Light leaks on Leica IIf

darkosaric · Sep 22, 2015

I just tested my new Lieca IIf and it had heavy light leaks trough courtains. I will probably return it - but just a short question: how difficult/expensive is repair or painting the shutter cloths?

darkosaric · Sep 22, 2015

Trask · Sep 22, 2015

As a point of comparison, I had my M2 overhauled by a top repairman here in the U.S. recently. My curtains were fine, but if I had wanted them replaced he would have charged me $125 per curtain (so $250 total) plus an additional $160 over the other CLA costs I was already incurring -- because of the extra degree of dismantling required to replace the curtains. I have had my IIIa worked on but that was some time ago, and I'll admit that I'm not sure if a IIc is easier or harder to work on than an M-series camera (I would assume easier as I think you can drop the whole shutter mechanism out the bottom -- I could be wrong).

Perhaps you want to hold off on selling your M-Elmar 5cm f/3.5!

ToddB · Sep 22, 2015

Youxin does curtain replacement. I believe he has posted on his site.

Todd

leicarfcam · Sep 22, 2015

Best option is to return the camera. Most repairmen will charge in excess of $200 just to replace curtains and painting them is a waste of time since they will just start leaking light within a short time.. The screw Leicas are easy to work on if you know what you are doing but the opening curtain shutter tapes have to be properly aligned on both the spindles and spring loaded takeup and the closing curtains have to be aligned just right on the main shutter drum otherwise top shutter speed is not workable.
One other thing is the curtain lathes will not properly align nor will they cap if the shutter tapes are done wrong..

summicron1 · Sep 22, 2015

as others said, this is a pretty expensive repair -- half a dozen years ago i was quoted $175 by CameraQuest, and I'm sure the price has gone up. Plus you have to wonder what other problems the camera has.

Keep your Elmar 3.5 and send this back.

gone · Sep 22, 2015

I painted mine once in places to cover some pin holes. Worked great! But the coats of paint caused the curtains to be too thick, and they would bind when rolling onto the drums. If you only have one or two tiny pinholes, then painting them very lightly will work. More than that, forget about it.

Jim Noel · Sep 22, 2015

Apparently these are not original curtains or they wouldn't leak.I would return the camera posthaste.

darkosaric · Sep 23, 2015

I will return the camera, thank you all.

leicarfcam · Sep 23, 2015

Jim Noel said:
Apparently these are not original curtains or they wouldn't leak.I would return the camera posthaste.

Since when?

Leica original curtains do develop hole with age.. The rubber coating dries up the same as any other rubber..

darkosaric · Sep 23, 2015

On the end I returned the camera in shop. They offered me Leica III instead (that was 100 euros more expensive) without any additional costs. I just developed test film and it works great ! That is how you get satisfied customer .

Light leaks on Leica IIf

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