M9 Image Field Selector, Bright-Line View Issue

[k-hawinkler]

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Observations:

 

• It appears no matter what lens I attach to my M9 with FW 1.116 - whether it is a lens with 28, 35, 50, 70, 90, or 135mm focal length - the bright line view seems to be the one for 35mm + 135mm when compared to the images on page 133 of M9 Instructions_en.pdf or the 28mm view of the Frankenfinder.

• When I have no lens attached to the M9 and push in the pin visible near the top but inside the round opening for lenses, the bright-lines in the viewfinder just move on a diagonal somewhat from the lower right towards the upper left.

• However, the relative positions of the inner and outer bright-line rectangles and the focus rectangle never change.

• Finally, when I move the Image Field Selector at the front of the M9 towards the lens or towards the outside, different bright-lines don't get activated as they are supposed to according to page 132 of M9 Instructions_en.pdf.

 

Apparently, the Image Field Selector and Bright-line View of my M9 don't work correctly. What to do about it? I got the camera in December from B+H, live in the US, and assume it's under warranty.

 

Is it better to send the M9 to Leica in NJ or to Leica in Solms?

Also a couple of my lenses seem to have a slight focus issue. This is probably a good opportunity to send the lenses in with the M9?

Another issue, Leica could check out, is the red LED in the back coming on when the switch is set to off but pushed down.

 

Additional question, what problems would be appropriate for Don Goldberg to work on?

 

Thanks for any advice, K-H.

 

PS: For a rangefinder novice, like me, there is so much new to learn about this style of photography that it basically took me ten weeks before accuracy of rangefinder framing made it to the top of my to do list. Interesting.

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[matlep]

Contact B&H asap. A quick repair or even a replacement shuld be done. I think if it is the rangefinder which either need adjustemnt or replacemnt it is done at Solms.

 

if it were up to me i would make sure you got a new camera.

 

But first of all, give B&H a call.

[carlmuck]

Observations:

 

• It appears no matter what lens I attach to my M9 with FW 1.116 - whether it is a lens with 28, 35, 50, 70, 90, or 135mm focal length - the bright line view seems to be the one for 35mm + 135mm when compared to the images on page 133 of M9 Instructions_en.pdf or the 28mm view of the Frankenfinder.

• When I have no lens attached to the M9 and push in the pin visible near the top but inside the round opening for lenses, the bright-lines in the viewfinder just move on a diagonal somewhat from the lower right towards the upper left.

• However, the relative positions of the inner and outer bright-line rectangles and the focus rectangle never change.

• Finally, when I move the Image Field Selector at the front of the M9 towards the lens or towards the outside, different bright-lines don't get activated as they are supposed to according to page 132 of M9 Instructions_en.pdf.

 

Apparently, the Image Field Selector and Bright-line View of my M9 don't work correctly. What to do about it? I got the camera in December from B+H, live in the US, and assume it's under warranty.

 

Is it better to send the M9 to Leica in NJ or to Leica in Solms?

Also a couple of my lenses seem to have a slight focus issue. This is probably a good opportunity to send the lenses in with the M9?

Another issue, Leica could check out, is the red LED in the back coming on when the switch is set to off but pushed down.

 

Additional question, what problems would be appropriate for Don Goldberg to work on?

 

Thanks for any advice, K-H.

 

PS: For a rangefinder novice, like me, there is so much new to learn about this style of photography that it basically took me ten weeks before accuracy of rangefinder framing made it to the top of my to do list. Interesting.

 

I'd call Leica directly, unless B+H have a camera to swap (which I doubt) they're just going to send it to Leica. For an M9 they should jump on it directly.

 

Also, the problem you describe is purely mechanical, doesn't matter which version of the firmware you've got. The frame line selector mechanism has been around since the M3 (60 yrs) and should be an easy and prompt fix.

 

c.

[Verners]

The lever upper lever in the opening is the one that moves the mirror for your rangefinder, and it moves the brightlines too, to compensate.

 

To switch to different brightlines manualy you need to move the lever thats left from your lens, and you can see all three pairs of brightlines show up.

 

And your firmware version has nothing to do with brightlines, they are mechanical.

 

Didnt get it if this was a joke...

[Jeff Day]

When you mount a lens make sure that you have aligned the red index button on the lens with the unlocking button on the camera body, and then rotate the lens to the right as far as it will go, and with your finger off the unlocking button, rotate it back left until you hear a solid 'click'. Even though the manual doesn't mention the bit about taking the finger off the unlocking button and rotating back left after rotating right, on my M9 the correct bright lines will not always activate if I don't because the M-mount action is a bit stiff. Perhaps it is something similar with your M9, or perhaps not, but it is worth checking out at least as it could save you from sending it back.

 

I hope that is of some help.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jeff

[k-hawinkler]

Contact B&H asap. A quick repair or even a replacement shuld be done. I think if it is the rangefinder which either need adjustemnt or replacemnt it is done at Solms.

 

if it were up to me i would make sure you got a new camera.

 

But first of all, give B&H a call.

 

Thanks, I reported the problem via their online notification and am now waiting for their feedback.

[k-hawinkler]

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I'd call Leica directly, unless B+H have a camera to swap (which I doubt) they're just going to send it to Leica. For an M9 they should jump on it directly.

 

Also, the problem you describe is purely mechanical, doesn't matter which version of the firmware you've got. The frame line selector mechanism has been around since the M3 (60 yrs) and should be an easy and prompt fix.

 

c.

 

Thanks for your feedback. Good points.

[250swb]

I think you have the solution Jeff, the lens is being over rotated in the mount.

 

Steve

[k-hawinkler]

The lever upper lever in the opening is the one that moves the mirror for your rangefinder, and it moves the brightlines too, to compensate.

 

To switch to different brightlines manualy you need to move the lever thats left from your lens, and you can see all three pairs of brightlines show up.

 

And your firmware version has nothing to do with brightlines, they are mechanical.

 

Didnt get it if this was a joke...

 

Thanks. Understood. I moved the lever but only one pair of brightlines shows up.

Sorry, no joke. There also is the issue with the red LED coming on when the switch is set to off and then pressed down. Are you suggesting that's a mechanical problem too?

[k-hawinkler]

When you mount a lens make sure that you have aligned the red index button on the lens with the unlocking button on the camera body, and then rotate the lens to the right as far as it will go, and with your finger off the unlocking button, rotate it back left until you hear a solid 'click'. Even though the manual doesn't mention the bit about taking the finger off the unlocking button and rotating back left after rotating right, on my M9 the correct bright lines will not always activate if I don't because the M-mount action is a bit stiff. Perhaps it is something similar with your M9, or perhaps not, but it is worth checking out at least as it could save you from sending it back.

 

I hope that is of some help.

 

Kind regards,

 

Jeff

 

Thanks. I followed your instructions exactly with a 28, 35, 50, and 135mm lens. I certainly hear the solid click. It's still not working correctly.

[k-hawinkler]

I think you have the solution Jeff, the lens is being over rotated in the mount.

 

Steve

 

Thanks. I followed Jeff's instruction. Doesn't seem to make a difference on my M9. Sorry.

[jaapv]

The behaviour of the framelines when pushing the roller is totally normal. That is the parallax compensation. However, it looks like the frameline switch activation doesn't work. When you look in the camera mouth, on the side of the frameline lever, just behind the bayonet lug, there is a small (ca 6mm) bright metal lug, which transmits the focal length to the camera. It might be stuck in the end position. Try to give it a nudge upwards. If you are lucky it will click in place again, as it is springloaded. It may be a once-off due to a lens that has been overrotated too enthusiastically, or maybe because you had the lens release button pushed when you mounted the lens. If the mount is stiff it may happen that it suddenly starts rotating and the lug is hit with some force. On the M9 it is not good practice to push the lens release when mounting the lens. On the M8 one can do it with a 135 lens to overrotate bring up the 90 mm frame, but gently.

The red light coming on has been discussed extensively in some other threads. Not to worry on that account.

[k-hawinkler]

Jaap,

 

Many thanks for your feedback.

 

The behaviour of the framelines when pushing the roller is totally normal. That is the parallax compensation.

 

Understood. Great.

 

However, it looks like the frameline switch activation doesn't work. When you look in the camera mouth, on the side of the frameline lever, just behind the bayonet lug, there is a small (ca 6mm) bright metal lug, which transmits the focal length to the camera. It might be stuck in the end position. Try to give it a nudge upwards. If you are lucky it will click in place again, as it is springloaded.

 

I can see the small (ca 6mm) bright metal lug. It is attached to the lever and moves downward by about 4mm when I rotate the lever towards the lens opening. When I release the lever it moves back up to its original position.

 

BTW, when I attach a 50mm lens the lever rotates into the middle position. When I detach the lens the lever rotates back to the farthest position from the lens opening. Attaching a 35mm or 135mm lens leaves the lever in the farthest position from the lens. Attaching a 28mm lens rotates the lever closest to the lens.

 

It may be a once-off due to a lens that has been overrotated too enthusiastically, or maybe because you had the lens release button pushed when you mounted the lens.

 

I am sure I have done both.

 

If the mount is stiff it may happen that it suddenly starts rotating and the lug is hit with some force. On the M9 it is not good practice to push the lens release when mounting the lens.

 

Thanks. That's good to know.

 

On the M8 one can do it with a 135 lens to overrotate bring up the 90 mm frame, but gently.

 

My M9's problem is that it apparently only displays the 35/135mm bright-line pair.

 

The red light coming on has been discussed extensively in some other threads. Not to worry on that account.

 

I am well aware of that discussion and not worried at all about this issue.

 

So, from these observations I am getting the impression that the lever/metal lug behave correctly but are not coupled with whatever changes the bright-line pairs.

 

What's your conclusion and recommendation?

 

Again, many thanks. With best regards, K-H.

[k-hawinkler]

I'd call Leica directly, unless B+H have a camera to swap (which I doubt) they're just going to send it to Leica. For an M9 they should jump on it directly.

 

Also, the problem you describe is purely mechanical, doesn't matter which version of the firmware you've got. The frame line selector mechanism has been around since the M3 (60 yrs) and should be an easy and prompt fix.

 

c.

 

Thanks. I talked with an B&H representative who pointed out that they have no M9s in stock, that I have a 2-year warranty, and am better off sending the M9 to Leica NJ for repair.

However, I am wondering whether I wouldn't get faster turn around by sending the camera to Solms? I believe I saw a discussion to this effect on another thread.

 

Thanks again, K-H.

[carlmuck]

k-h. Leica NJ has been very good to me. My m8 was upgraded over a 72 hour period (from leaving my office to return). My m9 went on for an SD card problem and was turned around promptly. (96 hours this time but it included a weekend)

 

just sending it to Solms from the US and back will be 48 hours.

 

c.

[jaapv]

Jaap,

 

Many thanks for your feedback.

 

 

 

Understood. Great.

 

 

 

I can see the small (ca 6mm) bright metal lug. It is attached to the lever and moves downward by about 4mm when I rotate the lever towards the lens opening. When I release the lever it moves back up to its original position.

 

BTW, when I attach a 50mm lens the lever rotates into the middle position. When I detach the lens the lever rotates back to the farthest position from the lens opening. Attaching a 35mm or 135mm lens leaves the lever in the farthest position from the lens. Attaching a 28mm lens rotates the lever closest to the lens.

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

In that case the connection between the mechanism and the frameline template has been lost. The camera will have to be repaired/exchanged. It is probably a small thing, and basically somebody like DAG could do it. That is not wise due to guarantee issues.

[hoppyman]

Thanks. Understood. I moved the lever but only one pair of brightlines shows up.

Sorry, no joke. There also is the issue with the red LED coming on when the switch is set to off and then pressed down. Are you suggesting that's a mechanical problem too?

 

I do not believe that the brief lighting of the LED when you press the shutter release is a fault. At least, there is no evidence that the battery is being drained prematurely.

I don't know whether this happened before the firmware update. My M9 certainly does do this now also.

 

Regarding the frame-line problem, this does sound like the activation is stuck. There have been repots here that Solms are turning around any M9 sent for repair very quickly. I guess that you will have to decide whether you could wait for a replacement from B&H, or a fix by Leica USA or send it to Solms. It would be tough to be without your M9! If it was mine I would send it to Solms.

I have had superb service from Andrea Frankl at Customer Service there before and some friends have had the same experience.

 

Address:

Leica Camera AG

Leica Customer Service

Solmser Gewerbepark 8

35606 Solms

 

Contact person:

Andrea Frankl, Eberhard Jakob, Ursula Brand-Gerheim, Silke Novak, Gabriele Arnold

 

Phone:

06442 - 208 189

 

Fax:

06442 - 208 339

 

E-mail:

cs@leica-camera.com

[k-hawinkler]

I do not believe that the brief lighting of the LED when you press the shutter release is a fault. At least, there is no evidence that the battery is being drained prematurely.

 

My battery holds its charge very well inside the M9 as well, no premature draining.

 

I don't know whether this happened before the firmware update. My M9 certainly does do this now also.

 

My M9 exhibits a brief lighting of the LED with old and new FW.

 

Thanks, K-H.

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[k-hawinkler]

In that case the connection between the mechanism and the frameline template has been lost. The camera will have to be repaired/exchanged. It is probably a small thing, and basically somebody like DAG could do it. That is not wise due to guarantee issues.

 

Jaap,

 

As always many thanks for your guidance.

I will send in the camera to Leica.

 

With best regards, K-H.

[k-hawinkler]

k-h. Leica NJ has been very good to me. My m8 was upgraded over a 72 hour period (from leaving my office to return). My m9 went on for an SD card problem and was turned around promptly. (96 hours this time but it included a weekend)

 

just sending it to Solms from the US and back will be 48 hours.

 

c.

 

c.,

 

Many thanks. I will get in touch with Leica and find out whether Leica NJ or Solms has the better turn around at the moment.

 

With best regards, K-H.