Titanium Shutter for Leica M

[splitimageview]

A pic of my M5 in progress, at cameraworks-uk.com. Titanium shutter curtains installed!

 

[WJJ3]

Interesting! I wonder how much added strain is put on tensions and brake for this to work?

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Did a Nikon F or SP give its life for this? I recognize that pattern from somewhere, just can’t remember whose titanium shutter that material is from. Maybe it’s available in bulk somewhere.

 

[splitimageview]

It was from a donor F2, that already had given up the ghost and was only good for parts. An SP is worth too much for this.

Interestingly, the toast F2 was far cheaper than buying new cloth curtains...

I don’t think the mechanism is strained further than when using cloth curtains.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

Interestingly, the toast F2 was far cheaper than buying new cloth curtains...
.

F2’s are seriously undervalued.

 

[splitimageview]

and it being a trashed, non-working parts camera...

Any M needing curtains should consider this option as the titanium curtains were nearly free, although I’m only aware of the one service firm that currently offers this.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

How long is the waiting time?

 

[mooge]

Yeah, funny that nobody else does this I guess - the Nikon F at least (and F2?) has the big main shutter drum like the Leicas do which I would guess means that the curtains are pretty much the right length.


Makes me wonder if people at Leica ever seriously considered putting Ti curtains in any of the film cameras. But perhaps because it's a camera that's sold OK despite not being mechanically improved since... 1954... they couldn't really bother...

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

It is said that many SP users preferred the rubberized silk as it was quieter than the Titanium when NIKON switched in 1959. I like the sound of the cloth shutter in my SP. it’s serial number is within 500 of the first titanium shutter models. It’s a lot quieter than any of my Nikon F cameras with the mirrors locked up

 

[hwntw]

M5 Cameraworks

M5 Cameraworks

I thought they were not doing M5 or CL repairs? I was very disappointed when I saw that announcement on their web site. I have both and while both are working, they could do with a service

 

[splitimageview]

How long is the waiting time?

Pretty much all the techs that do specialized work have long lead times now... 🙁

It is said that many SP users preferred the rubberized silk as it was quieter than the Titanium when NIKON switched in 1959. I like the sound of the cloth shutter in my SP. it’s serial number is within 500 of the first titanium shutter models. It’s a lot quieter than any of my Nikon F cameras with the mirrors locked up

I'm curious to hear the M5 shutter in action...

I thought they were not doing M5 or CL repairs? I was very disappointed when I saw that announcement on their web site. I have both and while both are working, they could do with a service

Apparently mine got in under the wire...

 

[css9450]

In the photo, what is the material at the top and bottom of both shutter drums? It reminds me of the Contax shutter ribbon, although obviously horizontal instead of vertical.

 

[splitimageview]

 

[WJJ3]

It is said that many SP users preferred the rubberized silk as it was quieter than the Titanium when NIKON switched in 1959. I like the sound of the cloth shutter in my SP. it’s serial number is within 500 of the first titanium shutter models. It’s a lot quieter than any of my Nikon F cameras with the mirrors locked up

Aperture actuator probably making a fair bit of noise even with MLU...

 

[Livesteamer]

A year or two ago wasn't there a member here who posted about putting titanium curtains in a IIIc? I think he did it himself, a level of skill beyond me. Actually I'd like the whole Nikon F shutter in a Leica M6, my impression from years of use is that the Nikon F shutter is more robust and needs less service than the Leica shutter. Joe

 

[james.liam]

The Nikon FM also has a titanium shutter, IIRC.

 

[css9450]

The Nikon FM also has a titanium shutter, IIRC.

It travels vertically, though; probably not able to use it on a Leica.

 

[markjwyatt]

Congratualtions! Bringing the Leica up to the Contax standard. 😉

 

[splitimageview]

😀

The contax shutter is an aluminum alloy, right? As opposed to titanium...maybe this brings the M5 up to F2 standard. 🙂

 

[css9450]

...maybe this brings the M5 up to F2 standard.

The F2s ugly stepsister, perhaps.