JMshooter
Newbie
Hi, Im new to the forum and a new owner of an older M3 DS.
I know this has been covered many times but with all the various links etc finding GOOD information is hard *or should I say, knowing what to listen to and what not to is difficult, there is a lot of different opinions out there.
On my M3 the second image (the one that moves) is very faint. I understand that people tend to think this is de-silvering of the mirror etc etc, but all the info I find from dedicated repair websites make it sound as though de-silvering will cause the image to black out not become weaker. The frame lines are nice and bright, as is the non-moving RF patch.
Now, I came across this in a post
The M3 rangefinder has numerous prisms, only one of which is a beam-splitter composed of two prisms cemented together. The silvered surfaces are cemented against one another, do not and cannot fade or oxidise. If these prisms become separated the viewfinder will go black save for the rangefinder rectangle itself. A dim secondary image in an M3 is the result of dirt and haze accumulation on the surfaces of the optics and will almost always respond to a proper cleaning. The Barnack Leicas do indeed have a beam-splitting mirror whose silvered surface can fade. It is a relatively inexpensive item to have replaced.
I am a little confused as it seems that online people talk about de-silvering and that it makes the RF patch dim, now in my understanding, dim would describe the patch as going dark rather than being faint. Would that be correct?
When I hold the M3 up to the light (shining the light through from the eyepiece) and look through the small RF window from the front it is nice and yellow (this is good I understand) but the yellow seems to have some sort of mist on a window/snow flake look all over it, this is quite uniform across the entire yellow piece.
I know the best thing to do is send it in for a repair, but currently that would mean I have to send the camera out of the country so I was hoping that through the knowledge here I could educate myself a little further first. De-silvering and mist, fungus, dirt etc must look a little different when you view the RF from the front no?
Thanks for any help.
Josh.
I know this has been covered many times but with all the various links etc finding GOOD information is hard *or should I say, knowing what to listen to and what not to is difficult, there is a lot of different opinions out there.
On my M3 the second image (the one that moves) is very faint. I understand that people tend to think this is de-silvering of the mirror etc etc, but all the info I find from dedicated repair websites make it sound as though de-silvering will cause the image to black out not become weaker. The frame lines are nice and bright, as is the non-moving RF patch.
Now, I came across this in a post
The M3 rangefinder has numerous prisms, only one of which is a beam-splitter composed of two prisms cemented together. The silvered surfaces are cemented against one another, do not and cannot fade or oxidise. If these prisms become separated the viewfinder will go black save for the rangefinder rectangle itself. A dim secondary image in an M3 is the result of dirt and haze accumulation on the surfaces of the optics and will almost always respond to a proper cleaning. The Barnack Leicas do indeed have a beam-splitting mirror whose silvered surface can fade. It is a relatively inexpensive item to have replaced.
I am a little confused as it seems that online people talk about de-silvering and that it makes the RF patch dim, now in my understanding, dim would describe the patch as going dark rather than being faint. Would that be correct?
When I hold the M3 up to the light (shining the light through from the eyepiece) and look through the small RF window from the front it is nice and yellow (this is good I understand) but the yellow seems to have some sort of mist on a window/snow flake look all over it, this is quite uniform across the entire yellow piece.
I know the best thing to do is send it in for a repair, but currently that would mean I have to send the camera out of the country so I was hoping that through the knowledge here I could educate myself a little further first. De-silvering and mist, fungus, dirt etc must look a little different when you view the RF from the front no?
Thanks for any help.
Josh.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
Whatever it is, you are going to have to have it repaired.
Vics
Veteran
I'll watch this with interest. My M3 has that same problem.
JMshooter
Newbie
When you look through the small RF window (with light behind) does it look the way I describe?
daniel_aj7
Member
From the quote u gave it sounds like the problem is haze. Either way you should send the camera for servicing. Your technician would then tell you what's wrong with it. Haze or de-silvering, neither are issues u can fix yourself.
Platinum RF
Well-known
Most dim M3 focus patch can be cleaned and back to normal, however, some dim patch is due to silver coating oxidized has to be re-coated (the prism reflect patch light at the smallest window).
