R8 problem

[Cate Suzanne]

I own an R8 and the mirror is locked, the shutter won't fire and the quick wind lever won't move. Before I contact leica concerning repairs, I was wondering if there were any other R8 owners who've experienced the same problem, how their cameras were fixed and most importantly, how much the repairs cost.

BTW, I changed the batteries the other day so low battery power is not the problem.

The camera was originally purchased in 2000, the warranty expired 2003.

Thank you, Cate

R8 serial # 2429948

[andybarton]

Hi Cate, and welcome to the forum!

I had a very similar problem with my R8 last Spring. Hasn't been near a Manfrotto tripod has it?

I had to send mine back to Solms, via Leica's UK office. The tripod screw had pushed in the end of the thread socket on the base of the R8, fouling the wind-on mechanism which sits immediately above the baseplate. The repairs cost around £180, which included a full CLA and other tweaks. (Manfrotto have since changed their tripod screw thread length to comply with ISO Standards)

In Europe, only Solms can do repairs to R8s and R9s, but this may be different if you are elsewhere in the World.

[Cate Suzanne]

No - why?

thanks, cate

[rob_x2004]

Is it permanenly stuck in the up position? You arent toggled to mirror lock up on a long exposure or something?

[rob_x2004]

It is still a camera design fault that sees a long thread on a tripod mount causing the problems you had.

[Cate Suzanne]

yes the mirror is permanently stuck in the up position - and it is not set to mirror lock with long exposure.

If the camera design is at fault, what specifically in the design is flawed?

thanks, Cate

[andybarton]

See my edited response above - it's the tripod screw that's at fault, not the camera. Manfrotto have acknowledged this and changed the length of the screw.

[Cate Suzanne]

Thank you everyone for your replies,

I live in NJ about 20 minutes away from Leica US headquarters - god I hope they can fix it there - that would be so convenient!

I'll just have to contact them tomorrow - thanks again!

Cate

[mann61]

I too have an R8.About a year ago the shutter would lock up on about shot 17/18.The only way to get the R8 to work is to wind on again,thus missing a shot.Maybe in one roll of 36 i will miss two shots due to this shutter malfunction.I have used a Manfrotto tripod,i will not use it again!However this tripod has not caused any problems whatsoever on my Contaxes or other cameras.So I will put up with this problem 'cause i am not going to shell out £180 and be without the camera.But I'm sure not going to buy another Leica,'though the problem might not have been due to the R8.
Ta David

[andybarton]

David

If your Manfrotto was made before Jan 2006, it could well have the screw that exceeds the agreed international standards.

When I advised them of the problem, and that it was caused by their screw length, the UK dealer sent me a new plate with the shorter thread.

It was definitely not the R8 socket that was at fault, it was the Manfrotto head. As I said, they have since changed their screw lengths to comply with ISO / DIN standards. However, even though the R8 socket does meet ISO standards, the R9 socket is ever so slightly deeper.

[mann61]

Thanks Andy.This is interesting;i did buy my Manfrotto tripod before 20006,probably 20003.But I've used 3 G2s an Aria and a Minolta Dynax7 shutters are fine with these cameras.Where i live now,rural France,is nowhere near a Leica shop.When i go back to London in a few weeks i may take the R8 to Classic but i'm only there for 10 or 11 days.I doubt if the turn around time would be that Quick.I was going to buy an R7 but now i will give it a miss.I will use the Contaxes,and use a dodgy R8.

[andybarton]

The R7 was, to my knowledge, not affected. It was only the R8 and only because of the Manfrotto plate and only because Manfrotto didn't stick to the standards.

Get a new plate and the R8 is very happy.

A broken R8 will have to go back to Solms - you can arrange to send it there directly yourself if you wish, you don't need to go through a dealer.

[rob_x2004]

R8/9 are soft construction. Unless you used a spanner to overtighten the thread there is no way it should deform the camera body enough to cause the sort of problems you can get. It is a design fault. And I have no plans to drop my R9, it just isnt a rugged beast.

[mann61]

You would think it is a solid brick,it is not.I still think the original poster and my problem is an electrical fault.If you read up on the R line from 3 to 8 there have been various electrical problems.
David

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by rob_x2004

R8/9 are soft construction. Unless you used a spanner to overtighten the thread there is no way it should deform the camera body enough to cause the sort of problems you can get. It is a design fault. And I have no plans to drop my R9, it just isnt a rugged beast.

This is where you are absolutely wrong. Sorry.

With the Manfrotto plate, with the overlong screw thread, just tightening the plate onto the bottom of the R8 was sufficient to cause the problem. I know. It happened to me, and I have never taken a spanner to my cameras.

[Geoffsco]

Is the damage caused by the Manfrotto visible? I bought a second hand R8 in mint condition, which I've had since yesterday, and it the mirror has locked up twice. The first time it stayed up for around three or four minutes, came straight down after I pulled the batteries out and replaced them. It was working fine after that, then it happened a second time, and stayed locked up for around 30 mins. I pulled the batteries a couple of times to no avail, eventually just leaving it on until the mirror flipped back down.

Could this be the same problem, or something else?

[andybarton]

That sounds like something else.

The damage to the tripod socket causes the shutter wind on to snag, not the mirror.

[rob_x2004]

Geoff before you start panicking, make sure you know where the mirror lock up lever is on the front of the body. If you are fooling round with the camera and accidently have it toggled on, then your first (or second) shutter detent will snap the mirror up and you might think you have released the shutter. Your second release will let the shutter fly but if it is after dusk or inside the camera may have metered a long exposure and the second curtain wont yet have moved. No wind on, and seemingly dead release. Mine came new in box ex factory toggled to mirror lock up and I picked the camera up after dark, figuring to use it straight away. I mean it was a Leica how hard could it be. I had to open the instructions in the car.

Anyway, hopefully that is your problem. Fresh batteries, clean contacts and all the usual. Good luck.

[Geoffsco]

It wasn't the mirror lock up lever unfortunately, although it appears to be doing the same thing! I shot a roll of film today without any problems, fingers crossed it just had to warm up.

Which contacts are easily cleaned?

[Geoffsco]

I think the problem is related to the mirror lock up lever. I've just used it, first shot no problem, second shot, the mirror stuck.