where does your shutter button engage?

mine engages the shutter down level with the button housing. (ie. the button has to be pressed down so it's flush in order for the shutter to fire). is this normal?

-- tim (emulsion71@hotmail.com), February 04, 2002

Answers

I think it varies from camera to camera. I was told by Sherry Krauter that the release point on an M shutter button is adjustable.

Dennis

-- Dennis Couvillion (couvilaw@aol.com), February 04, 2002.

A couple of years ago, I had a 1 year old M6 (I purchased new) that I noticed required deeper and deeper pushing to release the shutter. This occurred over about a two month period. Finally, I was having to press as far as I could to get the thing to release.

Sent back to Leica (actually the dealer did). Two weeks and an adjustment later, worked just fine. The dealer commented that this was not uncommon for fairly new Leicas to need such adjustments.

-- David (studioblsp@mindspring.com), February 04, 2002.

As I said in a previous thread, I also spoke to Krauter about this "Point of Release" problem when My camera began hesitating and the shutter release would sometimes delay as the button "bottomed out.." She told me that "They Don't make them like they used to," and it was a very common thing with the M6. She said it happens most often when the camera is subjected to violent vibrations, such as (HER EXAMPLE) letting it bounce around the trunk of a car. She fixed the problem and it hasn't recurred yet after about two years or so.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

By the way, mine was an M6 Classic, built in about 1990, which I bought used in Pennsylvania.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

tom, do you mean that you would have to hold down the button all the way for a while in order for the shutter to release? that sounds kinda strange.

mine engages pretty low but releases right away, once it reaches a certain point.

i actually think this makes it a little easier to hold steady while taking the shot. i think unless it gets worse or breaks, i won't do anything about it. pehaps adding a softie would help me so that i'm not having to press it down with my finger tip.

-- tim (emulsion71@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

TIM--

When I had the problem: It was intermittent, but yes, the shutter would fire as much as a full second after I intended it to. I think it was intermittent because it depended on my "technique" of pressing the button---If I SQUEEZED it, it would delay, but if I did a quick press, it usually fired. This came about gradually...it wasn't there when I first got the camera.....I think the button was at the bottom of its adjustable travel range when I sent it out to Sherry, because I remember at the end, it would go WAY down before the shutter would trip. I mean it would stop moving completely.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

Tim--

Flush with the body is about how I remember it. Don't worry though, it's not a very expensive repair....maybe under a hundred dollars. If your camera is new, I'm sure the warranty will cover it.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

after the repair, now where does it engage? just curious..

-- tim (emulsion71@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

I recently had the same problem as David and Tom with my M-6 classic, where as the shutter release required a deeper and deeper reach. Very maddening. Missed some decisive moments. Finally when my shutter jammed one day, I sent it in for the old clean and adjust. It came back perfect. The shutter release on a Leica should be smooth and predictable. Good luck.

-- Ronald Wills (youngdeer@earthlink.net), February 05, 2002.

It is a VERY EASY adjustment. See link below:

http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/v20/msg03323.html

My recently purchased M4-2 needed adjustment as well. It only takes about ten minutes to do if you feel handy with teensy tiny screws. Be careful on a M6 camera as it is possible to adjust so the meter is on all the time.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 05, 2002.

TIM--there are, I guess, a couple of millimeters below the point of release now...........It's definitely not a hair trigger, but like Ronald said, it's very predictable, and it matches tthe feel of the other two M6 bodies I now have.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

One other thing here....I beleive, in my own opinion, using a cable release carelessly may contribute to this ailment. I f you use one with the camera, do it gently. Does anybody else agree with this, or am I just LOOPY?

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

ok, i've followed those directions carefully, but i'm at the point that i have the camera open and now my shutter doesn't engage at all. which way am i supposed to move the leaf spring to get the button to engage the shutter higher?

-- tim (tim@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

Tim.....Maybe you should call Sherry at Golden Touch. Her number is: (845) 496-8834.

EMAIL: krauter@warwick.net

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

i know that's the smart thing to do but i'm such an impulsive type. i just HAD to try it myself first!

luckily, I got it going ok. i realized that i had to hold the leaf spring in place while i tightened the screws. sure enough, the shutter releases higher now.

i hope i tightened the screws well enough so that it won't move again...

-- tim (emulsion71@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.

Go to KMART and get yourself some LOCKTITE to make sure.

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

Go to KMART and get yourself some LOCKTITE to make sure.

You're on your own now, but I reach where you've just been. GOOD LUCK!

-- Tom Nutter (tmnphotos@erols.com), February 05, 2002.

Good thread which I'm bookmarking - My M4-P, every three months or so, has developed a habit of the shutter button 'bottoming out', too. When it eventually fires the actual exposure is about 1/1000th regardless of the set speed. After about 5-8 frames it starts behaving, so I may at least LOOK at the bottom spring to see what's up.

In my case it started after I experimented with adjusting a visoflex - while getting the trigger arm positioned just right I made several exposures where I think the Viso was pressing too hard on the shutter button (Similar to the cable-release theory).

It's sort of like having a nerve-block applied to your shutter finger - you WILL the finger to fire the shutter - and nothing happens - dooohhh!

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), February 05, 2002.

A similar thread if you're interested.

-- Peter Olsson (peter.olsson@lulebo.se), February 05, 2002.

DO NOT USE LOCKTITE!!! The screws are too small and normal loctite will mean they will break off the next time. A small dab of paint or nail polish on the screw head AFTER it is tight will hold it in place.

Next time just loosen the screws a little bit and gentle nudge the flat spring in the right direction.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), February 05, 2002.

i'd like to discourage people from attempting this if they really don't know what they are doing (like me).

i ended up getting the shutter button to engage higher, but now all my shutter speeds above 1/50 sec. and the 'B' setting do not work!

rather than fiddle any more with it, it looks like the camera is going to sherry after all...

-- tim (emulsion71@hotmail.com), February 05, 2002.