Leica M5 viewfinder glass

[timjones5101]

Hi All

New to the forum and a new Leica user (long held dream 🙂 )

Just obtained an M5 in excellent condition, but for one small problem. The glass in the front of the viewfinder has two diagonal cracks. Doesn't worry me when shooting as I can't see them through the finder, but I would like to get it back to pristine condition if possible.

I knew they were there prior to purchase. Think it's why I got it for a very good price ($US599).

Anyone have any suggestions as to where I might find a replacement (if the part exists) and is it a diy job. I live in Australia, so shipping it to the US or elsewhere would be prohibitively expensive.

Any help appreciated.

Regards

Tim

 

[Richard G]

Camera Clinic in Melbourne looked at mine for a difficult repair of the frame preview mechanism. It was maybe beyond them to do it and would have been expensive. But just to take the top off and replace that window mightn't be so hard and they could source the part. The alternative is Camera Exchange in Box Hill in Melbourne. I reckon Vic Plant, their repairer, could handle that.

Meanwhile on shipping I've paid as much for insured shipping of a tiny lens from Perth as an M5 from New York.

 

[harvester]

+1 for vic plant.

you can cut out the middle-person and go to him directly.
PM me for his phone number - he's a Solms trained leica tech who is familiar with the M5 and you can discuss the repair with him rather than just sending off your camera into the void and awaiting a bill.

i know that he is taking time off soon for some surgery though.

on the other hand - someone here will have been through the process of DIY replacing a VF front glass i'm sure.




AP

 

[retinax]

Hey, that's just a piece of flat glass, right? if you dare take off the too cover of your M5, swapping it out should be a piece of cake. I'd start looking for coated glass in catalogues of lab suppliers, glass for picture frames and negative carriers for enlargers might be options, too. shouldn't be too difficult to cut to size and put in place.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Hey, that's just a piece of flat glass, right?

It is flat glass AFAIK, but towards the bottom it is partly silvered, presumably to increase the visibility of the indications of the lightmeter in the viewfinder. However, I guess that without this silvered strip (not unlike the ones on the M6 and MP) the lightmeter will be good visible too.

The glass must be very hard, otherwise it will soon be scratched.

Erik.