spydrxx Posted February 4, 2007 Share #21 Posted February 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I admit to being skeptical as well, but once I tried the SL and SL2, I became hooked; kept the SL2 and sold the SL to a very grateful Leica aficionado. BTW I also have a Nikon F100 and have used some of my Leica lenses on it via a Cameraquest adapter (those which can be used in a Visoflex mount). If you're thinking of going this route, with regard to the Telyt 560 & 400 lenses, you need to make sure you use one which can be used on an M camera via the Visoflex mount...there is insufficient flange distance on the Nikons to use a strictly R lens and have the capability to focus to infinity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 4, 2007 Posted February 4, 2007 Hi spydrxx, Take a look here Telyt 560/400 6.8 question. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rafael_macia Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share #22 Posted February 6, 2007 If you get an SL that needs a CLA and you have all these upgrades done to it you will have a camera body that will last for a lifetime. I've purchased SL bodies in good working condition for as little as US$200, none of my SL bodies has a metal take-up spool, and re-calibrating the meter for 1.5-volt silver-oxide cells isn't difficult. I wonder ..... Can the meter be recalibrated easily without taking it in for service?. The difference between the 1.35 mercury, and the silver oxide or alkaline 1.5 batteries is exactly .6 (The newer batteries in an un recalibrated SL will overexpose exposures by just slightly over 1/2 stop. That could probably be just compensated for in adusting the film speed setting by setting it higher?. ne' cest pas? Rafael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafael_macia Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share #23 Posted February 6, 2007 I admit to being skeptical as well, but once I tried the SL and SL2, I became hooked; kept the SL2 and sold the SL to a very grateful Leica aficionado. BTW I also have a Nikon F100 and have used some of my Leica lenses on it via a Cameraquest adapter (those which can be used in a Visoflex mount). If you're thinking of going this route, with regard to the Telyt 560 & 400 lenses, you need to make sure you use one which can be used on an M camera via the Visoflex mount...there is insufficient flange distance on the Nikons to use a strictly R lens and have the capability to focus to infinity. So in other words .... If I choose to use the cameraqquest adapter (Visoflex lens to Nikon body) I need to use the Telyt rear tube that is for using the Telyt on a Visoflex? (I have both Viso tube, and R tube). My guess is Viso tube to camera quest to Nikon body Your expert opinion appreciated! thanks Rafael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted February 6, 2007 Share #24 Posted February 6, 2007 So in other words ....If I choose to use the cameraqquest adapter (Visoflex lens to Nikon body) I need to use the Telyt rear tube that is for using the Telyt on a Visoflex? (I have both Viso tube, and R tube). My guess is Viso tube to camera quest to Nikon body Correct. As to re-calibrating the Leicaflex meter, it depends on how handy you are. Basically, one needs to install a Schottky diode into the meter circuit to drop the voltage from 1.5 to 1.35. Information on this is quite easily obtained via Google and I believe that Doug Herr has some Leicaflex information on his site, maybe even regarding the meter's calibration. If not, send me a private message with your email - I have a saved Word document with basic calibration instructions. I don't recall where I found it, maybe it is from Doug's site..... The other issue will be the type of battery you use. Stay away from A625 (Alkaline), use the Silver Oxide variety. Alkaline batteries' voltage drops gradually, so that you will not have a constant voltage; it will vary depending on the state of the battery. Silver Oxide batteries on the other hand, have a discharge curve very similar to Mercury batteries - much flatter than Alkalines. All the best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafael_macia Posted February 6, 2007 Author Share #25 Posted February 6, 2007 Thanks Jan! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
telyt Posted February 6, 2007 Share #26 Posted February 6, 2007 I use the 625s silver-oxide batteries, and calibrate the meter to match my R8. Behind the strip of leatherette on the front of the prism housing are three access holes for the meter's trim pots. The pot on the film-advance end is to calibrate the battery test, the one on the opposite end is for the high meter range and the middle pot is for the low range. There's some interaction between the pots so it will take a few adjustment iterations. First, calibrate the battery test. The battery test pot is on the film-advance end of the front of the prism. Adjust so that the needle points to the lower dot in the viewfinder when you press the battery test button. Next you adjust the high range (rewind end) pot, then the low range (middle), to match your reference meter. Adjusting the high range will influence the battery test, so it may take a few iterations. Likewise, adjusting the low range will influence the high range, so go back to the high range pot and re-adjust, then re-adjust the low range again. Repeat until adjustments are negligible. Re-attach the leatherette strip with Pliobond or rubber cement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nbgronlie Posted February 6, 2007 Share #27 Posted February 6, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) When Leica USA calibrated one of my SLs for the silver oxide battery (1.6v), I noticed they also changed one of the bridge resistors for the meter circuit. Unfortunately, without taking the top cover off of the camera, I was not able to examine the circuit to get the details of this change. If anyone knows the correct resistance values for silver oxide cells, I would be interested to learn them. This SL had been calibrated for the original mercury oxide battery (1.35v). When following the procedure Doug outlines above, I found it was not possible to achieve the desired adjustment for silver oxide batteries myself without considering the values of the bridge resistance. Not wanting to take this on with the camera overdue for a CLA, I decided to leave it to Leica in due time. So, trying to make the meter calibration adjustments yourself is not guaranteed to be successful -- it depends on certain resitance values in the meter bridge circuit. However, if your SL camera has ever been modified and calibrated for the 1.55v alkaline cells, then the adjustment process described should work as expected when changing to silver oxide cells. Regards, Neal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafael_macia Posted February 7, 2007 Author Share #28 Posted February 7, 2007 Thanks to everyone for all the helpful advice. After looking high and low for an SL, and not coming up with one that to me "seemed right" (I realize with my limited knowledge of Leica Reflex, I may have turned down good ones), After looking, I spotted an R4 at a reputalbe Leica dealer,at a real good price ($200)which has had "the baffles replaced", and sounds like it's ready to go. So for the moment, I am Ok, waiting for my R4 to arrive. It has a split image screen, I was told, so I am thinking I will have to replace that with a matte screen. That should not be too complicated. I will save this thread for when I find a perfect "cougar" Leicaflex SL. Thanks again all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafael_macia Posted February 9, 2007 Author Share #29 Posted February 9, 2007 The scenario draws to a close. The R4 body arrived from Popflash Photo and it much better than I imagined. Along with it,(which I was surprised to receive), came some Leica vintage R booklets, along with an instruction manual. The booklets, especially "Useful Accessories for the Leica R4", was perfect, since it showed the electric release in use with the 400/560 6.8's. And wonder of wonders, Popflash also had a winder, and the electric release, at fair prices. So I got them too. I do highly recommend Popflash. All that is left on my list of things to get for the R4 is a groundglss screen Leica #14304 Now if the weather would just warm up.... RM Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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