Joe878
Member
Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out to the community for some advice regarding a persistent shutter capping issue with my Leica M4. I’ve had the camera serviced twice by two different repair shops, both of which performed a CLA (Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust), but unfortunately, the problem still persists.
The first repair shop, which is less known, refused to acknowledge that the shutter capping issue was occurring at all. The second shop, which is very well-known in the community, admitted to the issue but said the camera was too old to properly fix.
I’ve attached two photos to this post: one taken after the first CLA and the other after the second CLA. You can clearly see that the issue remains unresolved.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? Any advice on what steps I should take next would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help!
I’m reaching out to the community for some advice regarding a persistent shutter capping issue with my Leica M4. I’ve had the camera serviced twice by two different repair shops, both of which performed a CLA (Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust), but unfortunately, the problem still persists.
The first repair shop, which is less known, refused to acknowledge that the shutter capping issue was occurring at all. The second shop, which is very well-known in the community, admitted to the issue but said the camera was too old to properly fix.
I’ve attached two photos to this post: one taken after the first CLA and the other after the second CLA. You can clearly see that the issue remains unresolved.
Has anyone else experienced something similar? Any advice on what steps I should take next would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Joe878
Member
Steinberg2010
Well-known
Too old to fix sounds odd... Where are you located?
Joe878
Member
I’m Located in New Jersey
Richard G
Veteran
Can you give us a description of how the images are affected?
Beemermark
Veteran
The M2, M3, and M4 had the ability to adjust like 50 to 100 settings. And also the ability to replace parts to make sure everything was perfect. One of the reasons that someone like DAG charges close to $500 to a CLA.
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
Sorry, but this sounds like complete double-talk.
1. You had the camera serviced twice by two different outfits? Seriously!?
2. The camera is too old to properly fix? That's total BS!
3. I don't see any issue with the two photos you posted.
+1
Coldkennels
Barnack-toting Brit.
I thought at first the "issue" was the darker area at the top of the photo of the high-rise building, but if you look closely, there are darker lines running the length of the frame on both images.
I've seen this before, both in other forums online and on a IIIf I had a shutter curtain replaced on:
It's not technically capping (although you can see this frame was very uneven across the exposure alongside the "striping" issue); it occurs when the edge of one shutter blind isn't perfectly straight (a rough/uneven bit of curtain material wrapped around the lath at the end, for instance), and is made worse when the two shutter curtains are running especially close together (as the uneven end of one curtain makes the gap slightly smaller and wider at intervals throughout the frame).
Either way, if that is what the problem is here, it's completely fixable, and frankly, any technician who says it isn't is lying to you (or doesn't know what the hell they're talking about).
JSteed#2
Established
i concur with those who think that you were fed some false information. Whatever problem you have (and it looks intermittent) is 100% fixable and, given the price of Leicas these days, worth fixing if you can afford it. This forum lists lots of well regarded repair persons.
Bill Blackwell
Leica M Shooter
Since you seem to have been bamboozled by two repair outfits, I'd contact Don Goldberg at dagcam[at]chorus[dot]net. Another good option is Jadon Rosado (Red Dot Repair) at jadon[at]reddotrepair[dot]com, but he'll require you to go through a camera dealer (the advantage here is that he'd be less expensive compared to Don Goldberg).
Describe the issue and let him know it doesn't need a full CLA, but just this one fix. If Coldkennels is accurate, I'd describe the issue as "banding".
Describe the issue and let him know it doesn't need a full CLA, but just this one fix. If Coldkennels is accurate, I'd describe the issue as "banding".
Joe878
Member
The photos and the film itself have a form of banding. I have more photos, tomorrow I’ll post them.
Mackinaw
Think Different
Consider Youxin Ye for a CLA. He has a good reputation and is in Massachusetts. Fast turnaround too.
Jim B.
Jim B.
Zuiko-logist
Well-known
It looks more like an issue with the pressure plate or film gate than the shutter.
Joe878
Member
This first Repair shop mentioned they checked the pressure plate and it was fine. Obviously I’m not able to confirm whether that’s true.
Zuiko-logist
Well-known
Or the film gate?
Joe878
Member
“
Hi,
We inspected the pressure plate and film winding system.
It's fine, we are totally positive it's not the camera problem, it's something else.
If you agree then we will take a test roll and it's $25 for film and lab.
Please let us know.”
This is directly from the email I received a few months ago. Unfortunately this was the first repair shop which had refused to admit the problem was happening.
I’m not to sure what the film gate is though.
Zuiko-logist
Well-known
The film is held between the pressure plate and film gate, the part that lets light through to the film. If this is rough say through corrosion it may damage the film. You should be able to feel this part or even the film to see if it is actually scratched.
35photo
Well-known
DAG or Sherry at Golden Touch look no further as the best around and factory trained by Leica.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Stupid question -- is this happening at all shutter speeds or only the faster ones, like 1/500 and 1/1000?
I looked closely at both your pictures -- sorry but I can't see anything going on in the second photo (with the streetcar). Maybe shoot into a completely blue sky and that would more clearly show the issue to us.
I looked closely at both your pictures -- sorry but I can't see anything going on in the second photo (with the streetcar). Maybe shoot into a completely blue sky and that would more clearly show the issue to us.
Godfrey
somewhat colored
Whomever has 'serviced the camera twice' has done an awful job. It looks to me like you need a good shutter overhaul, as well as probably other things need adjustment. Send the camera to someone like DAG or even Leica USA and have it overhauled.
G
--- add on:
Curiosity inspired me to send Leica USA a note to request whether they still do, and what a complete shutter overhaul on "my beloved old Leica M4 body" would cost as it is creating striations across the negative in recent rolls of film. I'm interested to hear if they still support servicing the M4.
G
--- add on:
Curiosity inspired me to send Leica USA a note to request whether they still do, and what a complete shutter overhaul on "my beloved old Leica M4 body" would cost as it is creating striations across the negative in recent rolls of film. I'm interested to hear if they still support servicing the M4.
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