Trying to explain the dent on my Top Plate

taffy

taffy

Well-known
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Dec 13, 2004
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I recently noticed a big dent on the top plate of my M4-2. I never really noticed it because I keep my VC meter on at all times.

The only time I had taken it off is when I sent in my camera for RF alignment in HK. I left the camera at the guy's store and took the VC meter with me while he aligned it. When I picked up the camera I didn't bother to check the top plate, I only checked to see if the RF was aligned.

Yesterday I decided to look at my camera up close and I removed the meter (maybe to simultate what it would feel like to shoot with an M6!) and that's when I found the dent. It's over in inch long and is located to the left of the Leitz name, a space usually covered by the left side of the VC meter.


Some questions:
1. Think its possible that the guy who aligned it could have mishadled it and dented it? (i also found a the screwhead of the top plate to have more dents that when I first bought it)

2. Is it possible to replace the top plate? Through Dave Elwell or Sherry or DAG?

3. Does it dent that easily? This is my first Leica and I was under the impression this was really tough. Maybe my expectations were unreasonable.

I would rather not disclose the name of the guy who repained the camera since it might not be due to him afterall and I don't want to ruin the good reputation he has built.

The damage is done now and I will have to live with it. I know I should be happy that the dent doesn't affect the camera's performance whatsoever and it can probably take a worse beating and still be extremely reliable. It would help though to get some leads as to how this happened.

Thanks, everyone.

Taffy
Manila, Philippines
 
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Sorry to hear about your M4-2... Imust say that I think that you have chosen the right thing regards nameing the guy that did the work. As for the dent it would all depend on how sharp/creased the brass is. If you are lucky it may be flattened successfully by removing the top plate and gently forcing it back into shape from the inside. If you post some Pics we might be able to tell more definately. There is a chap that sells a lot of Leica parts including top plates on e-bay but the ones for the M4-2 that I have seen are all brass with no Blkchrome or
paint, so you'd have to have it painted or chromed.....M Leicas prior to the M6 and the MP were Brass thus quite easy to Ding....
Hope that was comprehendable..
Mike.
 
Hi Mike!

Sorry for the late reply. I was out of town and I didn't have a digital camera to take photos of my M with. Attached are some photos of the dent. Because I've never seen dents, I'm not sure how severe these are.

Thanks for the offer to help. Do let me know what you think.

Taffy

PS
Think these dents could have happened during that repair?
 
Taffy,

Do the ends of the dent match up with the width of the VC meter? It looks like maybe you bumped the front end of the meter downwards into the camera's top plate?
 
You know what, I'll check that out tonight. That could be the case.

Would you guys know if I can have this dent repaired?

Thanks for the replies. I'll keep you posted.

Taffy
 
it's from the meter.

there are many canon p cams out there with a similar dent from the p meter.

leave it there as it adds character.
my 2 cents...
joe
 
in years past i heard one could get a "new" top plate complete with the original serial number engraving. the figure i heard was about $400. don't know if that is true any longer...
but if the meter did the dent, what does it say about the meter? did it show any damage?
 
backalley photo said:
it's from the meter.

there are many canon p cams out there with a similar dent from the p meter.

leave it there as it adds character.
my 2 cents...
joe
Click to expand...

Hi Joe! looks like it did come from the meter. The meter shows no dent, crack or anything. I think it happened when i pulled a fast stop while driving and the camera slid off the back seat into the floor. The meter must've hit the floor first. :bang:

I agree that now I won't have to baby it so much that its already dented but I feel a little bad just the same . Oh well.

Anyone know if I can have this repaired? A replacement seems too expensive. But I'm willing to just leave it there if it'll cost too much. :D
 
Taffy,
IMHO that ding/dent looks to be quite "Soft"..
I would be very surprised if it could not be "Pushed/Gently Hammered(Rubber)"
back ito shape from behind.
The brass tops are pritty soft and as the crease seems
to be quite gentle it should flatten out wuite nicely.
If It was mine I'd actually feel quite confident in doing it myself.
You have to make sure that it is done slowly and gently otherwise you
could cause the crome to come away from the brass like a boil/air pocket.
which would flakeoff in time
If you have never taken a top off before I would recommend reading
up on it before you tackle it.
During removal/replacement you have to be carefull with the
Rangefinder alignment and the viewfinder screens.
Mike.
 
You are lucky that the serial number is on the hot shoe if you have to change the top, as the price for repair goes sky-high if Leica has to do some engraving. You could even try to find a used part for instance from a drowned camera.
 
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FYI, A couple of tops that I have.
As the M4-2 has the SN# on the Hot shoe/accesiory finder shoe
It would be easy to replace without worrying about having the
SN reingraved.
These and a few others I sourced from the bay and they cost $50-100
You could fit the M4-P top to the M4-2.
Mike.
 
Pherdinand said:
Do you intend to sell it? If not, i would leave it like this.
Click to expand...

Very valid point.

I only worry becuase later on, i think i will want the convenience of in-camera metering in the M6 so I might decide to sell later on . Thanks for the tip though!
 
mtokue said:
FYI, A couple of tops that I have.
As the M4-2 has the SN# on the Hot shoe/accesiory finder shoe
It would be easy to replace without worrying about having the
SN reingraved.
These and a few others I sourced from the bay and they cost $50-100
You could fit the M4-P top to the M4-2.
Mike.
Click to expand...

Just wondering, mike, these things I'll have to paint myself or can i send these along with the body to someone who does CLA's and have them do it? Do they perform such service?

thanks!

taffy
 
mtokue said:
Taffy,
IMHO that ding/dent looks to be quite "Soft"..
I would be very surprised if it could not be "Pushed/Gently Hammered(Rubber)"
back ito shape from behind.
The brass tops are pritty soft and as the crease seems
to be quite gentle it should flatten out wuite nicely.
If It was mine I'd actually feel quite confident in doing it myself.
You have to make sure that it is done slowly and gently otherwise you
could cause the crome to come away from the brass like a boil/air pocket.
which would flakeoff in time
If you have never taken a top off before I would recommend reading
up on it before you tackle it.
During removal/replacement you have to be carefull with the
Rangefinder alignment and the viewfinder screens.
Mike.
Click to expand...

mike, i've never opened my camera but it looks exciting. could you point me to any literature available online if you know of some. In the meantime I'll try photo.net

thanks for the advice. I think i understand what you mean when you say that i could accidentally create an air pocket or a boil if I go too hard. I will have to try something out first to see how hard/soft I have to on brass before doing it to my camera.
 
I will see if I can find any web resources to taking the top off a M, Perhaps another member can suggest such a site?. I believe there are some people that would be able to have tops painted, There are People who specialise in painting / repainting, but they usually charge a fair whack for doing the job. ($400+) but I have painted theses before, a lot of practice from my modelmaking days!. I would look into the possibility of having the ding taken out with a CLA.
Mike.
 
leave it for now and then have it fixed, cla'd before you sell.
this way if more join it you can have all the work done at once (cheaper) and have it primed for a sale.

joe
 
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