M6 -Is this normal - please help!

J

jjanek

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I´ve got strange feeling about shutter in my Leica M6 - it is with long times only. After firing e.g. 1/2 of seconds, I can hear whirling sounds (quiet "bzz") from inside for cca. 3 seconds. If I do not wait and cock the shutter before these sounds end, it can happen that next shutter release will not definitely sound like 1/2 of second, but more like 1/30 or so. Is it normal - do curtains after slow times really need so much time to "refresh" or something is wrong?
Thanks for answers
Janek
 
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Hmm, just tested mine and, yes, there is a bzz type sound after the 0.5 second shutter trips. I presume that it is the release of a spring mechanism of some sort (My M3 makes a similar sound too.) - I'm sure someone here will have a more technical explanation ;-)

What I am not so sure about is the second firing scenario you mention above - the shutter is primed each time it wound to fire for the amount of time set - I've just tested mine and however quickly after the first shot I take a second they all appear to be the same length.

I guess your options are to get it checked out and take it for a CLA - or to ask yourself how much you use the slow speed and is it going to be an issue for you?

Cheers

Phill
 
Mine does that too. I'm never in such a hurry to wind the film that I can't wait for the buzzing to stop.
 
One more question please. For me this is definitely not a problem. But I´m gonna sell the camera - is this the reason to lower the price? I would like to be fair with buyer (I think camera is now priced reasonably around 1000 dollars - user condition, but not beater or something).
Thanks everybody so far and be patient with me please :p.
cheers
Janek
 
I feel lot better now :D. But maybe one more thing I am not sure - the sound is normal, but is it normal that it lasts relatively long time (for 1 second exposure it is about 3 sec.) and is not one continuous "bzz", but more likely 3 or 4 shorter (bz bz bz ;))? Also is it o.k. that I have to wait until it stops before I cock the shutter again, otherwise I can get uncorrect (shorter) shutter time?
Thanks
Janek
 
jjanek said:
I feel lot better now :D. But maybe one more thing I am not sure - the sound is normal, but is it normal that it lasts relatively long time (for 1 second exposure it is about 3 sec.) and is not one continuous "bzz", but more likely 3 or 4 shorter (bz bz bz ;))? Also is it o.k. that I have to wait until it stops before I cock the shutter again, otherwise I can get uncorrect (shorter) shutter time?
Thanks
Janek
Click to expand...

3 seconds does not sound normal to me- mine buzzes in a continuous bzz, not shorter spurts.
 
jjanek said:
I feel lot better now :D. But maybe one more thing I am not sure - the sound is normal, but is it normal that it lasts relatively long time (for 1 second exposure it is about 3 sec.) and is not one continuous "bzz", but more likely 3 or 4 shorter (bz bz bz ;))? Also is it o.k. that I have to wait until it stops before I cock the shutter again, otherwise I can get uncorrect (shorter) shutter time?
Thanks
Janek
Click to expand...

I may be wrong but it seems that the escapement mechanism needs to be cleaned.
Rob.
 
It is not normal but there is nothing to worry about:)

There is one part in the shutter mechanism which is worn out causing the bzz sound. It is the lever which is locking the timer in longer shutter speeds. When the lever is worn out it is coming back after releasing the shutter (lever is used only in longer speeds) instead of staying in the position after being fired and waiting for another pull. That is where from the bzz sound comes.
The lever is same in all mechanical Ms shutters, with only slight differences in very small neglectable details.
The most probable reason why the lever is worn out is that the camera was left for long time with pulled unfired shutter.
But my repairman said that this way the shutter will last 50 and not 100 years so there is no reason for panic:) And it does not have any influence on shutter speeds (once when they are set correctly within the tolerances).

I have somewhere picture of this particular part, will try to find it and post it.


jjanek said:
I´ve got strange feeling about shutter in my Leica M6 - it is with long times only. After firing e.g. 1/2 of seconds, I can hear whirling sounds (quiet "bzz") from inside for cca. 3 seconds. If I do not wait and cock the shutter before these sounds end, it can happen that next shutter release will not definitely sound like 1/2 of second, but more like 1/30 or so. Is it normal - do curtains after slow times really need so much time to "refresh" or something is wrong?
Thanks for answers
Janek
Click to expand...
 
If you're going to sell it either have a CLA done or disclose the problem to the buyer.
There's a slow speed escapement in the bottom of the camera and you should hear a constant bzzz after an exposure. If it's interrupted the escapement need to be lubricated, the interruption is the escapement stopping momentarily and restarting or continuing the rewind.
The reason you were getting short sounding exposures when making them quickly is the escapement didn't have time to rewind and engage to delay the next exposure. Nothing is worn out, just dry.
 
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