cocked?

[santino]

Hi!

Here is my question, should one leave his M Leica cocked or not? does the shutter speed setting matter? (because for example FSU RF shouldn't be left cocked and sholdn't be set at slow shutter speeds).

thanks 🙂

 

[teemu.laine]

If I remember correctly there´s no difference if shutter is cocked or not. First: springs don´t worn down if they´re left tensioned, only number of uses counts. And second: Leica shutter is designed so, that spring mechanism is always tensioned, even if shutter is not cocked.

Please correct if I remember something wrong.

 

[peter_n]

AFAIK it doesn't matter. I tend to leave mine uncocked but I don't fret if it doesn't happen.

 

[santino]

AFAIK it doesn't matter. I tend to leave mine uncocked but I don't fret if it doesn't happen.

me too, thanks :thumbsup:

 

[former member]

Most cameras warn you not to leave them cocked. A spring left with tension on it becomes permanently stretched. I;ve read that Leica's are tensioned at some percentage when uncocked, and moreso when cocked. I've read that it makes no difference, but a spring with more tension on it has got to get stretched out more than one left uncocked.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[3js]

Well, don´t forget that most of the af slr's spend their whole life cocked,
and so do most of the Hasselblad lenses. I don´t think that a Leica is inferior to those in materials, so leave it cocked, it really doesn´t matter. Maybe someone could run a test 🙂

 

[jaapv]

One thing-leave a M6 cocked and if the case half-depresses the shutter button, you end up with a drained battery. Later models do have an off-position, which most of us forget to use....

 

[wtl]

Here are the facts from the horse's mouth itself (Leica, but I don't remember anymore where I saw it): cocked tension 75%, uncocked 50%.

Where are those extra 25% people/time come from? Oh right, from the Mars.

Doesn't matter if cocked or not. But if you do cock, make sure to turn shutter to "B" setting or your battery will be drained. For older models, it doesn't matter.

 

[Rich Silfver]

Guess I'm the only one that always have all cameras cocked.
As soon as I take a photo I advance to the next frame and most of my camera sits around with a roll partially exposed.

 

[ch1]

Unless I know when I'm going to be taking my next shot (e.g. during a bracket series etc.) I try not to leave the camera cocked.

Mainly because I don't want to inadvertently "waste" a shot by accidentally tripping the shutter. But the tension issue seems to be logical - it's kind of like "popping" the clutch of your manual transmission car. It you do it very rarely it's unlikely to be a big deal. Do it all the time and your destroying the tranny.

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[mervynyan]

On the MP, I leave it cocked but rotate the shutter to B before I put it back to the bag. Since it doesn't really have a on/off position, you might trick the shutter. Or I will leave uncocked while shooting, the meter will not work unless the shutter is cocked. Some strange logic. I suppose on the M7, it won't matter, there is an on/off switch.

 

[wyk_penguin]

Where are those extra 25% people/time come from? Oh right, from the Mars.

A bit of not so decent humour perhaps? 😀

 

[Magus]

Post deleted by posters request

 

[teemu.laine]

Now, today with battey drain being a factor, I would think, uncocked and if you remember it, on the M6TTL & M7 switch the camera to "off"

And as mervynyan mentioned, on MP and M6 (non-TTL) you can switch to B to turn off the meter.

 

[former member]

Well, don´t forget that most of the af slr's spend their whole life cocked,
and so do most of the Hasselblad lenses. I don´t think that a Leica is inferior to those in materials, so leave it cocked, it really doesn´t matter. Maybe someone could run a test 🙂

True, but most of them have electronic shutters without as many springs. It's those little springs -and lots of them in mechanical cameras- that are of concern. Of course now I'll have to check out the Nikkormat EL owner's manual to see if that warning was deleted.

And you are correct about "Most AF SLR's" being cocked all the time. I leave my Nikon F3AF uncocked when stored. Just a habit. I'll bet ME-F and Canon T-80 owners do the same.

 

[Alec]

And you are correct about "Most AF SLR's" being cocked all the time. I leave my Nikon F3AF uncocked when stored. Just a habit. I'll bet ME-F and Canon T-80 owners do the same.

Hey Brian, aren't you forgetting the Minolta 9000?
http://www.9000.org/

I keep mine uncocked, as a matter of course. And yearn for rewind time, using that Alpa-like contraption.

It gives years of (admittedly moderate) use out of two AA lithium batteries. 😀

 

[laptoprob]

batteries?

batteries?

With film, cameras are cocked to be ready. Without I tend to keep them uncocked. Electronic cameras should be built smart enough not to drain batteries. 😉
The Hexar is brillinatly built, also in this aspect.
Leica should have done a better job or not get into electronics altogether.
Minolta did this better too, although the on/off button of the CLE is clumsy. But it will not drain the batteries.

Strictly my opinion.

 

[SteveM_NJ]

I leave all my cameras empty - uncocked, in the hard cases for the night.
once loaded, cocked only when shooting and ready for the next shot. - uncocked again for the night.( or how ever long that turns out to be, since I don't shoot for a living, (this is "only" a hobby to me) the cameras may sit for a while. I dont like the idea of leaving film or springs, electronics, batteries (if there are any) in a state to wear out, or run down, or just accidentally trip and waste film.

my 4 cents ( inflation you know.)

but i am willing to try anything, if someone says "this or that" works better/safer...