Leica M1 viewfinder unusual

HKLam · Jul 1, 2015

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 · Jul 1, 2015

Hi,

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

HKLam · Jul 1, 2015

Here is a photo from the front

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frank · Jul 1, 2015

HKLam said:
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 · Jul 1, 2015

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 · Jul 1, 2015

frank said:
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 · Jul 1, 2015

darkosaric said:
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 · Jul 1, 2015

HKLam said:
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 · Jul 1, 2015

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

summicron1 · Jul 1, 2015

darkosaric said:
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 · Jul 1, 2015

darkosaric said:
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 · Jul 1, 2015

frank said:
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 · Jul 1, 2015

Welcome to APUG

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

darkosaric · Jul 2, 2015

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 · Jul 2, 2015

HKLam said:
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HKLam · Jul 2, 2015

Thank you all for the advices and tips.

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Leica M1 viewfinder unusual

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