M4 Not Happy with Humidity

[ktmrider]

I just returned from two weeks in Belize with the M4. Before leaving I went through the agony of which gear and wanted to keep it simple so I put the 50 on the camera and away I went. Well, at the last minute I threw the 15 in the bag as well. And it turns out about 75 percent of my photos were taken with it, especially at Tikal. I will post some when the film comes back (trying Ektar100 for the first time).

Now I don't know this for certain but I don't think the M4 was real happy with the humidity in the rain forest. About two thirds of the way through the trip, I discover that about half of the vulcanite on the film loading door had departed (not bad actually for a 40 year old camera). I want to get it repaired and was wondering what forum member suggest. I am thinking about the camera restoration in Austin. They will do a rear door for $30/40 or I can have the chrome body repainted black for $350. Comments?

And I am leaving next week on a month motorcycle trip to the Pacific NW so this is a perfect time to get the M4 repaired. Will be using my other favorite, a Nikon F with either 24/105 or the 55 MicroNikkor.

 

[colyn]

Why not get a kit to re-leather the whole camera from cameraleather.com?

 

[Beemermark]

Vulcanite peeling is pretty common on models prior to the M5. I recovered mine with a kit from cameraleather.com and loved it. However it is a very nasty job. You can't believe how hard it is to remove vulcanite. However cameraleather gives good directions and no special skill is needed (I can say that because I'm a Klutz).

As far as humidity is concerned I live next to the ocean and have never experienced a problem with any of my Liecas in 30 years. I do take reasonable care to dry them out. Still if you haven't had the camera serviced a good CLA will do it wonders. While I can't make promises for Ye Youxin he's never required more than a couple of weeks to do the job (unlike most repair people that can take months or more).

 

[35mmdelux]

good question but I think its more of a personal decision. I'm biased towards BP.

 

[ktmrider]

Well, the camera had a CLA about 3 years ago and probably does not need another. I figure I will ship it to Cameraleather next week and let them play with the vulcanite. Now I just have to figure out which cover to get. I am not sure I am into all the crazy colors.

I did not mean to imply that Leica M's have problems with humidity. I have been using them off and on since 1976 all over the world including lots of time in the tropics and two years aboard an aircraft carrier. I am sure it was just coincidence that the vulcanite peeled during my recent trip to Belize.

And I just got back some photos on Ektar 100. WOW!

 

[payasam]

Coincidence. Or maybe the humidity finally made age 40 show itself. Cameraleather provide something called Griptac, which users have been raving about. If you want to do the job yourself or to give it to Youxin Ye, you might consider an Aki Asahi "skin".

Ah, wish I was still a motorcyclist.

 

[ktmrider]

M4 Gone and Thanks

M4 Gone and Thanks

Thanks for the input. The M4 got shipped to Cameraleather today for the Griptec covering.

Now I will be forced to use my Nikon F for the NW. Drat! Actually, I am just kidding about the Nikon vs Leica. I paid my way through IU as a photojournalist using an F because we poor students could not afford Leica gear. It is my favorite SLR.

 

[E.M]

It's also my favourite slr, bought a new black meterless F in 1974 and a few months later it was stolen from the house. Still regret it, luckily still have my F2 and a pair of M6TTL.

http://www.etiennemichiels.com