Leica R3 ELECTRONIC: Recommendations and notes

[Andreas Thaler]

The Leica R3 ELECTRONIC was the first Leitz camera from the R series and was introduced in 1976. It was developed and manufactured in cooperation with Minolta. Technically, it is closely related to the Minolta XE.

One variant is the Leica R3 MOT ELECTRONIC, which is essentially identical in construction to the R3 ELECTRONIC and offers the option of connecting a winder.

Copies are now relatively inexpensive on the second-hand market, although the corresponding Leica R lenses fetch higher prices.

The R3 is made entirely of metal and is accordingly heavy and solid. A few components are made of plastic.

The electronics work analogue and essentially consist of discrete components and two ICs.


Known problems include

1. jumping measuring needle in the viewfinder,
2. sluggishness of the mirror mechanism,
3. rotting foam inside,
4. different shutter speeds in M (manual) and A (aperture priority) modes and
5. a jammed winding lever.

The R3 is relatively easy to open, the cover above the prism requires patience and care as it fits very tightly, see

Post in thread 'Leica R3 MOT ELECTRONIC: Heading into the unknown'
https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...-heading-into-the-unknown.203430/post-2767280

Care must be taken not to disconnect the numerous connecting cables or to crush them during assembly.


Resolved issues

Jumping metering needle

Leica R3 MOT ELECTRONIC: Jumping metering needle repaired; front panel fixed with LEICA lettering

Today I unpacked the Leica R3 MOT ELECTRONIC that @miha sent me some time ago for an attempt to repair. After practicing on a well-worn R3 MOT for the last few days, I felt sufficiently prepared to get to work. See the story here describing all the technical details and guesses where the...

www.photrio.com

Sluggishness of the mirror mechanism

Leica R3 ELECTRONIC: Stiff mirror mechanism repaired

I have a nice R3 here, in which the electronics are obviously still working properly (lucky!), but the mechanism in the mirror box seems to be resinified. The mirror only works as it should when I place the camera on the prism. Otherwise it will stop halfway I know from a training R3 that...

www.photrio.com

Rotting foam inside

There is foam under the prism housing. Presumably to press the wiring there. Possibly also for insulation reasons. It should be possible to replace with cut foam.


Problems that still need a solution

Different shutter speeds in M and A modes

Leica R3: Mission Aperture Priority

The Minolta XE-1 (XE, XE-7) is discredited because its electronics become unreliable over the decades. Known symptoms are a jumping metering needle in the viewfinder and incorrect shutter speeds in aperture priority mode. Solid, fascinating technology, beautiful, but with problems: Minolta's...

www.photrio.com

Jammed winding lever

This is more of an annoying problem than a serious one.

After winding, the winding lever sometimes has to be moved forward a little so that it can fold back.

I suspect a problem with wear in the mechanism underneath and will look into this in the next project.

---

Leica R3 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

+++

All information provided without guarantee and use at your own risk.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Just published:

Leica R3 MOT Parts Diagrams

Factory parts diagrams

learncamerarepair.com

 

[Nitroplait]

Hi @Andreas Thaler

Thanks for the writeup.

Have you been looking further into the jamming winding lever issue by any chance?

I have a Leica R3 which suddenly refuses to complete the film advance cycle.
The film advance arm stops 1/2 of the way towards completion.

It seems to be engaging the shutter tensioning half way (by looking at the shutterblade movement), but seems to stop just before advancing the film.

If I engage the double exposure lever, I can complete the winding lever movement an tension the shutter - but the film is not advanced.

Any suggestions where to look for the culprit?


EDIT:
While handling the camera in order to describe above, I forcefully pushed the <don't know what this roller is called - see red arrow on photo> up, down and sideways while applying light pressure to the advance lever.

It finally gave in and started moving a little and gave an mildly unpleasant crunchy sound. After that the camera advances and sounds like it old self.

I am guessing some debris got stuck in the mechanism.

 

[Andreas Thaler]

Hi,

sorry, I haven't looked at the R3 since then, so I can't say anything about it.

Ah, you have already found a solution, great!