[Leica] M4 tech info (was Leicameter)

["4season" <4season@boulder.net>]

- -----Original Message-----
From: V8PWR@aol.com <V8PWR@aol.com>
>Has anyone heard about technical documentations about Leica M Cameras ? I'm
>interested into the basic maintenance such as shutter speed adjustment and
>range adjustment . Thank you .

Perhaps Ed Romney has written something on the subject: He's on the web and
has email.  If you ask around on REC.PHOTO.EQUIPMENT.35MM, chances are,
you'll find him, or someone who can point the way.

Leica's own M4 service manual does not contain much of the info you are
seeking, being primarily a guide to the proper disassembly and lubrication
of the cameras. In the '70s, Larry Leyells produced a great service manual
for the IIIf for National Camera. I don't know if he ever did manuals on the
M-series, but Mr. Lyells is still writing for Curt Fargo's
(curt@fargo-ent.com) New Camera Craftsman.

Thomas Tomosy's Camera Repair And Maintenance books are the only books of
their type I've seen widely distributed. Vol 1 has little Leica-specific
information, but is a goldmine of general servicing info. I do not have Vol
2 onhand. You should be able to obtain these books through www.amazon.com
and other sources.

For what it's worth, I did some camera repairs as a hobby for awhile, but
found that even a basic CLA job can be very time consuming, particularly if
it's your first one, and you're being extra-careful. In the end, I decided
to devote my energies instead to photographing! Nevertheless, I'm glad I
learned a lot of the technical bits.

Jeff