Re: [Leica] Problem or Normal?

[Gilbert Plantinga <gilplant@earthlink.net>]

Thanks Walt,

I knew about the "shifting" of the geartrain, but I was baffled that the
little click didn't always happen between the same speeds - sometimes at
1/8, sometimes at 1/2. Now it also makes sense that the click never happens
if the camera is wound, shutter cocked.

Gilbert


on 10/24/00 9:19 AM, Walter S Delesandri at walt@jove.acs.unt.edu wrote:

> It's not "normal", but it's very common, and probably a non-issue....
> as you turn the knob from high to low speeds, the low speed cam follower
> moves the geartrain into engagement (speeds below 1/125, if I recall--it's
> been a few years since I've had one that far apart)....sometimes, on
> most of the M-bodies I've owned, the gear train hesitates a tiny bit before
> "falling" into engagement....hence the "tap" you hear after turning to
> a lower speed.
> 
> Ironically, if the geartrain DOESN"T fall into place, it seems to always
> make it into the right position with the release of the shutter!!!...I've
> never had one that failed to engage WHEN ACTUALLY making the exposure...
> usually, I hear the little "tap" immediately after going to slower speeds,
> as you describe....
> 
> It's a Leica quirk....they're wierd cameras...but not anything to get
> upset about....there are lots of things I'd change about the cameras (for
> example, the pallet wheel doesn't dis-engage at the end of long exposures...
> why not?....the screwmounts did, as did all the Nikon clones (the
> "traditional" 
> Nikon shutter, up to the F2, was almost exactly the same as a Leica SM, and
> was evolved to a very high degree indeed--as were the Canon RFs, but not
> the SLRS)
> 
> If you ever DON'T get the slow speeds when set, then have it serviced...but
> I doubt it'll ever happen....
> 
> Good luck with your new camera,
> Walt