Monochrom
Well-known
Hi folks, i think you´ll be interested in this new DIY leica i just did myself...
Some months ago i purchased an m4-2, at first sight it looked nice the price was ok, but after doing it a cla i found with a working camera but quite rusted inside....
I used it to rehearse some other stuff like painting and other restoration projects concernig another parts of the camera..very useful!!!
Never used it that much and in time it sat on the shelf...until...
I managed to acquire a mint m1, it was difficult because the owner woldn´t sell it despite he never used it...
After a while he was willing to let it go for a nice price....
So tonight i did it, dismantle both cameras and proceed...
The job took me about 2 hours with proper tools, that being a set of custom made screwdrivers and a set of spanners bought on ebay...they permit me a clean fast and safe job...
You know m leicas up to m4 are very easy to dismantle but never thought the rangefinder would be easy as well...
I love leicas the quality of them is great i always get impressed...
Well, after taking apart the RF/vF of the M4-2 and the VF of the m1 i just realised the housings are identical also the main frame that contains the VF and framlines are also the same, of course parts varies and so...
After a while i could switch them succesfully...
And so i managed to adjust the rangefinder both in vertical and horizontal alignment, both carried out succesfully as welll
So...know i own a mint kind of M1-M4-2...i love the fact the frame conter is the sturdiest as you may know...
Ah...almost forgot to tel you, also managed to set ont he m1 the mech to display correct frames as yo cahnge lenses...
Fine...tastic...i´m very happy
Sorry no pictures cos it was relatively fast...
Bye!
PD: any questons i´ll try to answer´em asap...
Some months ago i purchased an m4-2, at first sight it looked nice the price was ok, but after doing it a cla i found with a working camera but quite rusted inside....
I used it to rehearse some other stuff like painting and other restoration projects concernig another parts of the camera..very useful!!!
Never used it that much and in time it sat on the shelf...until...
I managed to acquire a mint m1, it was difficult because the owner woldn´t sell it despite he never used it...
After a while he was willing to let it go for a nice price....
So tonight i did it, dismantle both cameras and proceed...
The job took me about 2 hours with proper tools, that being a set of custom made screwdrivers and a set of spanners bought on ebay...they permit me a clean fast and safe job...
You know m leicas up to m4 are very easy to dismantle but never thought the rangefinder would be easy as well...
I love leicas the quality of them is great i always get impressed...
Well, after taking apart the RF/vF of the M4-2 and the VF of the m1 i just realised the housings are identical also the main frame that contains the VF and framlines are also the same, of course parts varies and so...
After a while i could switch them succesfully...
And so i managed to adjust the rangefinder both in vertical and horizontal alignment, both carried out succesfully as welll
So...know i own a mint kind of M1-M4-2...i love the fact the frame conter is the sturdiest as you may know...
Ah...almost forgot to tel you, also managed to set ont he m1 the mech to display correct frames as yo cahnge lenses...
Fine...tastic...i´m very happy
Sorry no pictures cos it was relatively fast...
Bye!
PD: any questons i´ll try to answer´em asap...
Vickko
Veteran
Good work
It isn't rocket science, is it?
It isn't rocket science, is it?
Monochrom
Well-known
Ha ha, it´s like bicycle science...very fun!!!!
fotomeow
name under my name
"Sorry no pictures cos it was relatively fast..."
We are the RFF! We like pictures!
We are the RFF! We like pictures!
Monochrom
Well-known
yeah, i still have to put a little glass on the ex M1 decal window, so then i´ll take a few shots..
Vickko
Veteran
My best source of parts is Don Goldberg at www.dagcamera.com
If you don't see it on the web site, email him. 99% of the time, he has it.
And I mean weird parts, like specific screws, or even parts of assemblies.
If you don't see it on the web site, email him. 99% of the time, he has it.
And I mean weird parts, like specific screws, or even parts of assemblies.
sanmich
Veteran
did you have to machine the window to clear an opening?
Monochrom
Well-known
Hi, the tools are easy to get, i mentioned spaaner but was wrong the exact name is ring wrenches...made of satinless steel and purchased on ebay.
The screwdrivers are those very cheap from china...perhpas 2 bucks the set on 6, then of course i sande them down to match my needs.
The only tool i lacked was the one to unscrew the central (third) screw that must be unscrewed from below and must be long, very thin but with a rather large head...i´ll make it...
The M1 decals is made of chromed brass, and it slips in the same "rails" than the actual glass window...so no problem on that, you soften the glue on the window and then slip away the decal...
i do have those little windows but in case i don´i can make them done at a local jeweller who provide glass for longines in the past i put one on an m3.
The screwdrivers are those very cheap from china...perhpas 2 bucks the set on 6, then of course i sande them down to match my needs.
The only tool i lacked was the one to unscrew the central (third) screw that must be unscrewed from below and must be long, very thin but with a rather large head...i´ll make it...
The M1 decals is made of chromed brass, and it slips in the same "rails" than the actual glass window...so no problem on that, you soften the glue on the window and then slip away the decal...
i do have those little windows but in case i don´i can make them done at a local jeweller who provide glass for longines
in the past i put one on an m3.RomanV
Member
Great start. As people in Russia usually said "eyes are afraid of but arms just make it happens" Great stuff!
Great stuff!
Monochrom
Well-known
by the way...forgot to tell you i must calibrate thedisplay of framlines...
See, when the lens is mounted, the cam on the bayonet pushes a lever which actuates a little rod that switches every framline depending on how deep the cam travels...
That rod must be set properly in order to display correctly each framline, now there´s some amount of overlapping and a part of another frameline is also displayed...
See, when the lens is mounted, the cam on the bayonet pushes a lever which actuates a little rod that switches every framline depending on how deep the cam travels...
That rod must be set properly in order to display correctly each framline, now there´s some amount of overlapping and a part of another frameline is also displayed...
B-9
Devin Bro
Interesting conversion, any photo updates for us gear hounds?