M2 shutter sound

[arthur2]

Hello everyone,

I am wondering if the shutter of my M2 needs servicing. I recently studied the Used M Check List on www.cameraquest.com and there it says:

Watch the closing edge of the 2nd shutter curtain. After the shutter trips, you SHOULD NOT be able to see the seam on the left hand side of the shutter. If you can, it is a sign the shutter needs servicing.

Now, if I look at my M2 without a lens attached from the front and press the shutter I can see a seam on the RIGHT side of the cloth. Should I be worried?

Also, I am reading everywhere how exeptionally quiet the shutter of Leica Ms is supposed to be, but I don't think mine is that quiet. Sure, it's much quieter than my Canon EOS, but there is still an audible "klack" sound. Some people say it sounds more like "swoosh"... Well, it's difficult to desribe a sound. I don't know if this is a silly question, but does anyone know of a site where I can listen to the shutter sound of an M2?

Thanks in advance for your help! 🙂

 

[hth]

My M2 also shows seam, but it seems to work fine anyway. I guess it is a sign that a CLA is due, but I cannot imagine that it is urgent if this is the only "problem".

About the sound, mine makes a pleasant small >snik<, not as a leaf shutter (Rollei TLR), it is louder. I looked at a severly worn black M4 a couple of months ago. It had a louder and rougher sound (it may have been somewhat of the sound you describe), but the shutter seemed to be accurate. The advance was a tad less smooth, I cannot begin to imagine how many films had passed through this fellow. Winding and fireing it, I felt that it just begged to be used, and used a *lot*. Lovely camera in its own way, but I ended up with a very nice looking silver M4 instead and parted with less money than the black one costed.

I would not describe any Leica I have tried as having a "swoosh" sound though...

 

[aizan]

the quietness is mostly hype. "whisper" quiet it is...if you're in a big loud hall. suffice it to say, it's not especially quiet, just not particularly loud. *snick*

 

[former member]

BEfore service my M3DS did as yours, the 1st curtain did not go across the entire negative on the slow speeds. After CLA, it worked fine. My quietest Leica is the M3SS after a CLA in its ever-ready case. It is so quiet compared with the M3DS that I though the shutter was not firing. The M2 is somewhat louder, more like the M3DS. They are all much quieter than the Nikon and Canon RF's, even the cloth shutter ones. The M3SS is on par with my Compur shutter Retina IIIs.

 

[ddutchison]

Check out this thread I bookmarked at the other place...

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007CNn

There's a post by Jay giving a more detailed discription about what you're to look out for on the shutter curtains. He's describing an M4, but it's the same shutter.

 

[jdos2]

My MP is as quiet as my M3ss was (*ahem*) but of course, works rather better (pre CLA)

But Leica shutters aren't silent at all.

Then again, none of my leaf shutter lenses are terribly quiet, either.

If you've had the camera for a couple years, if you bought it used (unknown state- even if it came with a certificate) or if it's acting up, get it serviced. Worn parts wear out in-tolerance parts faster.

Loudest RF shutter camera I've ever owned, Nikon S2 (Klak!) Quietest? Um... Toss up between the MP or the Kiev (at 1/25). Loudest camera I own? RB67 or the Kiev 88. Both loud, but in different ways.

There's also a website that has recordings. I'll dig around.

 

[former member]

I just found a (fairly) quiet SLR. It is the ONLY Canon Pellix that I have come across with a good beamsplitter; ie not desilvered. The Pellix does not use a moving mirror, but has a full frame fixed semi-transparent mirror for the focussing screen. Unfortunately, this "Pellicle" mirror tends to desilver which adversely effects the photograph. The Pellix is about as loud as the Canon 7, which is among the loder of rangefinders with its steel shutter curtains.

The S2 uses counterweights to brake the shutter. This supposedly gives it its unique sound. The SP and later Nikons are not as loud, but no where near as quiet as a Leica M.

 

[jdos2]

I've shot with a Pellix and you are right- it's fairly loud. I was curious and compared the sound of the FTB👎 with the lens locked up, and the volume was almost identical- the SOUND was almost identical; they sounded like the same shutter...

I'll correct myself on thinking about it more, the S2 went "K-Klak" which wasn't displeasing at all.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

My M2 just returned from an overhaul/CLA from DAG. You're right, you should not be able to see the seam. I would recommend sending it to a good service person, like DAG or Krauter. The overhaul/CLA ran about 280-290 USD, but well worth it, as it is literally running like new. DAG's work was impressive, and he is a nice guy to deal with, very timely and courteous communications.

As for shutter sound, the M2 shutter should sound like a very soft click (decidedly non-metallic). Not a whisper in a vacuum, but certainly a lot quieter than a Nikon/Canon slr. good luck