Niko

After a few years with another camera system i recently came back to Leica with an M-A and it feels very, very good!

Years ago i had the same leak on my M3. After several other repair attempts elsewhere, CRR Luton located the leak at the rangefinder window. They told me that some M3 need a light seal around the window and some don’t.

My M3 finder went black last year. CRR Luton (UK) rebuilt it. It is great now. The service was also a lot cheaper than to buy a new rangefinder assembly for it. And, imo, the old framelines are better. Your M2 seems also to have emotional value for you, better to keep it with the old finder then. With an M6 finder you would use the lenses you have just like you are used to. If you later want more framelines, better to buy an M6 then, you might even get the whole camera for the same price that a new rangefinder assembly costs... Niko

No one mentioned Wotancraft yet! wotancraft

Mine goes a bit past 0.7 marker, but the rangefinder in camera engages exactly at 0.7m. On the other hand, my lens does not perfectly reach infinity on the scale. It focuses correctly anyway, so i have learned not to care. I don´t ever use hf -focusing with the 50. Niko

I would say don´t start checking your lenses if you haven´t noticed anything wrong shooting normal pictures with it. You might find some small errors doing the tests and then it starts bugging you even if it didn´t matter in the real shooting… Niko (been there, done that)

Leica R9/R8 -2,0 dpt Correction lens R8/R9 14384 - SH photo

I sent my 50Lux Asph to Solms three times before it focused correctly enough. I still had to adjust my MP a bit to get it perfect. It is this lens that keeps me with Leica but of course i would be happy to get a few other lenses as well. Now i can´t because they don´t match my 50Lux Asph tweaked MP. I even sold some lenses that didn´t match my MP anymore. At first i had an M3 with which i intended to use the lens, but in the process i found out that my M3 can´t keep it´s rangefinder settings anymore, that´s why i decided to get an MP and at first of course though the problem would be solved with that… Well, now that i have the perfectly matched MP and 50Lux Asph i am happy with it. Only other lens i have is a 24mm Elmarit-m ASPH, that one i got from Vienna LeicaShop after getting the focusing problems solved because if that would´t match the MP LeicaShop accepts returns without questions asked... Maybe i´ll still get an M7 at some point for "normal Leica lens" use... Just felt like sharing my experience with this seemingly problematic, but so lovely lens ! I learned to adjust the rangefinder too in the process Niko

From Leica -website: "Spare parts service: The Leica spare parts service has camera and lens accessories such as eyepieces, even for Leica devices more than 30 years old. Private customers can find what they are looking for here. However, this service is not provided to professional repair workshops. Address: Leica Camera AG Leica Customer Care - Ersatzteile Solmser Gewerbepark 8 35606 Solms Phone: 06442 - 208 229 Fax: 06442 - 208 90832 E-mail: spareparts@leica-camera.com "

Yes, they are good. No problem if you are not happy with what you bought, you can even return an item if you simply change your mind. "Your purchases from us are free of risk: If an item does not meet your expectations, or if it has a technical deficiency, simply send it back to us by air within 14 days after receiving it and you will promptly be refunded, no questions asked."

I have a similar problem with my M3. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m7-mp-film-m/265941-leica-m3-light-leak.html Local repairshop tried to fix it but failed. I still can shine a light to the filmchamber through the rangefinder window. I still think it´s the source of this kind of phenomenon. I have however given up and retired my heavily used M3 because besides this problem it doesn´t keep the rangefinder setting. It might be ok for months, but then it suddenly goes bad again without any noticeable knock or anything. I have had two shops look at that problem, no findings... Niko

I saw one with s/n above 4000000 when visiting local Leica distributor few weeks ago. Sorry, i don't know more about the issue...

I just had the standard viewfinder changed to a 0.85-4. I would say the .85x flares more, but it might just be that you have to center your eye more carefully on the window.

Thanks for help, but no findings with these methods... M3 now sent to Solms, if they can´t fix it, i give up.

That´s a good idea. I have checked that before by measuring, and it didn´t seem to be the problem. With an Elmar 24mm i couldn´t see that area well enough through the shutter gate. I just recently got the Elmarit 90mm and must check it again, should be able to see more. Niko