Leica M4 Shutter capping

[Joe878]

Hi everyone,

I’m reaching out to the community for some advice regarding a persistent shutter capping issue with my Leica M4. I’ve had the camera serviced twice by two different repair shops, both of which performed a CLA (Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust), but unfortunately, the problem still persists.

The first repair shop, which is less known, refused to acknowledge that the shutter capping issue was occurring at all. The second shop, which is very well-known in the community, admitted to the issue but said the camera was too old to properly fix.

I’ve attached two photos to this post: one taken after the first CLA and the other after the second CLA. You can clearly see that the issue remains unresolved.

Has anyone else experienced something similar? Any advice on what steps I should take next would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Joe878]

I don’t think the photos uploaded with the post.

 

[Steinberg2010]

Too old to fix sounds odd... Where are you located?

 

[Joe878]

Too old to fix sounds odd... Where are you located?

I’m Located in New Jersey

 

[Richard G]

Can you give us a description of how the images are affected?

 

[Beemermark]

The M2, M3, and M4 had the ability to adjust like 50 to 100 settings. And also the ability to replace parts to make sure everything was perfect. One of the reasons that someone like DAG charges close to $500 to a CLA.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

... I’ve had the camera serviced twice by two different repair shops, both of which performed a CLA (Clean, Lubricate, and Adjust), but unfortunately, the problem still persists.

The first repair shop, which is less known, refused to acknowledge that the shutter capping issue was occurring at all. The second shop, which is very well-known in the community, admitted to the issue but said the camera was too old to properly fix. ...

Sorry, but this sounds like complete double-talk.
1. You had the camera serviced twice by two different outfits? Seriously!?
2. The camera is too old to properly fix? That's total BS!
3. I don't see any issue with the two photos you posted.

Can you give us a description of how the images are affected?

+1

 

[Coldkennels]

3. I don't see any issue with the two photos you posted.

I thought at first the "issue" was the darker area at the top of the photo of the high-rise building, but if you look closely, there are darker lines running the length of the frame on both images.

I've seen this before, both in other forums online and on a IIIf I had a shutter curtain replaced on:



It's not technically capping (although you can see this frame was very uneven across the exposure alongside the "striping" issue); it occurs when the edge of one shutter blind isn't perfectly straight (a rough/uneven bit of curtain material wrapped around the lath at the end, for instance), and is made worse when the two shutter curtains are running especially close together (as the uneven end of one curtain makes the gap slightly smaller and wider at intervals throughout the frame).

Either way, if that is what the problem is here, it's completely fixable, and frankly, any technician who says it isn't is lying to you (or doesn't know what the hell they're talking about).

 

[JSteed#2]

i concur with those who think that you were fed some false information. Whatever problem you have (and it looks intermittent) is 100% fixable and, given the price of Leicas these days, worth fixing if you can afford it. This forum lists lots of well regarded repair persons.

 

[Bill Blackwell]

Since you seem to have been bamboozled by two repair outfits, I'd contact Don Goldberg at dagcam[at]chorus[dot]net. Another good option is Jadon Rosado (Red Dot Repair) at jadon[at]reddotrepair[dot]com, but he'll require you to go through a camera dealer (the advantage here is that he'd be less expensive compared to Don Goldberg).

Describe the issue and let him know it doesn't need a full CLA, but just this one fix. If Coldkennels is accurate, I'd describe the issue as "banding".

 

[Joe878]

Sorry, but this sounds like complete double-talk.
1. You had the camera serviced twice by two different outfits? Seriously!?
2. The camera is too old to properly fix? That's total BS!
3. I don't see any issue with the two photos you posted.

+1

Sorry, but this sounds like complete double-talk.
1. You had the camera serviced twice by two different outfits? Seriously!?
2. The camera is too old to properly fix? That's total BS!
3. I don't see any issue with the two photos you posted.

+1

The photos and the film itself have a form of banding. I have more photos, tomorrow I’ll post them.

 

[Mackinaw]

Consider Youxin Ye for a CLA. He has a good reputation and is in Massachusetts. Fast turnaround too.

HOME | YYeCAMERA

www.yyecamera.com

Jim B.

 

[Zuiko-logist]

It looks more like an issue with the pressure plate or film gate than the shutter.

 

[Joe878]

It looks more like an issue with the pressure plate or film gate than the shutter.

This first Repair shop mentioned they checked the pressure plate and it was fine. Obviously I’m not able to confirm whether that’s true.

 

[Zuiko-logist]

Or the film gate?

 

[Joe878]

Or the film gate?

“
Hi,
We inspected the pressure plate and film winding system.
It's fine, we are totally positive it's not the camera problem, it's something else.
If you agree then we will take a test roll and it's $25 for film and lab.
Please let us know.”


This is directly from the email I received a few months ago. Unfortunately this was the first repair shop which had refused to admit the problem was happening.

I’m not to sure what the film gate is though.

 

[Zuiko-logist]

The film is held between the pressure plate and film gate, the part that lets light through to the film. If this is rough say through corrosion it may damage the film. You should be able to feel this part or even the film to see if it is actually scratched.

 

[35photo]

DAG or Sherry at Golden Touch look no further as the best around and factory trained by Leica.

 

[Vince Lupo]

Stupid question -- is this happening at all shutter speeds or only the faster ones, like 1/500 and 1/1000?

I looked closely at both your pictures -- sorry but I can't see anything going on in the second photo (with the streetcar). Maybe shoot into a completely blue sky and that would more clearly show the issue to us.

 

[Godfrey]

Whomever has 'serviced the camera twice' has done an awful job. It looks to me like you need a good shutter overhaul, as well as probably other things need adjustment. Send the camera to someone like DAG or even Leica USA and have it overhauled.

G

--- add on:
Curiosity inspired me to send Leica USA a note to request whether they still do, and what a complete shutter overhaul on "my beloved old Leica M4 body" would cost as it is creating striations across the negative in recent rolls of film. I'm interested to hear if they still support servicing the M4. 🙂