Leica R5 problem - advice sought!

[siracusa]

Dear RFFers,
I've been lurking a while, learning from (and enjoying!) the posts, and now chip in with my first post under sad circumstances. Impending changes - ie serious possibility of job loss with the economic cuts we face in the UK - forced me to slim down my cameras, and sell them all to just keep my M2. Problem! The buyer Leica R5 which I recently sold in almost mint condition on ebay has contacted me listing the following faults with the camera:
*Self timer mechanism innoperative
*Faulty film exposure compensation dial (does not work)
*Viewfinder indicator lights faulty - flashing continually
*P programme mode does not work.
*+/- overide viewfinder symbol permanatly showing as out of range

Now, I last used the camera days before posting it (securely - loads of bubble wrap and foam and a larger boax around the Lieca box). At that point the camera worked perfectly, with none of these faults. I guess the clearest explanation would be damage in transit (though like an idiot, once buyer had confirmed receipt, I through my shipping receipt away & thus probably can't claim...). But is it possible that there is some user error going on here which could have caused the buyer to experience these problems? Any thoughts/advice would be gratefully received,
David

 

[geordiefred]

siracusa, Have just bought a used R5, without instructions. I would suggest either you or the buyer go to orphan cameras on the 'net, where you will find the R5 manual. Gleaned some useful information before I attempted to use the camera. Have since put 1 film through, and pleased. At the moment I am still getting used to it, and its functions. If you get no further postings in a few days, I will come back here, if I can add anything of use.

 

[sanmich]

Dear RFFers,
I've been lurking a while, learning from (and enjoying!) the posts, and now chip in with my first post under sad circumstances. Impending changes - ie serious possibility of job loss with the economic cuts we face in the UK - forced me to slim down my cameras, and sell them all to just keep my M2. Problem! The buyer Leica R5 which I recently sold in almost mint condition on ebay has contacted me listing the following faults with the camera:
*Self timer mechanism innoperative
*Faulty film exposure compensation dial (does not work)
*Viewfinder indicator lights faulty - flashing continually
*P programme mode does not work.
*+/- overide viewfinder symbol permanatly showing as out of range

Now, I last used the camera days before posting it (securely - loads of bubble wrap and foam and a larger boax around the Lieca box). At that point the camera worked perfectly, with none of these faults. I guess the clearest explanation would be damage in transit (though like an idiot, once buyer had confirmed receipt, I through my shipping receipt away & thus probably can't claim...). But is it possible that there is some user error going on here which could have caused the buyer to experience these problems? Any thoughts/advice would be gratefully received,
David

David,

I would suggest the following:
first make sure the user knows how to use the camera, that the batteries are ok, etc.
Maybe the R5 belongs to that class of cameras that functions only when you pass the first frame?
If there is still an issue, I would take the camera back. Sometimes, flights and ground transit can really harm cameras.
I have once sold a perfectly fine nikon F3hp, and it arrived DOA.
After a few phone calls to the nice lady that bought it, I understood that there is no user fault here and that the camera is not ok, and I refunded it.
I hope your R5 is OK, and that your financial situation will improve quickly!

 

[Uwe_Nds]

...The buyer Leica R5 which I recently sold in almost mint condition on ebay has contacted me listing the following faults with the camera:
*Self timer mechanism innoperative
*Faulty film exposure compensation dial (does not work)
*Viewfinder indicator lights faulty - flashing continually
*P programme mode does not work.
*+/- overide viewfinder symbol permanatly showing as out of range

Now, I last used the camera days before posting it (securely - loads of bubble wrap and foam and a larger boax around the Lieca box). At that point the camera worked perfectly, with none of these faults. ...

David,
Sorry to hear about it and your current personal challenges.

Edit: Just checked my R5.
*Self timer mechanism
if you switch on the self timer, you only have to slightly depress the shutter release button to activate the self timer. If you fully press the button, the camera will fire normally. -> most probably user error

*Faulty film exposure compensation dial (does not work)
*+/- overide viewfinder symbol permanatly showing as out of range
The +/- symbol only shows that exposure compensation is active. The symbol lights as soon as the dial is slightly out of the "0"-position.
The dial itself has to be unlocked with the little tab on the right next to the dial. -> probably user error.

*Viewfinder indicator lights faulty - flashing continually
Which ones? If the lens is not set to the highest f-stop number, the indicator lights for "P" and "T" flash continuously.

*P programme mode does not work.
How does the seller know that Programme mode does not work?
In the R5 viewfinder, you see the illuminated shutter speeds on the right hand side; in addition, the position of the shutter dial is displayed at the bottom of the viewfinder as white numbers - similar to the display of the aperture of the lens. These numbers do not (have to) correspond!
Also, the seller should make sure that the lens is set to the highest f-stop number.

Hope that helped.
Cheers,
Uwe