Leica R7 questions

[Nahanni]

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I am looking at buying a used R7. All electronic features perform flawlessly, but there are two issues I would appreciate feedback on.

1. To pull back the DOF preview lever requires an unreasonably large force (very much larger than that of my R3) to the point where one fears causing damage. However, when released the lever snaps back smartly. It seems that the DOF preview system relies on an unusually strong spring or else the lever has inadequate mechanical advantage to perform its function. A similarly large force is required when I remove the lens and manually try to move the DOF lug. Have you observed anything similar with any of the R4 onward R cameras? Is this problem inherent or can it be corrected?

 

2. The return of the mirror on the R7 is very noisy - as observed when making a 4 second or time exposure so the rise of the mirror is clearly differentiated from the return. So, rather than using the 'normal' black paint everywhere on the walls of the mirror chamber and under the mirror itself, it seems that it was decided to apply an almost 1 mm thick black foam rubber like material instead, presumably to provide sound absorption. Here is where the engineers may have miscalculated - the rubber coating has shrunk, and, being relatively thick, has had little elasticity and as a result a great number of cracks have formed in it much like on the surface of a dried out lake bed. The material has not curled and lies flat and seems to adhere well. The question is will the material remain in adhesion.

 

Any comments would be much appreciated.