While cleaning my 1995 M6 today I noticed that on the hinged flap on the back of the camera one of the tiny round, slightly raised plastic things that are glued in each upper corner near the hinge has vanished.

Is this a common occurence and does anyone know where I can get another one to glue back in? It is not that noticeable but it is noticeable and bugs me slightly.

Frankly I don't even know why the things are there to start with.

-- terry ashton (mahv@xtra.co.nz), October 27, 2000

Answers

When I read your post I was not sure what you were talking about, so I got my M6... and what do you know? It is missing the right one! You must be very observant, I would never have seen it if you didn't ask. I just shot 10 rolls of 400 ISO film in bright sun for several hours last Saturday, and there was no fogging, so other than the cosmetic effect, I am not going to worry about it. It could have been gone for years.

Back in the M2, 3 and 4 days, the whole hinged back came off effortlessly, but the M6 with its electronics makes it pretty much a fixture. I don't think I'd send it back in to Leica for that small part. The backlog of work seems to be making even standard repairs and tune-ups take too long. You might e-mail Leica... ask for one with a "how much is it?"... they might surprise you and just send it for free. I've heard of them doing this for the red "Leica" logo that covers the rangefinder adjustment hole on the front.

Good Luck.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), October 27, 2000.

It is called a "plastic cushion" and the part number used to be: 1A2A1MP4. All the M cameras have, or, as in your case, had them. They prevent the metal surface of the camera shell from marking the flip open back. The ones on my M2 have deep indents from decades of hitting the shell. I am sure that Leica would send you one for free just phone your local repair depot .

The backs on M6 cameras still come off just as easily as the old M cameras. Instead of a small lever on the hinge pin, the M6 has a small Phillips screw head you can move with the tip of a ballpoint pen. Just slide it sideways and it uncouples the hinge allowing you to remove the back. The film speed is sent to the camera through the three gold contacts in the middle of the back. There are no wires to worry about. If you take the back off, be careful with it! It is very expensive to replace.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), October 28, 2000.

Thanks Al and John, I'll ask the Leica agent in this country if he has any 'plastic cushions' might try for two because I'm sure to lose another one sometime.

-- terry ashton (mahv@xtra.co.nz), October 28, 2000.

I don't know about New Zealand, but here in the US Dave Elwell who runs the Parts Dept. at Leica USA will most likely send you what you need for free. He did for me when I noticed one of those dots missing from the back of my old M4-2. As I recall his only question was, "how many do you want?"

You can stick 'em back on with a dot of Super Glue. Put the glue on the flip-up back, not on the dot, unless you want that little black dot bonded to your finger. ;-)

Rob Schneider

-- Rob Schneider (robslaurat@earthlink.net), October 28, 2000.