DX Problem with M7

[BUTLER]

Hi all,

Sorry as I'm sure this has been addressed previously.

With my ISO dial set to DX, I'm getting weird readings. The led will flash "ASA" in the viewfinder, or else I'll get the single red blinking led dot. If I manually set the ISO, the camera seems to relax and operate properly, but I still get the flashing red dot in the viewfinder. These errors are intermittent, but they persist. And cleaning the DX contacts has not helped.

I assume this means I need to send the M7 back to Leica in NJ to have the optical DX reader installed? Does anyone other than Leica repair this issue?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[kdemas]

I'd send it to Leica, they often make the change for free.

 

[sepiareverb]

A generally long lasting temporary fix is to press down on the center of the dial with your thumb and spin the dial back and forth several times. I was given this tip by Leica NJ and it works wonders whenever an M7 acts up on me. I would ask for a whole new rear door if you do send the camera in- should be faster than a repair and the offending part will be completely gone.

 

[Robert Lai]

It's still a free upgrade (for now) at Leica USA in NJ. I had my RF changed with the MP finder upgrade ($560). They also make other adjustments, and even recover the vulcanite at no cost. My M7 came back better than new.

 

[alun severn]

What sepiareverb says is true -- this does help. But get Leica to replace the DX reader while you can. My M7 began acting up like this several years back and gradually got worse. In my case it turned out to be the DX reader *and* a mallfunctioning circuit board -- the latter not picked up on its first trip to Solms.

I don't know whether they'll do this, but it might be worth asking the techs to check other circuitry at the same time to make sure that any additional problems are picked up. That sounds arrogant, I realise -- as if I know more about the inside of Leica cameras than Leica's own techs -- but the fact is, when my M7 went back for the DX swap it came back supposedly fixed but in operation exhibited more and weirder problems than it had when sent...

 

[whitecat]

Sometimes I wonder about Leica. I have had 3 different new bodies and had to send each of them to NJ.

 

[sepiareverb]

These problems all seem to stem from the back in my experience, however there is also the 2nd washer fix: (Leica NJ will send you the washer for free) in the bottom plate there should be two washers visible in the end that seats the film cassette. A larger one and a smaller one. The earlier models only had the larger one.

 

[kdemas]

These problems all seem to stem from the back in my experience, however there is also the 2nd washer fix: (Leica NJ will send you the washer for free) in the bottom plate there should be two washers visible in the end that seats the film cassette. A larger one and a smaller one. The earlier models only had the larger one.

Interesting. Never heard of the 2nd washer dealie.

 

[sepiareverb]

I posted pics in one of the other M7 DX threads I think Kent...

 

[Out to Lunch]

Same problem with my m7 and so I only set the iso manually.

 

[35mmdelux]

No problems with my M7. Sent it in for the free optical upgrade while its still free and they're throwing in a main board.

 

[BUTLER]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. I'm going to send it back to Leica as soon as I can. Spinning the ISO dial back and forth had no effect, sadly. And unless I buy a new camera, this means I will be camera-free for the duration of the repair. GASP

 

[jonmanjiro]

Interesting to read this thread...

It seems that my recently purchased M7 (just five days ago!) seems to be playing up intermittently. I set the ISO manually on the back of the camera, and noticed that the lower dot flashes sometimes but not others. I take a few shots and no flashing. I walk for a bit, activate the meter by a half press of the shutter release button, and flashing. Walk for a bit, and activate the meter again and no flashing. Hmmm.... :bang:

 

[Gid]

You will also get a range of error messages or flashing LEDs under normal (ie not broken) use. For example, ASA flashing in the VF will occur if you don't have the dial pointing to a valid reading - between DX and a manual value. So my advice would be if in doubt RTFM first.

 

[jonmanjiro]

RTFM first.

Yep, that was the first thing I did. I have ISO 400 film loaded in the camera, and the ISO dial set to 400. The dot blinks sometimes and not others...

 

[Gid]

Yep, that was the first thing I did. I have ISO 400 film loaded in the camera, and the ISO dial set to 400. The dot blinks sometimes and not others...

My comment wasn't aimed at you in particular, just a general observation. If you've read the manual you'll know that the range of permutations is enough to give you a headache and normal operation could be easily misinterpreted as an error.