M3 shutter speed problem

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When I choose shutter speeds lower than 1/10 the curtain stays open and wont close until I move the shutter-dial, so de-facto all shutter speeds between 15 down are same as "B".. At shutter speed 30 I often get a bright overxposed line on the far right side of phots, like if the curtain doesn't completely close.

Is this a known problem? Is there any way to fix?

Thanks, Javier

-- Javier Grinfeld (javier.grinfeld@ieee.org), May 21, 2002

Answers

Hi,

Normally the shutter speed problems occurs when the camera has been left in the storage of quite sometime. You need to play with it at least once a month to keep it smooth and going. Your M3 shutter speed mechanism is sticky and needs to be lubricated. But you can try to put it under the sun to warm it up and try the speeds again. But if it still doesn't works, i'm afraid you need to send for servicing.

As for the curtain no closing at speed 1/30th seems like the timing and alignment is out. That you need to send it for repairs.

-- alfred (cnka@pacific.net.sg), May 21, 2002.


Time for a CLA. Even if you could free it up again, the lubricants have dried up long ago.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@shaw.ca), May 21, 2002.

What's a "CLA" ?

-- Javier Grinfeld (javier.grinfeld@ieee.org), May 21, 2002.

Clean, Lubricate, Adjust

-- Chris Chen (furcafe@NOSPAMcris.com), May 21, 2002.

Don't put the camera in the sun. You can burn a hole in the shutter curtain. John is right. It needs a professional CLA. Unfortunately true of all Leica M cameras that the shutter needs to be exercised regularly (all of the speeds) otherwise will go bad, especially the slower speeds.

-- Eliot (erosen@lij.edu), May 21, 2002.


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