A strange problem with 1/8 on Leica M6

[homesick]

Hello,

Almost 2 years ago I got used Leica M6 and since then I was shooting almost every day. Recently I was shooting on low speed and after developing the negatives I noticed that exposure is not proper on some of the frames.

After examination and checking shutter speeds one particular speed (1/8) was sounding strange and not right. It almost the same as 1/60 and negatives were proving this.

I played more with the shutter selector I found if I set it in-between 1/4 and 1/8 I'm getting proper 1/8 speed and everything is fine.

It's not a big problem, but I was wondering if it's easy fixable at home.

Here in Bulgaria I know no one that do CLA or repairs on Leica, but to send it to UK or Solms it is to expensive at the moment.

Thank you,
Mikhail

 

[Kozhe]

Hi Mikhail,

If I remember correctly, the 1/8 speed has its own adjustment point but I´m afraid this is not a simple fix you can easily do at home. Not only you would have to take the upper plate out, but to dismount the slow speed escapement. I wouldn´t do it myself on a M6, maybe on a cheap user body.

 

[crawdiddy]

Hello,

Almost 2 years ago I got used Leica M6 and since then I was shooting almost every day. Recently I was shooting on low speed and after developing the negatives I noticed that exposure is not proper on some of the frames.

After examination and checking shutter speeds one particular speed (1/8) was sounding strange and not right. It almost the same as 1/60 and negatives were proving this.

I played more with the shutter selector I found if I set it in-between 1/4 and 1/8 I'm getting proper 1/8 speed and everything is fine.

It's not a big problem, but I was wondering if it's easy fixable at home.

Here in Bulgaria I know no one that do CLA or repairs on Leica, but to send it to UK or Solms it is to expensive at the moment.

Thank you,
Mikhail

Hello Mikhail,

Is it M6 Classic or TTL? Of course, the mechanical shutter speeds are probably the same in both.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up. I have the M6 classic. Don't have this problem (at least I don't think I do.) But I'll have to check out my 1/8 speed.

Thanks again.

 

[homesick]

Dan, it's M6 Classic and I guess I'll learn to live with i, maybe this will add something specific to my photographs and create my own style 😉

Thank you

 

[Chris101]

If I remember correctly, the 1/8 speed has its own adjustment point but I´m afraid this is not a simple fix you can easily do at home. ...

Interesting. Is this because people did not like the weird, double, "click-sigh" noise the M4-P makes at 1/8?

Dan, it's M6 Classic and I guess I'll learn to live with i, maybe this will add something specific to my photographs and create my own style 😉

Ah, cool. Do you know how hard it is for most Leica owners (or any camera owners for that matter) to learn to live with a mechanical defect? Car - no problem, appliance in the house - keep it until it breaks, health issue - I'll go see the doctor in a month (or two.) But let our cameras develop one slight inconsistency, and it's off for a CLA!

I tried using a lens that had oily blades only wide open (I loved it's look that way), but finally I broke down and took it apart and cleaned it. Now I cannot put it back together! So I wish you well with your endeavor. I mean who really NEEDS 1/8 anyway - it's too slow to hand hold (don't lie!) but too fast to effectively drag the shutter for movement pictures.

 

[homesick]

Chris, thank you for encouragement. I wrote email to Solms and waiting for the answer about the cost, but I'm expecting that the amount will be comparable to the price of new Nokton 35/1.4 and I rather spend it on fast lens and never shoot on 1/8. 🙂

cheers,
m.