Kozhe
Well-known
Hi everybody,
I recently got an M2 and while testing the speeds (no film so far) I realized at low speeds the first curtain doesn´t open completely. You can still see a frame of 5-7mm. It might also happen at higher speeds but hard to see. 2ns curtain seems to work properly.
Is this normal? What might be the cause of this? Maybe the first curtain dosen´t have enough tension? If I change the tension of this curtain, is this gonna affect the shutter speed?
Thanks!
I recently got an M2 and while testing the speeds (no film so far) I realized at low speeds the first curtain doesn´t open completely. You can still see a frame of 5-7mm. It might also happen at higher speeds but hard to see. 2ns curtain seems to work properly.
Is this normal? What might be the cause of this? Maybe the first curtain dosen´t have enough tension? If I change the tension of this curtain, is this gonna affect the shutter speed?
Thanks!
SergioGuerra
Well-known
it isn´t normal. you might need to send it for a CLA. If a CLA doesn't come on handy at this time of the year with a lot of expenses and if you like to play a little with camera mechanics, you could try to see if your M2 has a first curtain adjustable brake. It could be misadjusted and stopping the first curtain too early. Most M2's only have a second curtain brake so that wouldn't work (it is adjustable from the bottom of the camera, easily accessible).
You could also give more tension to the first curtain roller, but that could most certainly spoil your speeds and besides: more tension = more noise = less smoothness = less leica feeling.
http://leicaclub.net/files/leica_m2_service.pdf
http://mysite.verizon.net/stuems/leicabasicrepair.pdf
These two links can be helpful
(I am no expert, so dont trust too much on my thoughts on the subject )
You could also give more tension to the first curtain roller, but that could most certainly spoil your speeds and besides: more tension = more noise = less smoothness = less leica feeling.
http://leicaclub.net/files/leica_m2_service.pdf
http://mysite.verizon.net/stuems/leicabasicrepair.pdf
These two links can be helpful
(I am no expert, so dont trust too much on my thoughts on the subject
)Kozhe
Well-known
Thanks! I´ll play a little bit with the tensions and brake as stated in the manuals before sending it somewhere for a cla
MikeL
Go Fish
Hi Kozhe,
I have a same problem on an M3.
The curtail clears fine on bulb and at higher speeds (1/60 and faster). At the slower speeds the opening curtain stops with about 4mm showing and moves slightly before the second curtain closes. My speeds are fine, but at the slow speeds I have a 32mm x 24mm camera.
I'm cracking it open this weekend, so if anyone has any tips they'd be much appreciated.
I have a same problem on an M3.
The curtail clears fine on bulb and at higher speeds (1/60 and faster). At the slower speeds the opening curtain stops with about 4mm showing and moves slightly before the second curtain closes. My speeds are fine, but at the slow speeds I have a 32mm x 24mm camera.
I'm cracking it open this weekend, so if anyone has any tips they'd be much appreciated.
Kozhe
Well-known
Hi Mike,
I solved everything with the M2. Adjusting the first curtain tension was enough but I also did a basic cla. A bit of cleaning and relube to the slow speed scapement will help for sure. I tested the camera both with film and against a tv screens and curtains are in perfect working order now
The M3 has breaks for both curtains, while the M2 has only for the 2nd. If your 1st curtain dosen´t open at all (mine used to slow down a lot but closed at the end) you might need to work on the brake, although 4mm might be too much for a brake problem and most probably it´s just a tension issue.
Hope this help!
I solved everything with the M2. Adjusting the first curtain tension was enough but I also did a basic cla. A bit of cleaning and relube to the slow speed scapement will help for sure. I tested the camera both with film and against a tv screens and curtains are in perfect working order now
The M3 has breaks for both curtains, while the M2 has only for the 2nd. If your 1st curtain dosen´t open at all (mine used to slow down a lot but closed at the end) you might need to work on the brake, although 4mm might be too much for a brake problem and most probably it´s just a tension issue.
Hope this help!
MikeL
Go Fish
Hi Kozhe,
I just stripped mine down including the rangefinder. I thought I had dust on the roof prism, but it turns out it was the glass on the framelines section. Amazing what cleaning fifty years of haze off the prisms does for the viewfinder and patch. The M3 finder is pretty sweet.
Not much to clean off on the inside. A teeny bit of oil in the four drum bearings and just a smidgen of increased tension on the opening curtain, and all is good here.
Cheers Kozhe!
I just stripped mine down including the rangefinder. I thought I had dust on the roof prism, but it turns out it was the glass on the framelines section. Amazing what cleaning fifty years of haze off the prisms does for the viewfinder and patch. The M3 finder is pretty sweet.
Not much to clean off on the inside. A teeny bit of oil in the four drum bearings and just a smidgen of increased tension on the opening curtain, and all is good here.
Cheers Kozhe!