M4 high speed shutter problem

[muddy024]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi,

Has anyone seen this problem before? The following pictures were taken when the shutter is 1/2 cocked or 1/2 way back to the RHS when viewed from the rear, ready for the next shot.

After firing at speeds of 1/500s or below the shutter is easy the cock (1st picture) with a flick of the thumb. But after firing @ 1/1000s re-cocking is harder (2nd picture) with a little resistance in the lever. You can see that the curtains are aligned in a different way in the 2nd pic. What I will call the 1st curtain (you can correct me on this) seems to have jumped to the outside of curtain 2.

I guess a CLA is the obvious solution, but I don’t have a lot of confidence in the local agent, another story. So for the time being guess I could just avoid 1/1000s. I do a bit of travel now and then so I could get a CLA in the UK or Europe sometime in the future, or try my luck again locally.

Regards,

Ken

[giordano]

I'd stop using it until I could get it fixed. If you don't like the local Leica agent, surely there's a mechanic somewhere in Sydney with Leica training. If not, look in Melbourne or Perth (which is where I had my IIIg serviced a couple of years ago).

[muddy024]

Thanks for the reply John, unfortunately this morning was my eldest daughters first day at school so I loaded a roll to capture the event. I don't feel like it would be causing to much damage as the camera seems to work fine at all other speeds.

 

I'm heading to South Africa in March so I will try and get a CLA before I go.

Ken