C2 (point-and-shoot) rewind problem

[vambo25]

I first got into Leica cameras via a £200 C2 that I bought maybe 3 years ago. I know it's not a grown-up camera but it's still the one I carry around with me every day so I'd be loathe to lose it, however ....

... in the last few months it's developed the habit of rewinding before the film has been finished (it's done this on four occasions now). A quick web search suggests that I'm not the only person to have suffered this problem so I'm hoping it's something that may have been discussed - perhaps even resolved - on this forum.

I'm not aware that I'm doing anything to trigger the rewind - I'm certainly not deliberately activating the rewind button. Any suggestions/advice wold be very much appreciated.

[rjans]

I do not have a C2. Does the camera has a display that shows an error code? If not, you could try to take out the battery for some time and then replace the battery. Perhaps this helps.

Best

[vambo25]

Originally Posted by rjans

I do not have a C2. Does the camera has a display that shows an error code? If not, you could try to take out the battery for some time and then replace the battery. Perhaps this helps.

Best

Hi, thanks for the suggestions but (a) there's no error code and (b) I've replaced the battery. I haven't tried leaving the battery out for some time though. Is there a reason why this might work?

[masjah]

OK this is total speculation, and possibly totally wide of the mark or just plain wrong. Let's ask ourselves what exactly triggers the end of film rewind under normal circumstances. It surely can't be counting frames - there are so many possible different film lengths. So maybe it's triggered by the camera's sensing the end of film by the fact that it will not pull out any further - that is, sensing resistance - maybe something like a clutch which is designed to slip given a sufficient resistance? If so, we then have to ask, is something causing excessive resistance prematurely, or is the clutch beginning to slip too easily? Either way, it sounds like a service is needed. Whether the cost would be worthwhile, given the present value of the camera, is a different question.

[vambo25]

Sounds feasible to me - except for the fact that the last time it happened I was pulling the camera out of a coat pocket (it was in its leather case). I think the clutch theory would require the film to rewind immediately after taking - or attempting to take - a shot, wouldn't it?

But yes, whatever the problem, it sounds like a service is needed. I've contacted Camera Repairs & Restoration in Luton for their advice but I suspect you're right - it's likely that their costs will outweigh the value of the camera.

[Thomas Edwards]

Originally Posted by vambo25

Sounds feasible to me - except for the fact that the last time it happened I was pulling the camera out of a coat pocket (it was in its leather case). I think the clutch theory would require the film to rewind immediately after taking - or attempting to take - a shot, wouldn't it?

But yes, whatever the problem, it sounds like a service is needed. I've contacted Camera Repairs & Restoration in Luton for their advice but I suspect you're right - it's likely that their costs will outweigh the value of the camera.

...fwiw, leica replaced my c3 twice during the warranty period with an entirely new camera, stating that it was not economical to fix a defective door, jammed rewind button and lens motor...

[vambo25]

Originally Posted by Thomas Edwards

... leica replaced my c3 twice during the warranty ...

CRR, though as helpful and friendly as ever, weren't able to help (it not actually being a Leica camera - just a rebadged model). Leica UK tell me that they no longer support this model - but offered me £100 trade-in against a C-, D- or V-Lux. Guess I'll have to take a look at the Digi Forum.

[Thomas Edwards]

Originally Posted by vambo25

CRR, though as helpful and friendly as ever, weren't able to help (it not actually being a Leica camera - just a rebadged model). Leica UK tell me that they no longer support this model - but offered me £100 trade-in against a C-, D- or V-Lux. Guess I'll have to take a look at the Digi Forum.

...sounds like a good offer, i have the d-lux3 and the v-lux1/pana version and they are both great cameras...