My Leica IIIc just BROKE!

A

Ash

Selflessly Self-involved
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ARRRRRGGHHHHH!!!!

Sods law slaps me in the face again!

I don't know how I did it, I picked it up, and my clumsy fingers fell on the slowspeed dial, so I moved it back into place. I wound on, fired the shutter.

CLAP.

ok....

fire ever speed

CLAP
CLAP
CLAP
(etc)


Fire B... CLAP


The whole camera fires on one speed... what have I done?!?! :eek:


I know it's destined for CRR treatment soon, but I really don't have £170, and something tells me it'll cost me MORE now that the shutter is no longer working right!

Is there a fix for this?
As in, set to a certain shutter config and fire 32 times facing toward a full moon or something???
 
In the absence of any sensible knowledge, might I suggest turning it off and then back on again? Or may be turning it off, leaving it for a bit and then turning it back on?

Oh well, tough luck - hope it's a quick fix.
 
Sounds like time for a shutter overhaul. Send it to Sherry or Don and see what they can do for you. The camera is how many decades old? Sometimes things just break. Not to worry though, as long as it hasn't been crushed under a train, it will be soon put to rights in the hands of a good repair person.

Good luck!

Ben Marks
 
Ben, the cost of sending to the USA + return + import duties/tax for it to be insured at the correct amount and THEN the CLA on top, will cause it to cost more than waiting and sending it to CRR.
 
Ash, I'm not really knowledgable on Barnacks, but I believe the slow speed escapement is accesible from the bottom of the camera without any real disassembly. I'm pretty sure the whole assembly is sort of user friendly to remove. Maybe something down there just became out of place? Stu
 
Try setting both the slow speed and high speed dials to 1/30th and fire it a couple of times then set to 1/4th and see if it works.
 
Ash

Colyn is correct but you also need to remove the lens and watch the shutter blinds on wind and release.

I've forgotten what the common speed on both dials on my IIIc is but that speed may reset the gear trains.

The gears should make the magic leica sould at the next slower speed.

Ive been lucky my IIIC seems to be bullett proof the Fed and Zorkis die like flies OD on DDT.

Noel
 
That's really confusing, I checked over the camera, and noted the advance/rewind lever was slightly off as well. I moved it fully to A, and now the shutter speeds appear correct??

I'm more confused than ever, but at least the problem seems sorted! Thanks for the help everyone
 
No need for confusion-if the Advance/Rewind selector is slightly moved towards "R", the shutter will release without timing and will make a loud noise. Just another lovable quality built right in.
 
I even have the manual for it somewhere but it never mentioned that...

Is there a list of features anywhere so I can make sure I don't wind myself up again? :)
 
:) Sounds like the time my bessa L wouldn't fire... It was working perfectly one minute & then the shutter release just froze up on me ;) Too many minutes passed before I worked that one out...

Peter
 
Peter, the bessa is practically a Cosi CT-1 isn't it?

Lauren managed to jam hers within minutes. We had to cycle through all the shutter speeds and options before it un-jammed itself.
 
I think all the Cosina cameras with Copal shutters are pretty much the same... You have to be careful using the slower speeds because pressing the shutter release while the shutter is still open is a sure way to jam up the works.

My problem was stupidity as I forgot about the shutter lock... it is activated when the winding lever is pushed completely back to what would normally be the 'shooting' position.

Peter
 
I shoot much of my work with a very reliable and trusty IIIc. You had me agonizing over your dilemma as I followed this thread. I am very relieved to know that it was a quick fix and that your camera is back to working shape.

Sometimes, some of the stuff on this forum is better than TV.

Tuna
 
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