bola_dor Posted July 29, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 29, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, I have an earlier DS M3 it is working very good but I notice that the central "bright window" in the center of the viewfinder looks foggy, very low contrasted and is really difficult to focus with. it is not dark just looks like if the front glass is dirty, which I have cleaned... if subject is really contrasted you can use it to focus bu t in normal to low light is really impossible. I hope is not the "detaching", I see no signs of this , otherwise viewfinder visibility is really good, and the window is in no way dark,, just foggy. any thoughts? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 29, 2014 Posted July 29, 2014 Hi bola_dor, Take a look here Focusing window looks foggy in M3. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
luigi bertolotti Posted July 29, 2014 Share #2 Posted July 29, 2014 Welcome to the forum !!! If fogginess is just on the CENTRAL part, to say, on the small rectangle of the RF, the problem could be in the small internal prism that reflects the image caught by the small (left-from front) rangefinder window (which you say is well clean) : a good lab can open your M3, extract the RF assembly and perform a good cleaning of it; M3 is such a fine camera to have that I think it can be worth ,in the occasion, to have a complete CLA (Clean, Lubricate, Adjust) of it : it does not cost too much and can guarantee you dozens of years of satisfactory usage of one of the best cameras in the photo history (there is NONE, in this forum at least , who disagrees with this) Here, I mean in the "Collectors and Historica" section, we are always interested in SEEING items like yours : if you like to post some pictures of your M3, they are always welcome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bola_dor Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted July 29, 2014 Hi Luiggi, It may be difficult in here to get specialized people to disassembly this Leica M, do you think some carefull person, dedicated to old cameras but not specifically to Leicas can do some like this? I,ll make some Pictures of the camera and lenses to show here, I understand is an earlier model, double stroke, glass back plate, and scientific speed markings. have it with a Sumicron f=5cm 1:2 dual range with it´s googles (I think the seccond version of it, without the infinite lock) and an Elmarit 1:28/135.(fixed googles) all in very good condition but the leather case that needs some restoration.. Thanks for the answer.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted July 29, 2014 Share #4 Posted July 29, 2014 Unfortunately, a generic "good camera mechanic" is not the right person... : the Rangefinder mechanism of Leica M is an assembly which is VERY specific of it... to say, not like shutters, or film advance mechanism, which are basically rather similar on many cameras (Leica included) : the Rangefinder is not SO complicated to understand... it's a very smartly engineered device... but has 3 or 4 subtle details that are WELL KNOWN to Leica specialized technicians... but they can look "alien" or even be unidentified by people who has never worked onto them (btw, maintenance manuals for classic Leicas do abound... they can even be found on the Net... but manual is one thing, putting into your hands & proper tools is another matter). Where are you located ? There are very trustable Leica repair shops in Euorope, USA, Japan, and even in Australia... By the way... your Leica seems an interesting "first generation" item... and even the Summicron 50 does worth a picture here ...the detail you quote about the absence of focus knob is intriguing... this Forum is full of people who likes a lot to see such items. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bola_dor Posted July 29, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted July 29, 2014 Hi,, I am in Argentina, perhaps if there is some one here ho knows about a good Leica aware service in here may help me. I promise to show you pictures as soon as I can.. Today I went shooting, one tip I discovered to focus is obscuring main rangefinder window with a finger to better see some image in the central one, and remember its position to match it with the main one once uncovered. tricky but worked.. I guess.. Thanks again for the answer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted July 30, 2014 Share #6 Posted July 30, 2014 No idea about Argentina and neighbors... ... well... you could avoid ocean crossing and send it to DAG of USA... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted August 4, 2014 Share #7 Posted August 4, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi,,I am in Argentina, perhaps if there is some one here ho knows about a good Leica aware service in here may help me. I promise to show you pictures as soon as I can.. Today I went shooting, one tip I discovered to focus is obscuring main rangefinder window with a finger to better see some image in the central one, and remember its position to match it with the main one once uncovered. tricky but worked.. I guess.. Thanks again for the answer. FedEx is your friend Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 4, 2014 Share #8 Posted August 4, 2014 Welcome to the forum, Bola_Dor. It is pleasing to read of a a new M3 owner caring for his classic camera. Good advice above. Avoid handing to an non-Leica specialist repairer. Happily you are still able to use your Leica. Take good care of it and use it often. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bola_dor Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted August 5, 2014 Hi, I ´ve attached Pictures of my camera with its sumicron 5cm I have it´s googles too, a tele , it´s letther case and a Leica meter.. I uploaded some pictures trhu the viewfinder, one blocking the main window. and picutures taken bacwards thru both frontal view finders.. perhaps one of you can tellme prism is not detached.. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/231290-focusing-window-looks-foggy-in-m3/?do=findComment&comment=2644116'>More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted August 6, 2014 Share #10 Posted August 6, 2014 Thanks for the pictures : from what I can understand, it's simply a matter of having the well done cleaning / adjusting we spoke in the first posts : by the way, the camera looks in good conditions, is a "first generation" M3 with its distinctive details (shutter times, strap lugs, no frame selector, glass pressure plate - from what you wrote) , so, definitely a camera that really deserves a checkup : it's fine, has a significant value and will keep it. I like also the Summicron DR, of the same age of the camera... write me a PM in case you think of no more having it... (my one is the 2nd version, and I love variants of those fine items...) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bola_dor Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted August 6, 2014 Thanks for the reply.. and the good hope.. Camera and lens really looks (and feels) good.. I ve took a roll of pictures in various timings and all were well exposed... so I feel happy.. By now I'm only thinking about selling it in case prism is detached as is unable to be repeared in here. And I see some one in Europe may have this fixed. I've found a Leica specialized sercice not far from here so I'll have it diagnosed and CLA soon. By the way are you in Italy? Bertolotti is some comon name in Argentina where we had an important Italian inmigration.. Cheers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeswe Posted August 6, 2014 Share #12 Posted August 6, 2014 Maybe this is the person not far from you that you already mentioned, I just list it that it will not go unnoticed by you: Victor E. Nasello Hipòlito Yrigoyen 615, PB “A” Buenos Aires, Argentina Phone (5411) 4343-4076 This is taken from the "Leica Repair Specialist" list of this forum. Don't ask, I have no personal experience or connection with this repair shop, I just looked up the name from the list. I hope he is still in business. From the pictures it doesn't look as if there is a problem with prism separation in your camera (this would appear as, starting from the sides, parts of the viewfinder or even the whole blackening out). It could well be that a thorough cleaning of the viewfinder system is all that is needed. The specialist will tell you! If you intend to shoot with your camera (which I strongly recommend), it looks like a fine and beautifully aged sample which is certainly worth the cost of having it overhauled! Congratulations! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bola_dor Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted August 6, 2014 Yes, I knew Victor Nasello has passed away but I called that number and busines is still on. So I'll get there in a few days to let them see the camera. Thanks for pointing it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bola_dor Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share #14 Posted September 15, 2014 Yes, I knew Victor Nasello has passed away but I called that number and busines is still on. So I'll get there in a few days to let them see the camera.Thanks for pointing it. Hi. My camera has a diagnosis. . Focus sysyem is not detached but sone kind of mirror is degraded and not working as a mirror any more. Problem is they can not fix this. It seems to be a comon issue as I saw two M3 in the same condition.. Is there a way to restore / resilver or change that mirror? Couldn' find in this country so perhaps I'll let the camera take a travell.. Any contact in US or Europe who could take care of this? Thanks Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 15, 2014 Share #15 Posted September 15, 2014 Mail Will van Manen: kamera-service<at> ziggo <dot> NL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted September 15, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 15, 2014 Googled a bit: CRR, Luton, UK M2/3/4 Rangefinder Restoration Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted September 15, 2014 Share #17 Posted September 15, 2014 Hi. My camera has a diagnosis. .Focus sysyem is not detached but sone kind of mirror is degraded and not working as a mirror any more. .... Thanks Happened to my M2 years ago... "resilvering" the mirror is quite to impossible, spares are scarce... but complete RF/VF assemblies ar available in the ecosystem of expert repairers (and the 2 names given to you, Van Manen andCRR Luton, are surely of this kind ; in Italy : SAM.CA , Genova) : probably the best solution. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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