M Monochrom rangefinder problem

[ozdavid]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi, We're holidaying in the Piedmont in Northern Italy. I have both my M9 and MM with me but overnight I have encountered a problem with the MM. When looking through the viewfinder I see two images, one slightly above the other. The coincident images still work and focus, though the duplicated images are very distracting!

 

Is it likely that I've bumped the body and will need to get the rangefinder adjusted upon my return to Australia or are there any suggestions as to how I might effect a running repair (I'm not very technically gifted - indeed it might be said that in that respect I'm a bit challenged!)?

 

I would be very grateful of any suggestions.

 

I might note that I'm really enjoying the discipline of the MM, though, as others far more experienced than I have commented, it does challenge one's exposure.

 

At this time of year the Piedmont has continual haze and,noting the thread on filters, I have been experimenting with a B&W 22 yellow and in light of the thread, a B&W UV - Haze MRC with greater effect, as well as playing with exposure compensation. Though this is still a skill I'm trying to perfect.

 

Regards

David

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[johnbuckley]

David - so sorry to hear this. It is likely you bumped the rangefinder out of alignment. If you search the forum, you will find that there is a simple mechanism that can be adjusted if you have the right small tool. You might not wish to try this, but since you are on vacation and want to use the camera, it might be worth it. Good luck to you.

[ozdavid]

John,

 

THank you very much.

 

I'll go searching! Otherwise, I expect there are worse things than falling back on the M9 but I was so enjoying learning my way around the MM>

 

 

Regards

David

[marknorton]

Has it been like this since new? If so, it's down to sloppy work at Leica or possibly the camera has been subjected to shock in transit. I'd be surprised if you did it. Vertical misalignment is the easiest rangefinder malady to fix yourself but as it's in warranty, Leoca should do it. Depending on how long you are in Europe, you could consider getting it to Solms if they could turn it around quickly enough.

[ozdavid]

Hi Mark,

 

 

The camera was fine until yesterday. So somehow I think it might be my fault though I'm not sure what I did!

 

I've not done this to either my M8 or since I replaced that with the M9, that one either, so I just must have been a bit heavy on my bag in or out of the car we're using to explore the Piedmont.

 

I've only got a week left and suspect that I'm better to get it fixed in Melbourne upon my return. Leica at last have a quite reasonable service agent in Melbourne that can undertake relatively straight forward repairs and adjustments. Even if I sought Gerald's help at Solms I doubt they could turn it around in time and I'm too far away to just drop in.

 

I at least have my M9 and the MM is not wholly unusable though not ideal.

 

Thanks for your response.

 

Best wishes

David

[chris_tribble]

David - sorry you've had this problem. However, although it's a distraction it shouldn't affect the final focus of images. I'd run a check against close and distant objects and if it's OK then you can enjoy your holiday and wait to get it sorted out under warranty.

[ozdavid]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Chris,

 

 

Thanks. I think you're right. It appears, in the short term to be more an inconvenience than a real obstacle.

 

So tomorrow back to my learning experience - using it does make me think more and yet street work is somehow much more rewarding in these medieval settings than working in colour with my M9.

 

Thanks again

 

David