payasam Posted August 10, 2014 Share #1 Posted August 10, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Ever since I got my M6, I have from time to time faced unexpected blinking meter LEDs. One arrow blinks, of course, when a lens cap is fitted: but I speak of one or both (depending on how many are lit) blinking even with lens cap off and when the viewed scene is within metering range. This happens when the light is low, but that is not all. Some while back the under-exposure LED blinked when I aimed the camera at a dimly lit area. When I aimed it at an area with more light, the over-exposure LED came on, but steady. However, when I closed the aperture so that both LEDs lit up, both began to blink. If experience is a guide, this phenomenon will cease in a while and return after several months. I am unable to explain it but have named it Cyclic (or Recurrent) Blinkorrhoea. A web search brought up only the following: "In low lght situations, the in-camera meter can be blinking and make it challenging to compose a shot." (http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/film-forum/228895-leica-m6-m4-p.html) [Posted in two forums so that there is a better chance of getting an explanation.] Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 10, 2014 Posted August 10, 2014 Hi payasam, Take a look here M6 LEDs blinking. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
normclarke Posted August 10, 2014 Share #2 Posted August 10, 2014 Sounds like batteries to me. Best, normclarke. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted August 10, 2014 Share #3 Posted August 10, 2014 Low batteries just cause the LED's to go dim, if I recall. Blinking can be associated with light levels being too low. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeicaBraz Posted August 10, 2014 Share #4 Posted August 10, 2014 The fact that the problem is gone and then resurfaces after a few months indicates there is a malfunction. Some of the light meter contacts of the M6 go awry after a time. Any particular reason you don't want to have it serviced? Brgds Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted August 10, 2014 Share #5 Posted August 10, 2014 According to my handbook for the M6TTL, flashing LED indicates time to change the battery. Worth trying and remember to make sure the camera is not inadvertently draining power by switching itself on in your bag. For that reason, I did not wind on the film until just before resuming shooting. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted August 10, 2014 Share #6 Posted August 10, 2014 Not sure if your LEDs behave like those on my TTL but have a look at this current thread. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/showpost.php?p=2751413 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
payasam Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted August 13, 2014 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you, all. LeicaBraz, the camera was serviced less than a year ago. Only this LED blinking can be called a problem: and it is intermittent and temporary. Normclarke and David, mine is a pre-TTL and as Erl says, low batteries only make the LEDs go dim. We must also consider the fact that the problem disappears without a change of batteries. Edited August 13, 2014 by payasam making thing clearer Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted August 13, 2014 Share #8 Posted August 13, 2014 Despite the recent service, it is possible something was missed at that time. If convenient, I would ask the service person to re-look at it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
payasam Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted August 13, 2014 Erl, the man who did the work is Don Goldberg. I told him three days ago about the LEDs blinking, and he said he couldn't explain it. It follows that he cannot set it right. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted August 13, 2014 Share #10 Posted August 13, 2014 Payasam, Don Goldberg is a good techy. I would next suggest a phone call direct to Leica if you have a local contact in your area, or an explicit email with observed details. Some sort of contact short of 'send it to us for a look', unless you can be without the camera for some time. I hope you have a spare body. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
payasam Posted August 13, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted August 13, 2014 Thank you, Erl. I am hoping that the phenomenon will continue to recur and disappear on its own. My chief difficulty is with incomprehension. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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