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Leica M2 Shutter speed check: how to?


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Dear all,

I have the feeling my M2 is not working properly at 1/500 and 1/000 due to exposure issue of some films.Are speed I not use usually but I have few frame not exposed.

 

There is a way to check it or only professional with specific tool can verify ?

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You can get an impression by listening to the shutter, or releasing it by looking at it to see whether it sticks etc.

 

A more exact check can be done by shooting a series of test shots at equivalent aperture-speed combinations: e.g. a negative shot at f/16 125th sec. should look the same as f/11 250th sec, and f/8 500th sec. and f/5.6 1000th sec. If not, then you can spot which speeds are off.

 

Or compare to another camera whose speeds are known to be correct. Shoot two rolls of film at the same apertures and speeds. Negatives should look the same.

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Thanks to both! I am quit sure that the shutter is working fine @ 1/250 and above. Many rolls are done at this shutter speed and no issue.

Using the Monitor Speed Test I see that @1/500 the shutter is not really working well and @1/1000 nothing happen.

I will try to find someone in Rome able to put his/her hands on my M2. I have read a couple of manuals on hour repair the M2 but I have no tools and probably no capacity.

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Iam quit sure that the shutter is working fine @ 1/250 and above. .

 

Sorry, cannot agree with you, if shutter speeds are off they are off at all speeds. It just that depending how much they are off you may not notice it on longer speeds. The simplest test is to open the back door, put front of the camera agiainst he light and shoot. You will notice that on 1/1000 shutter does not opens at all or only on one side. Out of that you may conclude is it the firt curtain or second curtain which is too slow.

Main speed adjustments for short times is 1/500, you adjust it with the tension of the spring of first or second curtain. 1/1000 is adjusted secondary, on the cam.

But this is nothing what you can and shall do without special tools and having experience. Full CLA is very recommended and with that shutter speeds, as we'll slow speeds escapement will be adjusted. You will be able to enjoy Leica quality for many, many years.

I do not know any reputable repairmen in Rome, there are for sure some. In German thread you may find a list, I know one of them (Reinhard), friendly, very reputable and reasonable pricing.

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Sorry, cannot agree with you, if shutter speeds are off they are off at all speeds. It just that depending how much they are off you may not notice it on longer speeds. The simplest test is to open the back door, put front of the camera agiainst he light and shoot. You will notice that on 1/1000 shutter does not opens at all or only on one side. Out of that you may conclude is it the firt curtain or second curtain which is too slow.

Main speed adjustments for short times is 1/500, you adjust it with the tension of the spring of first or second curtain. 1/1000 is adjusted secondary, on the cam.

But this is nothing what you can and shall do without special tools and having experience. Full CLA is very recommended and with that shutter speeds, as we'll slow speeds escapement will be adjusted. You will be able to enjoy Leica quality for many, many years.

I do not know any reputable repairmen in Rome, there are for sure some. In German thread you may find a list, I know one of them (Reinhard), friendly, very reputable and reasonable pricing.

Thanks for the tips. In the last days I scout a couple of expert in Rome with long experience on Leica Camera to send for CLA. I will do in the following weeks to have my M2 back to work properly

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