Leica M2 Slow shutter speeds issue

[johnrt]

One of the drawbacks to being in lockdown is that you start tinkering with things you haven't contemplated before, I went off for an evening walk with the intention of using some longer shutter speeds on my M2 - I normally only use down to 1/60th.

Unfortunately I discovered that I had some issues with uneven exposure across the frame. I set up again and shot a blank wall to test all the speeds up to 1/30th and discovered most speeds have issues, see my test shots of a blank wall below.

It seems as the issue disappears at the 1/50th and all other speeds above (I use all speeds from 1/50 to 1/500th regularly), the issue is with the slow mechanism, I believe there is a separate mechanism for the 1/30th and slower speeds?

So I’ll be booking in for a service to have someone give it a check, would I be correct in saying that this is a fairly easy to resolve issue for a tech to remove, clean and lubricate the slow speed mechanism? I’ll have it done as part of a wider service.

I still haven't found anyone that will touch the strap lug replacement the camera needs too, so looks like a Luigi case is a good option when it's back from the CLA.

Thank you for any advice you might have,

John.

 

[johnrt]

An update on the strap lugs: I contacted a very well known US based tech with regard to strap lug availability and having them either sell a set to me for fitting in the UK or to export the camera for them to do the work.
Unfortunately, the reply was that they also cannot source any lugs since Leica subcontracted the work out to someone else, they are too brittle and unable to be used.

Look after your lugs folks!

 

[jim_jm]

It appears that your shutter is "capping". The leading curtain slows at the end of it's travel, or it stops completely before the following curtain completes it's path across the frame. If you open the back and fire the camera at these speeds, you may be able to see it occur.
Very common problem with focal-plane shutters and an easy fix for a qualified repair person. My M2 was doing the same thing when I got it 15 years ago, had a CLA and it's been fine ever since.

 

[nickthetasmaniac]

It appears that your shutter is "capping". The leading curtain slows at the end of it's travel, or it stops completely before the following curtain completes it's path across the frame. If you open the back and fire the camera at these speeds, you may be able to see it occur.
Very common problem with focal-plane shutters and an easy fix for a qualified repair person. My M2 was doing the same thing when I got it 15 years ago, had a CLA and it's been fine ever since.

Is it common for capping to occur only on slower speeds? I thought it was usually an issue at faster speeds (1/500 - 1/1000") on focal plane shutters?

 

[johnrt]

After further investigation;


At 1/2 a second with the lens removed and film door open it is possible it see that when the shutter is fired the first curtain does not complete it's travel and hangs just short creating the line of under exposure, the second curtain then catches it up and bumps it out of the way to complete it's travel.

 

[johnrt]

Since my last post on this issue my M2 has been to a UK repair tech. What a throughly miserable experience it has been.

I will spare the repairer a name & shame here but this was my experience;

Camera was dispatched with the understanding that repairer had no spare parts, so if the issue was unable to be resolved via a CLA and would require parts, then the camera would be returned without charge. I received an email back to say the issues could be resolved and a full CLA would be done and rengefinder calibrated. I agreed.

The camera was returned to me swiftly in under a week.

When the camera arrived back I immediately opened the camera back and fired the shutter at 1/2 second to test the curtain issue. The shutter stuck open. It only closed eventually when I by chance turned the shutter speed dial to bulb. I repeated the test lots of times on various speeds and could not replicated the issue, it appeared to be working ok.

On further inspection, I discovered that the rangefinder was now decoupling from my lenses at around 90cm and there was a significant issue with the rangefinder images converging a good 10-15cm in front of the target - a quick test roll shot at 1 meter confirmed the calibration was out.

I contacted the repairer with the issues I found and they were very quick to respond and explain that they thought the rangefinder calibration issues could have been due to rough transit on it's way back to me, they agreed to either refund or resolve the issues if I sent the camera back and to cover postage.

I know that they have worked on plenty of Leica cameras before, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and returned the camera to them with the promise they would resolve all issues and turn the camera round asap. I specifically mentioned the decoupling of the rangefinder mechanism at 90cm, twice.

They received the camera last Wednesday morning and I heard nothing from them. They were posting pictures of other camera repairs on social media Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. On the Friday evening I contacted them and asked for an update, they said they were moving workshops and would get to the camera on Monday. I wasn't warned of this, but OK fair enough. On Monday I heard from them again - issues with the shutter and rangefinder have been resolved.

I received the camera back today and behold the rangefinder is exactly as I found it on the first return, decouples at 90cm from the lens and front focus by 10-15cm, exactly as I had returned it the first time.

Very disappointed that I sent a functioning camera, albeit with a minor issue on slow shutter speeds that I rarely use, and they have returned an unusable camera to me; not once, but twice. I have contacted them again with the issues and request of a full refund, I await a reply.

 

[johnrt]

The repairer has replied and refunded me in full.

 

[jim_jm]

Sorry to hear about your poor experience. This really isn't a tough issue for most competent repair folks to fix. I can't recommend anyone in the UK, but I've used Youxin Ye several times here in the US, and he's very good with communication and turnaround times.

 

[Pál_K]

Youxin Ye is excellent.