Dumb Question

[chibaken]

OK, so what is the official name of the small lever that swings to "R" on the front of the camera that allows you to rewind the film? The one that fell off my M7 this weekend in the middle of a shoot thus leaving me to finish the job with my mother's Casio Exlim. You know, the one that my old trusty, reliable and ever faithful Bessa R3a doesn't have... :bang:

Thanks



(can you tell I'm a little narked? - yeah I know, always check your kit etc etc)

 

[rover]

Scooby Doo named it the "Rut Roo" lever for this very reason.

So, your rewind lever fell off. Not good.

 

[chibaken]

Yeah not good, not happy. I thought these things were supposed to be relatively failsafe. I travelled through a dozen 3rd world countries with my Bessa, without so much as a stutter from it. The m7 took it's first trip, to Paris, this weekend and died like a bad comedian.

Anyway, I'm sure it's just bad luck. Anyone got a spare one to hand? Failing that, any idea how much they cost? Difficult to source?

Cheers

 

[Roberto]

Yeah not good, not happy. I thought these things were supposed to be relatively failsafe. I travelled through a dozen 3rd world countries with my Bessa, without so much as a stutter from it. The m7 took it's first trip, to Paris, this weekend and died like a bad comedian.

Anyway, I'm sure it's just bad luck. Anyone got a spare one to hand? Failing that, any idea how much they cost? Difficult to source?

Cheers

No warranty? Send it back to Leica!
Rob.

 

[chibaken]

Bought second hand, cheap, no passport. That'll learn me. Think I buggered the thread trying to turn it with a pair of tweezers too. That'll learn me v2.

 

[infrequent]

forget solms...send it to me! ; )

on a serious note..sad to hear so. hopefully you can get it working again.

 

[Roberto]

Bought second hand, cheap, no passport. That'll learn me. Think I buggered the thread trying to turn it with a pair of tweezers too. That'll learn me v2.

Well, it happens..
If it was a bargain, you can spend money now to have it repaired and you'll end-up with a good camera for the rigth price.. 😉

 

[chibaken]

Cheers for the empathy guys. I was fuming! My old man suggested they should put some kind of holding nut (not sure of the nomenclature) to stop it coming off. Then again he works on Caterpillar Earthmovers sooooo....

Do you think there's any other way to get the film out or is this the "weak" link? Sorry for the dumb questions but I don;t want to mess the camera up. Despite "infrequesnt's" kind offer 😉

 

[hlockwood]

OK, so what is the official name of the small lever that swings to "R" on the front of the camera that allows you to rewind the film? The one that fell off my M7 this weekend in the middle of a shoot thus leaving me to finish the job with my mother's Casio Exlim. You know, the one that my old trusty, reliable and ever faithful Bessa R3a doesn't have... :bang:

Thanks



(can you tell I'm a little narked? - yeah I know, always check your kit etc etc)

I recently lost the rubber ring around the eyepiece of the 1.25 magnifier. I called the Leica parts dept. in NJ to ask about a replacement. The fellow there said, no problem. He took my address, and it arrived in the mail 2 days later. No charge. Also in the envelope was a Leica branded microfiber cloth for cleaning lenses.

Give it a try.

Harry

 

[chibaken]

On the case now Harry - thanks so much. Obvious really, I suppose...!

 

[chibaken]

Called Leica UK - replacement part is £8.50 ex VAT, sent today.
Not that exciting, but what is interesting is that the engineer said that if the small oblong threaded casing that the little arms fits on is damaged by cross threading or is forcably collapsed (by using my unique and ingenious technique of using a "tweezers and pliers" combo), it is by far the most arduous repair job they can undertake on an M series.
Such a teeny wee thing too...

 

[Roberto]

Called Leica UK - replacement part is £8.50 ex VAT, sent today.
Not that exciting, but what is interesting is that the engineer said that if the small oblong threaded casing that the little arms fits on is damaged by cross threading or is forcably collapsed (by using my unique and ingenious technique of using a "tweezers and pliers" combo), it is by far the most arduous repair job they can undertake on an M series.
Such a teeny wee thing too...

Let's cross our fingers! and thanks for sharing.. in case I'll ever have a Leica M I'll never tamper with that little risky thing

 

[nikon_sam]

While fixing your M7 check (tighten) any other screws you can easily get to...
Airplane rides are the worst thing for a camera...vibration during the flight will loosen these little buggers...

 

[oftheherd]

Cheers for the empathy guys. I was fuming! My old man suggested they should put some kind of holding nut (not sure of the nomenclature) to stop it coming off. Then again he works on Caterpillar Earthmovers sooooo....

Do you think there's any other way to get the film out or is this the "weak" link? Sorry for the dumb questions but I don;t want to mess the camera up. Despite "infrequesnt's" kind offer 😉

Don't know Leicas, but on any other camera, that would only have to do with rewind with the back closed. You should be able to go into a dark room, such as your bathroom, or a basement (wait until night if you have to), and open the back in the dark. Carefully remove the film and carefully rewind it by hand, taking care the film doesn't get scratched.

Good luck.

 

[Graham Line]

The classic field extraction method used to be folding the camera inside a suit jacket (lined, tight weave) on the ground or table, then reaching into the makeshift changing bag through the sleeves. There was a freebie booklet that used to come with the Life Library of Photography that illustrated this.
Back when pro shooters turned out in suits, of course....

 

[Ade-oh]

In the days before I could afford the luxury of a changing bag, I used to load my developing tank under my duvet in my bedroom with the curtains closed and never had a problem. It shouldn't be too difficult to unload your camera similarly.

 

[Tom A]

Wgen you get your part from Leica UK, do apply some small amount of Loc=Tite (the blue one as with that one you can remove the lever again - the red and purple is permanent). Any airplane ride, off roading or bumpy transit rides can undo screws!
I once went on a job with a couple of M4-2s which involved several bumpy and "buzzy" flights with bushplanes. The lens locking screws came off on two of the cameras and the locks disappeared somewhere in the Northern Canadian muskeg (a messy combo of rotting greenery and water, mostly populated by mosquitos and blackflies)). For a week I changed lenses with the assist of a screwdriver. Leica Canada had less than favorable words about my prowess with it too. They replaced the parts and LocTited everything in place. They were even less favorable in their opinions about my fixing the Super Angulon with nailpolish! The rear element pack of the SA is held in place with three screws and they are prone to rattle loose. They kept tightening them and they kept coming loose. In the end, sitting in a "dining" room of a logging camp and trying to tighten them I askd "Hey, does anyone have some nailpolish". Ten guys with large beards and penknives the size of machetes looked up and I quickly stuttered "I am trying to fix my lens". Sigh of relief and one of the guys said "I dont, but one of the girls in the office might have some". She did and I fixed it. Later an angry phonecall from Leica services" What the hell did you use for the S.A? I have destroyed at least 3 permium intrumentation screwdrivers on that lens!"

 

[Chris101]

The screw that constantly comes loose on my M4-P is the one that holds the shutter speed dial in place. I've lock-tighted it in place now! Thanks Tom!

 

[John Elder]

Worst ride for a camera is on a motorcycle.

 

[marke]

Called Leica UK - replacement part is £8.50 ex VAT, sent today.
Not that exciting, but what is interesting is that the engineer said that if the small oblong threaded casing that the little arms fits on is damaged by cross threading or is forcably collapsed (by using my unique and ingenious technique of using a "tweezers and pliers" combo), it is by far the most arduous repair job they can undertake on an M series.
Such a teeny wee thing too...

Why would you use a pliers (or even a tweezers) on your camera? That seems a bit drastic.