Broke my M4, in a cave

[gandalfk7]

Hi,
I broke my first camera.. my lovely M4
I was cave exploring (dirt, sand and some water) and I brought with me the camera with the Neoprene Case which is very light to keep the bulkiness to the minimum.
We stopped for a moment and I sat the camera (in the neoprene thing) on a rock, I turned for a second and heard the awful sound of something like an M4, summicron 40mm and leicameter in a neoprene case rumbling on the ground.

As I recovered the sandy thing from the ground I heard a terrible sound of rattling inside the camera.

What I saw in the viewfinder was the rangefinder mechanism that's gone,
the rangefinder image is totally off axis with the viewfinder.

Now i think I'll try to give a call at my local dealer and a repair shop in Italy..

What's your advice?
the camera worked flawlessly until it fell, it looks like only the rangefinder mechanism was affected, the rest seems to be ok.

this is the m4: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1201200&postcount=2705

thank you very much
the sad Matteo

 

[Frontman]

It is certainly repairable, though the repair might be expensive. I wouldn't recommend a Leica M camera for rough environments, I have dropped a few of my Leicas, and the drops nearly always result in knocking something loose or out of adjustment. For rough use get yourself a Nikon F. You can use it to break open coconuts as well as take photographs.

 

[huntjump]

this is the m4: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1201200&postcount=2705

thank you very much
the sad Matteo

based on its original condition, a new viewfinder was bound to happen ! 😀

Get it repaired maybe by a 3rd party technician in europe or US i would think for the cheapest route, though YMMV

 

[jordanstarr]

...I actually don't think it would be an expensive or sophisticated repair. I've had a few Leica viewfinders apart and although it's complex, I would feel comfortable doing my own repair on it and could probably do it in a couple hours if I had the part. So a certified Leica repairman/woman should be able to do it with their eyes closed in no time.

 

[BobYIL]

It is certainly repairable, though the repair might be expensive. I wouldn't recommend a Leica M camera for rough environments, I have dropped a few of my Leicas, and the drops nearly always result in knocking something loose or out of adjustment. For rough use get yourself a Nikon F. You can use it to break open coconuts as well as take photographs.

+1.. A Nikon F of mine has covered more than 100K kilometers in 20 years through my motorcycle tours (mountain tops, snowy winter tours included) and still did not see any CLA or repair (although I have a bunch of M-Leicas too).

BTW, do not concern about your M4.. I bet there is nothing broken inside, only the rangefinder will need readjustment. (When the prisms in the VF splits, you see nothing, just dark). You will still use your M4 for many decades to come.

 

[JayM]

At least you didn't break it sipping mimosas on the lido deck because that would be a crappy story and would make you sound boring 😉

Fix your camera and then enjoy having a good story to tell about it when it accompanies you in old age!

 

[Stelios]

I've dropped my M6 on hard floors a few times with no consequences. The only time I had an 'issue' was when I slipped on ice and fell on my back with the camera in my rucksack (which also had a laptop in it). Laptop came out perfectly ok, camera had a broken viewfinder and the rangefinder was obviously all over the place. Sent it to Malcolm Taylor (UK), a few weeks later came back as good as new. New viewfinder, and rangefinder aligned. Not too expensive (was much less than £200, when I was expecting a quote of 400, and considering the body is worth a grand or so). Good thing those mechanical cameras, they can be good as new after a repair!

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

you should not have entered the mines of moria.
the dwarves delved too greedily and too deep.

 

[oftheherd]

Sad story. Hope you get it repaired soon and without too much expense.

 

[normclarke]

Either Malcolm Taylor or Peter at CRR in the UK would fix your camera at a reasonable cost, both these men work to the highest standards.

Best,

normclarke.

 

[MikeL]

From you description, it sounds like the rangefinder prism/lens (which moves as the rangefinder arm moves) mount got knocked out of its cradle. Do you have any split image in the patch? If so, once that is reset and the rangefinder calibrated, you should be fine.

Edit: On this site (http://www.imx.nl/photo/technique/technique/page49.html), you'll see a diagram of the rangefinder mechanism down the page. The only moving part is the round lens just before the framelines, and it sits in a mount that pivots. As you here the piece rattle, does what you see in the patch change?

 

[gandalfk7]

I knew it might be risky, the hike we had in the cave wasn't extreme (we were with cub scouts about 11 y/old) so I thought the M was suitable for the task, I didn't took in count this kind of accident, I tought I could be careful enough..

now I am looking for the repair of the M4, hoping it does't require a arm and a leg 😉

 

[rommelgc]

get it fixed by Leica, if possible.
probably the top plate hit first causing the damage.


FWIW, i've dropped my m6 two times. 1st time the base place hit (there is dent where it hit) and the shutter released ... so i have a photo of the time it hit the cement. 2nd time the back hit hard ... caused the rear element of the Canon 1.5/50mm to dislodge and be wedged in the shutter mechanism. once the lens element was removed the m6 was ok again. no repairs needed yet.