Need help in Austin, Tx

[CorreCaminos]

Hi Guys,

I just bought a Leica M6TTL and a 90mm 'cron from KEH. As always, they rated the items very conservatively and both the camera and lens are like new (rated Exc).

However, when mounting the lens on the body, it will not click and lock in place. As this is my first M and I only have one lens, I can't really diagnose the problem and send back whichever item is at fault.

Could anyone in Austin help me determine the cause of the problem? Maybe someone with more knowledge of the M system or another lens to try could figure it out easily.

If you can help, I could meet you anywhere in town and figure this out easily. My email is miguel@ridetexas.com or I can be reached at 512.858.2313 x0


Thanks in advance,

 

[vrgard]

Hi Miguel. One option is to take them both to Precision Camera in Austin. The head guy is Jerry and he knows Leicas well. Have heard very good things about him and he could probably tell you very quickly what the problem is. Of course, the uncomfortable part is that you didn't buy the gear from Precision, but from what I hear Jerry is such a good guy he'll probably take a look at it anyway. Oh, and here's Precision's website: http://www.precision-camera.com/

Good luck,
Randy

P.S. In case you're wondering, I don't live in your neck of the woods but I have family there. And my uncle has owned Leica cameras since the fifties and he's the one who told me about Precision and Jerry. Again, good luck!

 

[BillBingham2]

Miguel,

Bring some cash and by some film or something else.

Does the button used to release the lens pop-up when the lens is twisted into place? When there is no lens on camera, it should be up. When you start the lens mounting, it will be depressed. Then, when you get the lens into place, the button pops back up.

One way to test if the lens is in place would be to twist it in the unmounting direction and if it moves, she's not locked.

Hope this helps, good luck with her.

B2 (;->

 

[sepiareverb]

My M5 did this when I first got it- I don't remembber what Sherry did to it, but it was a simple fix as I remember her saying. This one would allow the lens to go on, but the 'lock' wouldn't engage for a while- very very sticky or gummy.

 

[CorreCaminos]

Miguel,
Does the button used to release the lens pop-up when the lens is twisted into place? When there is no lens on camera, it should be up. When you start the lens mounting, it will be depressed. Then, when you get the lens into place, the button pops back up.

One way to test if the lens is in place would be to twist it in the unmounting direction and if it moves, she's not locked.
B2 (;->

The lens is definitely not locked in place. As I mount and turn the lens, it depresses the button slightly and then I see the button rise slightly again. However, there's no "click" and the lens is not locked in place; turning the lens in the unmounting direction (w/o depressing the lens release) will move it past the latch. I'm able to see that the latch and the notch on the lens mount line up but it almost seems like the latch does not fully deploy back up and into the notch.

The button seems to be in the up position w/o a lens but I can't judge if it's fully up as I have no previous experience with M cameras. It's definetely not flush withe the release button guard.

 

[CorreCaminos]

Hi Miguel. One option is to take them both to Precision Camera in Austin. The head guy is Jerry and he knows Leicas well. Have heard very good things about him and he could probably tell you very quickly what the problem is. Of course, the uncomfortable part is that you didn't buy the gear from Precision, but from what I hear Jerry is such a good guy he'll probably take a look at it anyway. Oh, and here's Precision's website: http://www.precision-camera.com/

Thanks for the suggestion Randy. I take my film tp Precision Camera all the time and I have rented cameras and lenses from them in the past. They are a great bunch of guys and I'm certainly glad to have such a nice store in town.

However, I don't feel comfortable bringing to them something I just bought somewhere else while the item is still under another store's money back warranty. There's obviously something wrong and I'd just like to determine which item is faulty so I can return it to KEH for an exchange or refund.

 

[CorreCaminos]

On a second look at the lens mount, it occurred to me that the locking latch is barely above the surface of the mount, not even 1 mm. I can't see how that would secure the lens in place. The button, when in the up position, is just under the guard around it, not above it.

Do those clearances sound about right? Less than 1mm for the latch and the button not above the guard?

 

[colyn]

On a second look at the lens mount, it occurred to me that the locking latch is barely above the surface of the mount, not even 1 mm. I can't see how that would secure the lens in place. The button, when in the up position, is just under the guard around it, not above it.

Do those clearances sound about right? Less than 1mm for the latch and the button not above the guard?

What serial number is your lens??

The reason I ask is because I had the same problem with a 90mm f/2 Summicron lens and was informed that some lens had the locking slot on the lens machined slightly out of alignment.

 

[CorreCaminos]

What serial number is your lens??

The reason I ask is because I had the same problem with a 90mm f/2 Summicron lens and was informed that some lens had the locking slot on the lens machined slightly out of alignment.

Colyn,

That's interesting and sounds like the likely culprit. It's 3474xxx. Is that close to your 'cron's serial #?

 

[colyn]

Colyn,

That's interesting and sounds like the likely culprit. It's 3474xxx. Is that close to your 'cron's serial #?

Same as mine..

I fixed the problem myself by using a dremel tool to slightly open up the slot but since yours is still under warranty call KEH and ask if they have a newer or older version of the lens.

 

[AusDLK]

I know Jerry. He just bent over backward to fix a friend's M6 -- to the point of swapping out a part off of his own camera. This camera was definitely purchased elsewhere.

Right now I think that Jerry is on vacation so he may not be around personally. He's the main Leica guru there but some of the guys are the repair counter have working knowledge of Leica Ms and should be able to diagnose the problem -- even if they ultimately leave it to Jerry is a repair needs to be made.

 

[CorreCaminos]

Same as mine..

I fixed the problem myself by using a dremel tool to slightly open up the slot but since yours is still under warranty call KEH and ask if they have a newer or older version of the lens.

Was it the width or depth of the slot that's out of spec? Is the problem that the latch will not align with the slot or the slot is too shallow to allow the latch to pop back up into the locking position?

If it's the former it sounds like after using the Dremel tool, there'll be some play in the mount. With the latter, it sounds like an easy fix.

 

[colyn]

Was it the width or depth of the slot that's out of spec? Is the problem that the latch will not align with the slot or the slot is too shallow to allow the latch to pop back up into the locking position?

If it's the former it sounds like after using the Dremel tool, there'll be some play in the mount. With the latter, it sounds like an easy fix.

It was the length of the slot. I had to slightly grind the rounded end of the slot since the tip of the latch was hanging on it.

 

[venchka]

KEH has a repair department. Ask them to fix the problem. Record both serial numbers before returning the items. Good luck.

 

[CorreCaminos]

Thanks guys.

I talked to KEH yesterday as soon as I got the camera and lens. They have recorded the problem and agreed to exchange whichever item is faulty; I have no concern whatsoever about this and that's why I decided to buy from them. If I can determine which item is at fault, I'll return it, otherwise I'll send both the camera and lens.

The reason I'm going thru the effort of figuring out what the problem is is more a matter of innate intellectual curiosity and a habit developed from years of debugging software and hardware systems.

I've bought plenty of used items before and I'm perfectly aware that the possibility for issues like this is always there (actually, that's often the case with new items as well), so this doesn't bother me a bit other than I won't be able to spend next week shooting with the M. Thankfully, I have two other excellent camera (501 CM 'blad and Nikon F3) and lenses I can use.

Again, thanks to all who responded.