loud Leica shutter

[FrankS]

As some of you may be aware, I recently purchased a Leica IIIf advertised here at RFF. Everything is great except I'm a little surprised at how loud the shutter is. It is a "clack" sound that I would expect from an FSU camera, but not a Leica. Years ago I used to have a model III and my memory of its shutter is that it was much quieter. The IIIf that I bought has had a CLA done just a few years ago. I read in another thread about shutter curtain brakes being out of adjustment. Could that be the problem with my camera? Is is bad to continue to operate this camera if this is the case?

 

[Nikon Bob]

Frank

The IIIf and IIf that I have make a sound more like a SNICK. Not very loud at all. Can't help with the rest of it . I'll have to leave that to the experts.

Bob

 

[pshinkaw]

I once was able to use a 1939 Leica IIIb and 1954 IIIf side-by-side. The IIIb had just ben picked upfrom a shop where it had been CLA'd by an expert Leica technician, the IIIf was due for one. The IIIb was a shade quieter, but not much. Given that the big improvement that the IIIf incorporated was the addition of a shutter bnake, I would expect it to be the queter of the two, all other parameters being equal.

If your brake is the culprit, you could cause unnecessary wear on the shutter parts by continuingto operate it.

-Paul

 

[Nikon Bob]

Frank

Just to add that I just checked the IIf ( IIIf in for beamsplitter replacement ) and the shutter is louder than I thought. More like you say re clack and a secondary sound of the shutter brake. That was at 1/25. I don't know when the camera was last CLA'd.

Bob