Leica AF-C1 slow flash recycling

[analogpics]

Hey all, i just received a Leica AF-C1 in the mail today and i'm really excited to shoot a roll through it except for one thing...if i fire a shot with flash, with a brand new battery, it takes about 17 seconds to recharge. Is that normal for this camera? Should i get another one off ebay and see? Hoping someone else on here has some experience. Thanks!

 

[locheeboy]

Hi ap,

Ah have an AF-C1, cycle time for flash is less than 2 seconds with a (fairly)new battery - just tested it. Clean up the terminals then give them a wee sand with fine emery paper or equivalent and wipe and clean the battery terminals. 17 seconds may mean loose or dried out wiring.😉,

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Years ago it was normal to reform the condensers by charging the flash and leaving it on for (say) half an hour unused, then fire it. I don't know what the modern practice is but it might improve matters.

Regards, David

 

[analogpics]

Thanks guys! I wiped the contacts down with some hydrogen peroxide and now trying to reform the condensers per david's recommendation 🙂 *fingers crossed*

 

[analogpics]

Well, sadly it's still doing the same thing 😛 Hmmm, maybe it's just a paper weight at this point haha. I'm kinda too nervous to take it apart, don't want to get zapped 😛

 

[sevo]

How strong is the flash? Does it decrease in intensity when you test close-up? Did you set it to a manual ISO value? 17s for recharging are not all that long if that should be a full charge - many compacts take 20-30s for a full charge. The camera might be in some special demo mode when there is no film inserted (a common issue with compacts), so I'd first try with film before diagnosing it as broken...

 

[analogpics]

Hey Sevo, flash seems reasonably strong. The camera doesnt have the ability to set iso manually and i have film in there now.

 

[sevo]

Hey Sevo, flash seems reasonably strong. The camera doesnt have the ability to set iso manually and i have film in there now.

But does it get weaker as you get closer? If the power is constant regardless of subject distance and the flash appears to do a full discharge each time, the flash AE might be dead - which could be a isolated error with the camera fine apart from its flash (which is no great loss, IIRC it had no particularly pleasant fill flash), or might make the camera useless, if it indicates a electronics failure at a larger scale (general exposure or AF electronics).

 

[analogpics]

Hmmm, you might be right, seems like the flash is putting out the same full flash each time. I wonder if it's one of the older cameras that put out a full flash each time and just adjust the aperture? Hmm, who knows....

 

[analogpics]

Also, i just tried holding the flash on button and mashing the shutter button a few times right after i fire off the flash and it seems to be recharging quicker (closer to 8-9 sec)