Leica LTM IIIa - Shutter sound?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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estepan99

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Hi all you Leica-fans out there!

Simple question on the recently purchased IIIa:

Is it ok, that the shutter of my Zorki 1e is significantly quieter than the original itself? The Zorki does kind of "WHACKKKK" and I hoped for a "Klick" on the Leica but it sounds as if the curtains are scratching somewhere, it does a hightone noise. Sorry I don´t know how to best describe it, but when you can tell me that the Leica normally should be more quiet than I know that there´s something wrong.


Thanks in advance,
Stephan
 
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I have a IIIc that does that. Mine sounds similar to the infamous Canon shutter squeak, from the A series slr cameras. Was told that the second shutter curtain needed lubing. Time for a cla.
 
if your IIIa never been serviced and then not use for a period of years, then its sounds mightr not be what it should be when new or freshly CLAD
 
Thanks so far!

Can one do a lubrication by himself?
And will your camera take any harm by using it without a lube other than being louder than normal?

Stephan
 
My understanding is that it is a fairly complicated process. I think the problem is with getting lube in places that it shouldn't be. I elected to sell mine, and let someone else worry with it. I'm waiting on the payment for it now.
 
Good call, "Ship" describes it as good as possible!
And should I do something about it or can I tolerate it considering that it surely will not be used daily?

Thanks,
Stephan
 
A squeal is the sort of noise that, to me, would indicate that the bearings between the closing shutter curtain drum and the main shaft are running dry, which would cause uneven exposures.

Shoot some really contrasty slide film outdoors in bright light. Say Kodachrome 64, or Velvia 50 or 100. Shoot at the high shutter speeds, subjects that are uniformly lighted. What you want to see is that the exposures are even from side to side. If they are, and the exposures are accurate, then the shutter is fine. Otherwise, time for a CLA.

The IIIa doesn't really have much anything in the way of shutter brakes, so it makes more of a "clatter" than a IIIc or IIIf.
 
Thanks for all your helpful answers.

I will try to shoot a roll ASAP and see what the pictures will look like!
If acceptable, I surely will share them!

Stephan
 
First pics ready now!

Apart of the ones shot at 1/1000th of a second the pictures look excellent!
But pictures shot at 1/1000 are no pictures at all! At this places the neg-strip is completely empty.

The summitar lens (uncoated) does quite a good job.

Greets,
Stephan
 
See these pages:

http://rick_oleson.tripod.com/index-155.html

I have just had a go at a truly awful IIIa with significant success.

Because the IIIa is the 'old' construction you don't have to disturb much to get the body off. Only the slow speed dial is a bit fiddly.

One or two tiny drops of 'watch and clock oil' dispensed using a hypodermic syringe (spelling??) have done wonders. I am certainly no expert.

The IIIa I have been fiddling with is black, a conversion of uncertain parentage, I'll post some pix sometime.


If you are feeling brave, there is some satisfaction in using a camera that you have managed to get back togther yourself, and anyway, if you fail, it needed a CLA anyway!

Good luck

Michael
 
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