Leica LTM When your Barnack does this . . .

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Timmyjoe

Timmyjoe

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Capping.jpg


You want to scream.

But, I need to use the camera, so no screaming right now, how do I fix this? Camera just had a CLA by a technician that I'm certainly not sending the camera back to (also had the rangefinder way out of adjustment, which I already fixed).

I'd normally send it to Don Goldberg but he's really swamped and wouldn't get to it for a number of weeks/months, and I need to use the camera this weekend.

Happens at the fast speeds, 1/1000, 1/500, 1/200. Does this look like the first curtain is not moving fast enough, or that the second curtain is moving too fast?

Thanks for any and all input.

Best,
-Tim
 
I've had this and it is a failure of the accelerating shutter that Leica has. There is an easy cure but you will waste a lot of film to adjusted it. Send it out to a competent repair man that has the ability (and equipment) to adjust this problem and not cause shutter bounce problems.


As you said you had a CLA but by the wrong person.
 
Tim.
I feel for you, as this is one of the most aggravating things a focal plane shutter can do. However, there is no real fix except for cleaning out dried out lube, relubing, and readjusting the shutter spring tensions. Merely tightening up the shutter springs is a quick cheap fix that doesn't really get at the underlying cause. It may work today, but one day you'll have it dialed up so tight that your shutter curtain tapes will break.

You could try calling Don and explaining your situation to him. He may be able to rush it through for you. I'm patient. I'll wait. I've only waited 6 months, so a few more days won't matter to me.
 
It looks as if the shutter brake needs to be backed off a little bit.

Cheers,
Dez
 
It's called "capping," which is when one shutter curtain overtakes the other. The giveaway is that its is most noticeable at fast speeds. You can fix yourself by adjusting shutter tension of one or both curtains. If you're not up to that, send the camera to a qualified repair tech. Or, as Crazy Fedya suggests, use slow film and slow speeds.

Jim B.
 
Do you have an iPhone? If you slide a piece of white paper where the film goes and use the iPhone slo-mo video feature you can make a video of the curtains as they close while tripping the shutter. During playback, pause the video and use your index finger to advance the video frame by frame. Somewhere in the video you should see 4-5 frames of the curtains as they close. The frames are not super sharp, but you will be able to make out the size of the opening. Make tiny adjustments to the curtain tension and take another short video. Repeat this until the shutter opening is consistent. This is a quick fix, so definitely get a proper service when you have the time.
Good luck!
 
I've sent my IIIc to Youxin Ye for shutter repairs. He's fast, reasonable, and has a quick turnaround.
 
Use the right half of the frame and say "Hey, I've got a half frame Leica"

Sorry, couldn't resist. It does seem the only time a camera fouls up is right before you 'absolutely positively need to use it next week'.
At least that's how it always happens to me.
Sounds like the only DIY fix is adjusting the curtain tension but I'd first take off the lens, set it on 'B' and use a air bulb to puff around the edges of the film frame to blow out any film chips that may be lurking there. It's a long shot but free and does not take much time.
 
Looking thru the back of the camera, pointed at a light source, and using a 400fps Nikon 1 camera, I can see the opening between the shutter curtains, when the shutter first starts it's travel from the right side (looking at the camera from the rear), the slit of the shutter opening is narrower, and slowly opens up as the shutter curtains travel across the film plane.

To fix this, I need to do what? Increase tension on first curtain? Decrease tension on second curtain? None of the above?

Thanks.

Best,
-Tim
 
I would increase second curtain tension in slight increments (no more than a ¼ turn) and check the opening after each adjustment.

A Barnack with removable back? Is it a Tower/Nicca?
 
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