I'm looking at a minty M6 classic...to buy and put in my bag. The shutter sounds great at all speeds with the exception of 1/15. It makes a springy squeek when the shutter is released. I watched the curtain and it seems fine. Another clue, the camera is 10 years old and hasn't been used a lot...so...is this an issue I should let pass and simply use the camera and forget it, or do the cognicenti feel otherwise?

Your collective wisdom is requested.

Happy new year all!

Michael Hintlian

website: http://www.hintlian.com

-- Michael HIntlian (michael@hintlian.com), December 31, 2001

Answers

Hi Michael, 1/15th is accompanied by a "spring-back" sound from the recoiling of the slow-speed gear-cage. Listen carefully to the shutter - if the "squeek" occurs instantly as the release is pressed, it could be curtain-drum bearings making the noise. if the sound occurs after the shutter is released, as part of the above-mentioned "recoil," it could be one of the small clockwork- gears in the slow-speed cage that needs lubing. Some might say that excercising the camera a bit may help, but if I were you, I'd use the price of a CLA as a point of negotiation, if you haven't yet purchased this camera, and then I'd send the camera in for a lube-job without a second thought. Happy New Year!

-- John Layton (john.layton@valley.net), December 31, 2001.

Check out for more info on how the 15th should sound.

-- Michael Rivers (mrivers@mac.com), December 31, 2001.

The camera makes this sound at 1/15. My guess is the camera is working fine. If 1/15 is one short sound its not.

-- Bob Haight (rhaigh5748@aol.com), December 31, 2001.

My books on the Leica rangefinders say that one of the things you should check when examining a secondhand camera is for proper shutter function, which they say is easiest at 1/15th of a second. You should be able to differentiate the following actions:

1. release- first blind moves. 2. second blind- released prior to first blind completing its run the second shutter is released but held back by slow speed escapment. 3. gear train- momentum of second blind causes the gear train to spin. 4. second blind- braking effect of slow speed train allows the second shutter blind to complete its path overlapping the first. 5. gear train- Recycles for next exposure by return spring.

I very much oversimplified the preceding actions, but in essence, you should definitely hear several actions at 1/15th of a second. The Hove pocket book has the whole process if you are interested... insisting that a properly functioning shutter can be identified by having all of the actions clearly heard.

I would say your M6 is fine.

-- Al Smith (smith58@msn.com), December 31, 2001.

Thanks for all the responses so far. I must re-state the question a little differently. I know how the shutter speed at 1/15 should sound...thats why this one got my attention. All the other speeds are absolutely exactly like my other two M6's (perfect) except at 1/15. Again, I stress it seems to be functioning just fine but it does make a very strange sound unlike my other two bodies at this one speed. Looks like I need to raise this issue with the seller...just wondered if anyone had a similar problem and what the final windup was.

Thanks all and happy new year.

Michael Hintlian

-- Michael Hintlian (michael@hintlian.com), December 31, 2001.

Michael, can you get your hands on another M camera, perhaps a brand- new one, to compare sounds? The 1/15th is definitely not a simple "click" but it's not a squeak either. It's more like a quick "zip" followed immediately by a second very different sound, like a "slinky" toy (if you remember those!).

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 31, 2001.

Definately try the camera at 1/15 for about twenty shots and see if it changes.

-- sam smith (Ruy_Lopez@hotmail.com), December 31, 2001.

I must say I felt a bit strange posting a question about a squeeky shutter in here and I want to acknowledge everyone for providing supportive responses. Thanks all.

I have released the shutter at 1/15 60 or 70 times with no improvement. We'll get a professional opinion tomorrow.

Its a tribute to Leica that the other two M6's in my bag, both over 10 years old with lots of milage and sometimes excessive treatment, operate as smooth as the day they left Solms, perhaps smoother. Its also an interesting thing how the M camera becomes "personal" where just by the sound of the shutter I can tell if its running well or not. Someone said it better than I "...the Leica is the only camera with a soul." Amazing gear.

Peace,

Michael HIntlian

-- Michael Hintlian (michael@hintlian.com), January 01, 2002.