Broken M8 Viewfinder Eyepiece

[lemalk]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi everyone -

I dropped my M8 from about two feet (the first time I've ever dropped it) and it hit the tile floor.

 

At first, all looked ok then I realized the rangefinder alignment was off. I fixed that thanks to the help on this forum.

 

Then I realized that there was a crack in the viewfinder eyepiece (the round part on the back).

 

Does anyone know if this is a part I can replace myself and where I would be able to purchase a new piece of glass?

 

Mark Norton did a teardown of the M8 a couple of years ago, but I couldn't see how the eyepiece was held together.

 

Any insight or advice is appreciated. Thanks, all.

[lars_bergquist]

The eyepiece is screwed in, but it takes a special tool to unscrew it without seriously marring the finish. Hand the job to a Leica repair specialist. A new eyepiece is not hideously expensive.

 

The old man with the Polygrip®

[Doc Henry]

I agree with Lars

I will take perhaps this opportunity of the replacement,

to review the alignment of the rangefinder system following the fall

Henry

[christer]

My experience is with my M7s, but the M8 should be the same. I use a viewfinder magnifier which screws into "the viewfinder eyepiece (the round part on the back)".

 

Once when I wanted to unscrew the magnifier I unintentionally unscrewed the magnifier plus "the viewfinder eyepiece (the round part on the back)." I screwed the whole thing back in, turned firmly - and luckily enough the eyepiece got stuck so that was able to unscrew just the magnifier.

 

I have since unscrewed _only_ the eyepiece on my other M7 using a pair of ordinary pliers. I had put a few layers of insulating tape around the eyepiece before using the pliers and used very little force. There was no damage to the eyepiece. Time used: less than 3 minutes. Cost: 0,00

 

As you have been able to fix rangefinder misalignments, you must be able to unscrew eyepieces.

[bocaburger]

The early (first year) M7 was the last model to have a threaded-on eyepiece. The MP and all M7 made after the MP came out, and I assume the M8 and M9 as well, have an eyepiece that is held to the body casing with 3 little screws. The rubber protector pries off revealing the screws.

[lars_bergquist]

Ach so!

 

The old man with the Polygrip®

[lemalk]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Thanks to all for the advice. I think I may try to unscrew the eyepiece - doesn't sound too hard.

 

Any insight as to where I might be able to buy a replacement glass for it or even a part #? I'm in the U.S.

I'd hate to have to ship to Solms or New Jersey for something that should only take a few minutes.

[coup de foudre]

try Don at DAG Camera -- he seems to have everything (or at least knows how to get them).

 

for somewhere closer to home (so quicker), you can call Steve's Camera. Steve was my knight in shining armor with the R-D1, but i've also had him work on Leica lenses and bodies when i'm in the states.

[Shootist]

The eyepiece is screwed in, but it takes a special tool to unscrew it without seriously marring the finish. Hand the job to a Leica repair specialist. A new eyepiece is not hideously expensive.

 

The old man with the Polygrip®

 

The eye piece is NOT screwed into the cameras top plate, like older M's (up to the M4-P, I think). It is attached with screws to the camera top plate and to remove it you have to peel back the rubber around it.

[bocaburger]

Any insight as to where I might be able to buy a replacement glass for it or even a part #? I'm in the U.S.

 

Call Leica in Allendale, ask for Parts department, Dave Ellwell. He sold me one for my MP a few years ago. I think it was around $90.