What went wrong here? Leica R3

Old Willow

H
Old Willow

  • 0
  • 0
  • 16
SteelHead Falls

A
SteelHead Falls

  • 2
  • 0
  • 25
Navajo Nation

H
Navajo Nation

  • 1
  • 1
  • 23
Oranges

A
Oranges

  • 4
  • 0
  • 114
Charging Station

A
Charging Station

  • 0
  • 0
  • 104

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
198,120
Messages
2,769,962
Members
99,565
Latest member
DerKarsten
Recent bookmarks
0
Joined
Feb 10, 2009
Messages
8
Format
35mm
I used a roll of TMAX 400 in a Leica R3 without batteries.
I thought the exposure was adequate for the settings and everything sounded ok in the camera as i took the photos but when i processed it today, (D76 and Polymax fixer) i get NOTHING on the frames but a black line. Only a black stripe where the frame starts/ends but no image. I don't think it has anything to do with the way i developed it since i always do the same thing and it always works, so i believe there is an issue with the camera.

When taking a photo the camera acts normal and the times seems fine so i wonder if anyone has encountered this before? Could it have something to do about the lack of batteries?
 

BobNewYork

Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2008
Messages
1,067
Location
Long Island,
Format
Medium Format
I know little about the R3, but I would think that it is, indeed, the lack of batteries. The batteries in cameras do not just enable the meter to work, they also power the circuitry that times the shutter. If you have a horizontal-travel, focal plane shutter, the lack of batteries could have caused the shutter to freeze partially open - hence the black line. The OK sound you hear is probably not the shutter but rather the reflex mirror. Advancing the film would reset the shutter curtains. Try shooting with no batteries and no film but with the camera back open and see how the shutter reacts.
 

katphood

Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2006
Messages
100
Location
Bay Area, Ca
Format
35mm
As Bob said, the R3 has an electronic shutter, meaning it must have batteries.

There are some cameras that do not need batteries to power the shutter. (The Nikon FM series, for example, uses the battery only for the meter.) Unfortunately, the R3 isn't one of them.
 

Lee L

Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2004
Messages
3,281
Format
Multi Format
The R3 has only one mechanical shutter speed. Set it to the flash synch speed, X on the shutter dial, and you'll get 1/90th second mechanical shutter speed. As others have said, the other shutter speeds are electronically timed and don't work without batteries.

Lee
 

nemo999

Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
277
Format
35mm
If the black lines you have on the film are ACROSS this, it sounds as if the shutter is staying closed for the vast majority of the distance it travels over the film and only opening right at the end of this. As others have said, the R3 shutter will operate only at 1/90 without batteries - if the exposure you wanted was a lot longer than this, this would account for the film being underexposed but not the lines. I have 3 R3s, they are solid well-made cameras, and there are quite a few examples around in near-mint condition, very little used and ofen having lain totally unused for years. These will work really well after a CLA but before that are likely to have problems with the light seals at the rear (obviously not the problem in your case) and also with corrosion of an aperture commutator ring which basically transfers the aperture setting from the lens to the meter. This can easily be fixed by cleaning but in a dirty state can cause the meter to be wildly unaccurate.
 

nicefor88

Member
Joined
Mar 4, 2009
Messages
248
Location
Bruxelles, B
Format
35mm
The R3 cannot be repaired any longer by Leica in Europe. No more parts. How is it in your country?
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom