Leica LTM Is my new IIIc already having shutter problems?

[gjlynx]

One - my cynical side says that every eBay seller will tell you the camera has had a recent CLA 🙄.

TWO - it might just be that you have not mastered loading the film - the offset image drifting to the sprocket holes suggests this. IME to load the film properly you must remove the lens and hold the shutter open (you can use the T setting if it works - mine does not so I use the B setting and hold the shutter button open) while you manipulate the film so it is lined up correctly in the rails.

If this is not your loading protocol, check out the CameraQuest site:
http://www.cameraquest.com/ltmcam.htm
Look for "film loading" under "peculiarities".

Thanks for bringing up the sproket holes; I noticed this and thought it did not seem to be correct. The strange thing though is that if I push the take up spool all the way in,
the the sprocket holes are too far away from the sprokets to engage. When I try your technique the film does seem to stay engaged. Let's see what happens. I wonder why they don't mention it in the instruction book ?

 

[colyn]

TWO - it might just be that you have not mastered loading the film - the offset image drifting to the sprocket holes suggests this. IME to load the film properly you must remove the lens and hold the shutter open (you can use the T setting if it works - mine does not so I use the B setting and hold the shutter button open) while you manipulate the film so it is lined up correctly in the rails.

The slightly offset tracking of the film is common in the IIIc. The reason is the factory film cassette is shorter than the original Leica FILCA cassette and will drop down in the chamber. This problem was later corrected in the model IIIf after s/n 570xxx with the addition of a guide bar added to the bottom plate.

 

[cmedin]

Have you tried shooting anything with the camera in the vertical position and the lens wide open? That's how I figured out it was the lens and not the shutter that had issues -- the streaks would go top-bottom whether the pictures was horizontal or vertical.

 

[gjlynx]

Have you tried shooting anything with the camera in the vertical position and the lens wide open? That's how I figured out it was the lens and not the shutter that had issues -- the streaks would go top-bottom whether the pictures was horizontal or vertical.

Good point! I do have some vertical oriented shots, but they look fine.

 

[Telewatt]

there is a problem with the shutter, not the working of times but the "light-security".or the Speed of the second roll.....sorry for my english!😱....

regards,
Jan

 

[Telewatt]

The slightly offset tracking of the film is common in the IIIc. The reason is the factory film cassette is shorter than the original Leica FILCA cassette and will drop down in the chamber. This problem was later corrected in the model IIIf after s/n 570xxx with the addition of a guide bar added to the bottom plate.

that is right....🙂...and I leaned it some day before..😱..., but this problem is more a shutter thing, I think...

regards,
Jan

 

[Stu W]

I had a similar experience with a IIIc and the flared areas were very similar to yours. It turned out to be a small screw missing from the front of the camera beside the lens ... to the left looking from the front. I hadn't even noticed it was gone. I know that sounds horribly obvious but have a look because my camera had supposedly just been CLA'd also and the screw had either been forgotten or subsequently vibrated out with use! Because it lives in the middle of all that vulcanite you don't really notice it.

The thing that amazed me was the light streaks appeared to be intermittent and only affected a third or so of my shots!

I was thinking a light leak from an added sync socket or the shutter binding from an aftermarket sync device but I Keiths idea sounds like a good one. The screws in the front certainly are well hidden in the vulcanite.

 

[David Murphy]

Just curious, where were the photos taken?

 

[gjlynx]

Just curious, where were the photos taken?

The pics are from in and around Austin, TX. USA

 

[shadowfox]

The pics are from in and around Austin, TX. USA

I was about to say, that dome at the State Capitol is unmistakable 🙂