Leica M1 viewfinder unusual

[HKLam]

The viewfinder suddenly have this mask as in the photo. Why is it so? Used to be clear and see through. Hope someone can shed some light.

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[darkosaric]

Hi,

Welcome to APUG. Can you please post more pictures, the whole viewfinder from both sides?

 

[HKLam]

Here is a photo from the front

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[frank]

The viewfinder suddenly have this mask as in the photo. Why is it so? Used to be clear and see through. Hope someone can shed some light.

Do you mean the white framelines or the over-all darkness that is in your photo?

 

[darkosaric]

Never seen something like that. Some kind of separation of glass elements in the viewfinder. Maybe somebody else will jump in later in thread...

 

[HKLam]

Do you mean the white framelines or the over-all darkness that is in your photo?

It is the overall darkness in the viewfinder. I cannot see through the viewfinder.

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[HKLam]

Never seen something like that. Some kind of separation of glass elements in the viewfinder. Maybe somebody else will jump in later in thread...

The camera did dropped from the coffee table to the floor recently. Since you mentioned seperation of glass element, it could be a glass prism that seperated.

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[darkosaric]

The camera did dropped from the coffee table to the floor recently.

This is important info - good to know that it did not go that bad from old age, but from drop.
Since it is M1 (no rangefinder, only viewfinder) - I suggest to buy external viewfinder, cheaper than repair.

 

[frank]

Pretend it's an MD/MDa now. Use it with wide angle lenses and external viewfinder like Darko suggests.

 

[summicron1]

This is important info - good to know that it did not go that bad from old age, but from drop.
Since it is M1 (no rangefinder, only viewfinder) - I suggest to buy external viewfinder, cheaper than repair.

the mirror in the rangefinder broke off -- even though it doesn't have a rangefinder, it has a bright frame and used the mirror for that.

if all you use it for is wide angle lenses, an external is the way to go.

 

[HKLam]

This is important info - good to know that it did not go that bad from old age, but from drop.
Since it is M1 (no rangefinder, only viewfinder) - I suggest to buy external viewfinder, cheaper than repair.

It is supposed to be an M1 according to the year and model, but strangely this one is a morphing model to M2 with a rangefinder

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[HKLam]

Pretend it's an MD/MDa now. Use it with wide angle lenses and external viewfinder like Darko suggests.

I wonder what is the cost of repair. Is it possible to do a DIY repair

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[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG

Find a repair place in Australia, the shipping costs and possible customs fights are not worth it.

 

[darkosaric]

It is not unusual to see M1 upgraded to rangefinder, it was done from time to time. Cost of repair can be higher that camera value (I have read on the internet that they charge up to 300-400€). You can sell the camera and buy "new" used M2 or some other M. I would never try to repair anything in Leica by myself - DIY is a no-no.

 

[HKLam]

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[HKLam]

Thank you all for the advices and tips.

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