Leica M5, Lightmeter Misaligned.

[BLKRCAT]

I think I'll be sending my M5 to Leica USA but figure before I send it off see if anyone has experienced this. Just to give me an idea of the severity of the issue.

M5 was fine last night but I went to use it today and noticed that the light meter strip and shutter speed indicator at the bottom wasn't illuminating the same as the framelines. Cycling through the shutter speeds the bottom will sometimes show misaligned very dimly. Using a torch on the freshel for the bottom strip and I can see everything working but it's almost like the fresnel is misaligned or obstructed.

Also when going from the fast speeds to the slow speeds my body always had a bit of a clunk between 1/60 and 1/30. Now there's a lttle more noticeable resistance when doing so.

Shutter fires fine, meter stalk still comes up and retracts.

Happened out of nowhere, brought my M5 and 240 with me to the hospital to take some shots the birth of our latest addition to the family. Brought the little one home, took a couple shots at home and put everthing away as normal, the following day I was noticing this M5 issue.

Couldn't come at a less opportune moment.

 

[j.scooter]

Glad to see you back here
Sorry to hear your M5 is giving you problems especially at such an important event.

No idea what could be causing the issue. But before you send it to Leica and having to wait a long time you may consider having David Yau look at it. He is local and does good work and doesn’t accept your camera until he has the time to work on it.

Good luck

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Congratulations on the new family member! Condolences on the Leica...
I very much second j.scooter's advice to find an alternative to Leica. I had a horrible experience with them a few years ago with my M3. It took thirteen months to get it back, when I only sent it in for a CLA. It was working perfectly, but they insisted it needed new curtains. Then, they couldn't get the "special glue" for the curtains from Germany. Then they charged me the going price for an M3 in good condition, and as a crowning insult, left out a screw.
At the time, I wasn't aware of Youxin Ye, who is the only one who now touches my Leicas. Unfortunately, he doesn't work on the M5; however, DAG and Sherry are experts on that camera, and have stellar reputations. There are others as well, but in any case, I would strongly recommend you go with someone other than Leica.

 

[BLKRCAT]

Glad to see you back here
Sorry to hear your M5 is giving you problems especially at such an important event.

No idea what could be causing the issue. But before you send it to Leica and having to wait a long time you may consider having David Yau look at it. He is local and does good work and doesn’t accept your camera until he has the time to work on it.

Good luck

I poke around every now and then. My shooting has been a lot more sporadic since I moved out of the city. I wasn't aware that David Yau was still doing cameras. I know Gerry Smith is fully retired now and kind of assumed David would also be.

I did have a funny experience with him though. I had an M2 serviced with him and when I started having problems with it he told me that he was retired, I found out a year later he was still active so I'm a little apprehensive to take a camera to him. This was maybe 6 or 7 years ago.

Downtown Camera says they would be able to facilitate with Leica for shipping and all that fun stuff. They were saying 14 weeks, but the camera will come back as good as possible.

Congratulations on the new family member! Condolences on the Leica...
I very much second j.scooter's advice to find an alternative to Leica. I had a horrible experience with them a few years ago with my M3. It took thirteen months to get it back, when I only sent it in for a CLA. It was working perfectly, but they insisted it needed new curtains. Then, they couldn't get the "special glue" for the curtains from Germany. Then they charged me the going price for an M3 in good condition, and as a crowning insult, left out a screw.
At the time, I wasn't aware of Youxin Ye, who is the only one who now touches my Leicas. Unfortunately, he doesn't work on the M5; however, DAG and Sherry are experts on that camera, and have stellar reputations. There are others as well, but in any case, I would strongly recommend you go with someone other than Leica.

I forgot about DAG and Sherry. It's been a while since I've been around keeping tabs on what the latest places or places that are still in operation. I'll send them an email and see what their availability is! It would be great to get it up and running asap but I'm not in a crazy rush. I've got my XA, P67 and the m240.

I don't have a huge hoard of cameras like most people anymore. But I've got some choices. Thank you for the well wishes and the recommendations 🙂

 

[NaChase]

I sent my M5 to Leica USA about 3 years ago because the metering arm would just stay raised and not retract when the shutter was pressed. Leica was able to fix it, but they had to send it to Leica Germany due to lack of parts stateside. It took about 4 months.

 

[BLKRCAT]

^ I think I recall seeing your posts about this maybe not seeing the conclusion though likely because it took so long.

This is good to know. How was the operation of the camera when you received it back? Downtown Camera in Toronto says that it's the best option to get the camera back in as perfect operation as possible. I know I had some minor issues when I received the camera back from Kinderman, mainly the rewind release lever screw loosens over time. I've never had it fall out but I have to monitor it constantly.

 

[Deleted member 65559]

BLKRCAT I highly recommend Don Goldberg. When I got my M4 3 years ago it needed a CLA and I wanted to have it modified to take the Leicavit. I phoned and spoke to Horst Wenzel in Vancouver, Gerry Smith (who was just about to retire) at Kinderman, and YYY, as well as Cameraquest. None of them had the parts. I got hold of Don Goldberg on the phone & sent him the camera. The work was done perfectly and i got the camerai back within a few months. I understand that DAG bought up all Leica Canada's repair parts (https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/312310-dag-camera-repair/page/2/). I'd phone and see what his backlog time is, but he's my go-to for Leica repair based on my past experience. Also when i was considering buying a CL i called him and he said that he had all the meter parts and that in his experience, they were more reliable than people thought. With an M5, I would think getting the work done right might be more important than getting it back quickly, but i also understand the impatience for getting a favourite camera back in shape. Good luck.

 

[Erik van Straten]

M5 was fine last night but I went to use it today and noticed that the light meter strip and shutter speed indicator at the bottom wasn't illuminating the same as the framelines.

Congratulations with the baby!

The light meter strip of my (early) M5 isn't as bright as the framelines, but this has always been so. However, it is illuminated even.

Erik.

 

[NaChase]

^ I think I recall seeing your posts about this maybe not seeing the conclusion though likely because it took so long.

This is good to know. How was the operation of the camera when you received it back? Downtown Camera in Toronto says that it's the best option to get the camera back in as perfect operation as possible. I know I had some minor issues when I received the camera back from Kinderman, mainly the rewind release lever screw loosens over time. I've never had it fall out but I have to monitor it constantly.

It has worked perfectly ever since. I received the camera back in perfect shape, though if I were to do it all again I would have tried to get a third strap lug added too.

 

[BLKRCAT]

BLKRCAT I highly recommend Don Goldberg. When I got my M4 3 years ago it needed a CLA and I wanted to have it modified to take the Leicavit. I phoned and spoke to Horst Wenzel in Vancouver, Gerry Smith (who was just about to retire) at Kinderman, and YYY, as well as Cameraquest. None of them had the parts. I got hold of Don Goldberg on the phone & sent him the camera. The work was done perfectly and i got the camerai back within a few months. I understand that DAG bought up all Leica Canada's repair parts (https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/312310-dag-camera-repair/page/2/). I'd phone and see what his backlog time is, but he's my go-to for Leica repair based on my past experience. Also when i was considering buying a CL i called him and he said that he had all the meter parts and that in his experience, they were more reliable than people thought. With an M5, I would think getting the work done right might be more important than getting it back quickly, but i also understand the impatience for getting a favourite camera back in shape. Good luck.

Totally. I don't think I'm in any crazy rush. I'd much rather it be done correct and well rather than rushed and sloppily. It's disappointing that I won't be able to capture these moments now with the M5 but they won't be the only moments and there are still other options (just maybe not as good because the M5 is my perfect M😀)

Congratulations with the baby!

The light meter strip of my (early) M5 isn't as bright as the framelines, but this has always been so. However, it is illuminated even.

Erik.

Thank you Erik! We're quite happy with the new acquisition.

My M5's lightmeter strip was fairly evenly lit in comparison to the framelines. I'm not sure exactly what happened. Perhaps the lightmeter strip's screen became dislodged and fell out of alignment. or something fell and is obscuring the fresnel window.

It has worked perfectly ever since. I received the camera back in perfect shape, though if I were to do it all again I would have tried to get a third strap lug added too.

Good to know! Thank you for your insight