Question about the MP shutter

[ezc203]

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Hi guys,

 

I have a question about my Leica MP. I recently realized that when I shoot at slower shutter speeds (1/15 and slower), the shutter feels very "soft". In other words, its not as crisp as it is at 1/30 or above. It doesn't cause a problem in exposure or the picture taken. It just feels "soft".

 

Is this a defect or just the nature of the shutter?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Xmas]

Hi Eddie

 

Do you mean the release is different in feel or

 

The impulse from the shutter acceleration is different?

 

You might be able to detect the latter, but you need to be real sensitive.

 

Noel

[ezc203]

I guess, my feelings would the be former. It has a distinct "softer" feel to it. I really don't know how else to describe it.

[adan]

The MP and its mechanical predecessors (not M7) use different gear sets for shutter timing for 1/1000-1/60, 1/50 (sync speed), 1/30-1/15, and 1/8-1sec.

 

Turning the shutter dial one can feel faint resistance at the points the gears "shift."

 

At 1/30-1/15, there is a faint "dropped ball-bearing" click-click sound after the exposure, as the gear train rebounds.

 

Below 1/15th, there is a "whirr" or "buzz" after the exposure, as the gear train rebounds. Roughly as long as the actual exposure time. So at 1/4 sec for example, one hears BZZZ-bzzz.

 

With the mechanical film Leicas, the shutter button really is a "release" - that is, it is not applying and does not require force to "make" the shutter fire, it is simply sliding an obstruction out of the way so that the cocked spring power can do its thing.

 

I guess it is possible that the spring tension of the cocked shutter is, via the different gearing, applying slightly less friction to the shutter button shaft at lower speeds. But I suspect it is more likely that the softer, "different," sound below 1/30th is just playing mind games with you.

[Xmas]

Hi

 

In a Barnack (and I think an M) the release button only releases the 1st curtain latch, independent of speed or B selection. The 2nd curtain is released dependent on rotation angle of roller blind spool of firsts curtain for fast speeds (faster than or equal to x) or held for the escapment to time out 1 sec to speed slower then x, or for the release button to be lifted for B.

 

B is the only speed that might have a release dependency.

 

Noel

[ezc203]

Thanks for the explanations.

 

Andy - What you say seems to match the feeling I'm getting. Thanks for explaining it.