastic jammed against the shutter curtain, then it dropped down inside. Now it has to go to DAG for service, which means I won't have it for weeks and who knows how much it will cost. All because of a little crap Leica knock-off body cap. Very unhappy, but want to warn others so they don't experience the same thing.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ..._body_cap.html

7fe2f38e-1181-5790-9300-7a81ff4a9085.jpg - Click image for larger version Name: 7fe2f38e-1181-5790-9300-7a81ff4a9085.jpg Views: 0 Size: 39.8 KB ID: 4753991

You can easily identify the Nisha fake Leica Body Caps by the dimple on the center of the inside surface. The real Leica caps have that spot slightly recessed, where the Nisha has that part raised as a dimple. It is clearly visible in the second image on the B&H page linked to above, and in the picture above of the cap I had.

Best,
-Tim
 
Why on Earth you would buy something like this from BH, instead of ordering five on ten for same price or one metal one for same price on ebay.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
Why on Earth you would buy something like this from BH, instead of ordering five on ten for same price or one metal one for same price on ebay.
Click to expand...

He didn't, the cap came with a used Leica he bought. The link to B&H is just to show us the cap he is warning us about.
 
Chriscrawfordphoto said:
He didn't, the cap came with a used Leica he bought. The link to B&H is just to show us the cap he is warning us about.
Click to expand...

OP posted some warning for crappy thing sold on BH. My question was why someone would buy such thing from BH instead of better option on eBay.
 
Wow, Ko.Fe. way to over-react. The cap I listed is $11 from B&H, but you are saying you can buy 5 to 10 of them off eBay for $11, somehow I find that hard to believe. But hey, you do you.

This is posted to warn folks that the Leica body caps Nisha makes can break off and fall into the shutter mechanism of a Leica M camera. That is all.

Best,
-Tim
 
luuca said:
the question is: why use a body cap?
my cameras only saw it the first time I unboxed them
Click to expand...

If you own a lot of cameras, body caps are nice for storing the ones you aren't using at the moment. Of course, you can put a lens on it, but if you need the lens to shoot with on another body, then a body cap does the job.
 
Chris is exactly right. I have 3 old Leica M bodies that I use at different times, and only three Leica M lenses, which go with the one or two bodies I am using at that particular time. The other one or two bodies stay home on the shelf with body caps on. I realize with film cameras body caps aren't as necessary as they are with digital bodies (to protect the sensor from dust) but I like to keep them covered anyway.

Best,
-Tim
 
I feel lucky. Checked 2 of my body caps that were accessible....both seem to be Leica. One is that 2 piece design with metal bayonet and plastic outer disk...nice. other has the dimple mentioned above. I don't remember ever buying an M body cap. Not sure how I ended up with as many as I do. However I remember spending real money for an E Leitz NY cap for LTM. Perhaps $20 or so.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom