M8 problem? Need help!

[ramosa]

All:

I think my M8 has a problem.

I am attaching a series of photos. As you can see, there is a white streak along the bottom (especially toward the right size) when shooting with lighter background, but a black one when shooting with a darker background. And it’s worse when I shoot wide open than when stopped down.

Do you know what the problem is? (I am fearing a problem with the sensor or shutter.) Is this a DAG repair or a Leica repair?

Thanks for any input you can provide.

Chris

 

[ramosa]

My first M8 problem after more than four years ...

 

[Particular]

The M8 has a vertical traveling shutter, I think that is where your problem is. My brother had his 1Ds shutter bomb out on him, and the images looked the same. Probably the shutter blades are not traveling the full distance, or sticking a bit.
Have you inspected the shutter? Does anything look unusual, or misaligned?

 

[Rob-F]

Worse wide open than stopped down: therefore possibly worse at higher shutter speeds. The shutter blades might be moving too slowly. That would be less evident at the lower speeds. Sounds like it needs service.

 

[ramosa]

Thanks so much. When I look at the shutter, it does seem somewhat "askance," with the white stripe not being perfectly parallel.

 

[ramosa]

Does this seem like a Leica repair or a DAG repair?

 

[ramosa]

You guys are good. Just got an email from DAG. He thinks it's a shutter problem ( of course, not good news) and suspects it is altered by shutter speed. He says it's a Leica fix ...

Where should I send it? NJ? Or is there a reason to send fit to Solms?

 

[Particular]

Thanks so much. When I look at the shutter, it does seem somewhat "askance," with the white stripe not being perfectly parallel.

It is probably best not to fire it again in case you make it worse.
In my brothers case he was out on a job, and he wanted to keep shooting. He noticed the problem but figured that he would just crop the black edges out. Then one of the blades kind of mangled and he ripped it out by hand. He could keep firing, but besides needing a new shutter it turned out that he had scratched the sensor with the broken blade, so that needed replacing too.

 

[Particular]

Does this seem like a Leica repair or a DAG repair?

or diy:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leica-M8-Shutter-Mechanism-shutter-speed-dial-1-8000-/170809167865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27c5050ff9#ht_4110wt_1248

 

[semordnilap]

I'd just call NJ in the morning–I'm sure they can fix it there. I don't know how quick the service is now, but usually once they have it they will give you an accurate turnaround time.

Sorry to hear it, anyway!

 

[ramosa]

Great thanks everyone. I have benefited so many times from folks on RFF? Today: once again.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The whitish strip that the meter reads off of is supposed to be just a little bit tilted, don't worry about that.
As for your issue, it looks like one of the blades isn't even moving or has "fallen" during the cycle.
Send it to Leica NJ. Also let us know how much this is going to cost. Now that all the M8 bodies are out of warranty period it would be good to collect a list of out-of-pocket expenses for repair.
Good luck.

Phil Forrest

 

[ramosa]

Update. I sent my M8 off to Leica NJ. They then asked me to email problem photos to them. A day later, they informed me that they need to replace the shutter, which will cost $475, including a one-year warranty on the camera. I definitely feared a higher cost. If the M10 materializes, I had already been planning to get it and sell my M8. Having a new shutter and active Leica warranty would only help with that sale.