M9 shutter clicking... argh

[hteasley]

My youngest has a friend over, and when they went outside to play in the yard, I thought I'd take some pictures.

Took two or three shots with the M9, and then the shutter started clicking repeatedly. Sounds like it's in continuous shot mode, running the motor and clicking the shutter. Turning the camera off does nothing, I have to remove the battery to get it to stop. Replacing the battery and turning the camera on fixed it maybe every third try: most times it would start up with the shutter clicking immediately after turning it on. The times it didn't, the shutter clicking started after taking one shot.

Removing the lens shows the shutter is just clicking in place, moving only a tiny bit: it's not fully cocking and opening, it's just flicking in place a bit.

Is this a known problem? I guess this means a trip to NJ or Solms for my M9... I'm bummed.

 

[Vickko]

I had something similar on my M8. Battery out and full drain "fixed" it.

But just be glad of the warranty and send it in. Not worth losing sleep over.

Vick

 

[sepiareverb]

Leica NJ just turned around some minor warranty work on an M9 for me VERY quickly. Shockingly quickly in fact. Nine days from when I sent it I had it back. The last time I sent them a camera it was gone nearly four months.

 

[jaapv]

It is probably a rather minor repair. The shutter is controlled by two nylon "fingers" and one may be sticking.

 

[hteasley]

So for the past 24 hours, it has behaved itself. No weird shutter clicking at all. Wondering whether I need to send it off or not.

 

[newsgrunt]

yes, send it away.

 

[hteasley]

yes, send it away.

Damned prudent voice of reason... yeah.

 

[Richard G]

There only seem to be good stories of sending M9s for service. It must have been here that a travelling couple form NZ told the tale of the damaged card reader. In Sydney their camera was sent to the repair centre in Melbourne, and the Sydney dealer lent them an M9, which, if their camera was not back in Sydney by the Friday, they could take on to Melbourne and post it back. Their camera got to Sydney by the Friday anyway. They must have a fast track to keep the pros happy and anyone else. I hope so anyway.

 

[mynikonf2]

...you ought to get something for all the money they charge for their cameras & glass!! 😎