IIIg
Member
I've owned, and used, Wetzlar Leicas since 1963 (a nice IIIc at first, with a Serenar 50/1.8) and have since acquired other Barnack jewels, some M series beauties, and some Leica reflexes (my comments today go only to the Leicaflex SL2 -I'll leave the properties of the Leica "R"'s for some other time).
I state this to present my credentials and suggest that I have a bit of practical experience with Leica hardware.
Let me begin-
1) I have some 50 years experience with Barnack Leicas. Ignoring gummy shutter escapements (old age and airborne oxygen, not a Wetzlar-origin problem); my experience is that when my Barnacks have failed, the problem was crinkly/cracked shutter curtains or flakes of trash from the internal anti-relection coating on the VF walls obscuring the VF/RF. Never had any of the basic camera mechanicals go wrong here including my Barnack IIIAs.
It is all to easy to wind film slivers, flakes, into a Barnack Leica shutter - especially if one is trimming the film leader freehand. When I knew the culprits were there, I've removed the slivers with a pair of gas pliers (best thing I had in my meager tool kit).
That being said, the camera coverings often flake and fall off. Easily remediated - "Camera Leather" has a fix and Youxin does a fine job.
2) With my Leicas M3s, the common problem has been broken springs. These have been in the self timer (which I seldom use) or the frame counter which I use all the time. After 70 years, when my DS M3s are in for service, I'll have the springs replaced as a matter of course.
The covering on a Leica M3 can also crumble to dust. Repeating myself here, see Cameraleather or let Dag or Youxin provide a replacement.
3) Leicaflex, Leicaflex SL, Leicaflex SL2.
The self timer seems to be weak on these. I pay for repairs because I enjoy using the original Leicaflex; your opinion will vary.
The prism silvering evidently flakes way on the prism of some Leicaflex SSLs. DAG has resilvered prisms available at times. Check with him, a working SL is wirth the trouble.
Never had a Leicaflex, Leicaflex SL, or Leicaflex SL2 that had a gummy shutter.
Good light all - your comments, please.
I state this to present my credentials and suggest that I have a bit of practical experience with Leica hardware.
Let me begin-
1) I have some 50 years experience with Barnack Leicas. Ignoring gummy shutter escapements (old age and airborne oxygen, not a Wetzlar-origin problem); my experience is that when my Barnacks have failed, the problem was crinkly/cracked shutter curtains or flakes of trash from the internal anti-relection coating on the VF walls obscuring the VF/RF. Never had any of the basic camera mechanicals go wrong here including my Barnack IIIAs.
It is all to easy to wind film slivers, flakes, into a Barnack Leica shutter - especially if one is trimming the film leader freehand. When I knew the culprits were there, I've removed the slivers with a pair of gas pliers (best thing I had in my meager tool kit).
That being said, the camera coverings often flake and fall off. Easily remediated - "Camera Leather" has a fix and Youxin does a fine job.
2) With my Leicas M3s, the common problem has been broken springs. These have been in the self timer (which I seldom use) or the frame counter which I use all the time. After 70 years, when my DS M3s are in for service, I'll have the springs replaced as a matter of course.
The covering on a Leica M3 can also crumble to dust. Repeating myself here, see Cameraleather or let Dag or Youxin provide a replacement.
3) Leicaflex, Leicaflex SL, Leicaflex SL2.
The self timer seems to be weak on these. I pay for repairs because I enjoy using the original Leicaflex; your opinion will vary.
The prism silvering evidently flakes way on the prism of some Leicaflex SSLs. DAG has resilvered prisms available at times. Check with him, a working SL is wirth the trouble.
Never had a Leicaflex, Leicaflex SL, or Leicaflex SL2 that had a gummy shutter.
Good light all - your comments, please.
