She's dead Jim. (R3M meter no longer lights up)

travis forsyth

Confused Canadian
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Mar 5, 2011
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I recently got my CV Bessa R3M and it's been working wonders up until this afternoon while shooting the LED readout for the light meter quit working on me. I thought "Okay, probably the batteries I'll just meter with the iphone until I can slap some fresh ones in it" and that worked all fine and dandy to finish off the day. Now that I got home with a fresh set for it I swapped out the batteries and there is still no red blinky numbers for me to see.

What may be the problem? Is it possibly something I could fix with a steady hand since it was purchased used from Leica Boutique I don't know if there is any warranty on it.

Any sort of feedback would be greatly appreciated. I love this rangefinder to death (maybe too much love killed it :p ) and I am just not so content with shooting with only my iphone to meter.

Cheers,
Travis

Edit Super Mega Awesome Update: Problem solved, I'm a slow individual. It helps if I put the fresh batteries in the camera... and not just the old ones over and over.
 
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This is a super example of why I might have enjoyed the R3M instead of the R3a. As much as I like to have a built in meter as well as being able to shoot in AE mode, mechanical cameras just give you that extra life support you need when out on a shoot and the batteries die; plus you forgot to carry spares. This is also why I regret not buying that Nikon FM3a way back :bang:
 
Wrong way Up

Wrong way Up

Once I put the batteries in wrong way????? But that was a BessaR.
Yup! Had been wondering why my Bessa R had no meter. Replaced the old batteries, Nada, kaput! Checked an old manual, , rechecked the type, gave up. Then then this morning i saw this thread! All is right with the world -for now. My meter lives again!
 
Seems she's just picky.

I offered her another batch of batteries, and now she seems all fine and dandy again!
 
I'd suggest always use SR44 batteries, not LR44, and check the contacts are clean too.
As for the original post - might be a repair job. If it's electronic (and the "A" models have a circuit board - I think it's under the top cover) you'd be unwise to mess with it. Just get a new board fitted.
 
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