Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/10/09
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 02:52 PM 10/8/96 -0600, you wrote: >Marc, > >You are absolutely right about the rangefinder yellowing, coming from >deterioration of the cement. The M-3 has a beamsplitter that is a split cube >and cemented to the front is a minus lens and on the side there is another plus >lens cemented there. Since these early rangefinders were cemented with >balsam, they have a tendency (with age) to crystalize,giving a yellowish hue. >Since there are three different cemented surfaces this can really affect the light >transmission. Is this problem repairable at a reasonable cost, or does it entail replacing the entire rangefinder unit? I have an early M3 that is in great shape and a pleasure to use with the exception of a "yellowed" and mottled rangefinder image with a resulting loss of contrast. It would be nice to have it repaired, if it could be done without mortgaging my house. Regarding an earlier thread, I do not find a DS a problem although once in a great while I do not completely cock the shutter. As far as the reliability of early M3s (those with serial numbers well under one million) all I can say is that mine is about 40 years old and with the exception of the rangefinder, it works beautifully and is silky smooth. Would that I had held up as well over the last 40 years. Steve Stephen J. Kobrin Tel. (215) 898-7732 212 Lauder Fischer Hall Fax. (215) 898-2067 The University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA 19104--6330