Hugh 38 Posted September 14, 2014 Share #1 Posted September 14, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) My much loved black SL2 is in need of repairs. When I turn on the light meter the thin stick ( needle) does not drop down from the top of the screen to line up with the paper clip . For a few months now I have had to tap the top of the camera and the stick drops down , and off I go . Perfect exposure , mechanically fine and a delight to use . Assuming I can get it repaired should I go ahead ? I mainly use slide film and there is less around now . I have about 45 rolls of black and white in the fridge and some colour negative . I can shoot that on other reflex bodies , such as my silver SL2 so I would not be without camera . I am concerned that I would get the black SL2 repaired and not be able to do anything with it . I bought the black SL2 , used , in November 1992 and used it a lot . It would be sad to abandon it along with a defective R3 and R4 . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 14, 2014 Posted September 14, 2014 Hi Hugh 38, Take a look here SL2 Repair Dilema. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
bocaburger Posted September 14, 2014 Share #2 Posted September 14, 2014 Wow that's a tough call to make. Given the reluctance if not refusal of specalist Leica techs to do partial repairs it might very well cost more than the camera's residual value to get it fixed. Perhaps a general camera repair place would fix just the sticky meter needle for less money, Idk. If you can use a handheld meter, or live with the wonky meter and use it for C41 and b&w, then use the silver one for E6, perhaps that's an option to consider. Both my venerable Nikon Photomic FTn meter heads have bit the dust for the second time, the guy I used to use for repairs has sadly passed away, and I almost never shoot film anymore, so I don't plan on having them fixed. You got 22 years out of a camera that was 24 years old when you bought it, and it still functions except for the sticky meter. That speaks for the quality of the SL2. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted September 14, 2014 Share #3 Posted September 14, 2014 About us - Red Dot Cameras dunk Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbealnz Posted September 15, 2014 Share #4 Posted September 15, 2014 While each is different, I'd get it repaired, and be happy that it will go for years to come. The longer you leave it the more difficult it could be to actually get the repair done. I certainly got my SL repaired recently, similar issue. Gary Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 38 Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted September 18, 2014 Thanks for the replies. I had forgotten how old it is, or that I have had it for 22 years . It has served me well . I was going to take it to a local repair place , along with a P600 projector . When I got there the shop had closed . The owner was in his 80's ! I tok the projector to a TV repair shop along the road as it needed a new battery terminal in the remote which is universal . I do not like having to use a separate light meter as I find it a fiddle . However it can be done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobbylon Posted December 14, 2014 Share #6 Posted December 14, 2014 I'd send it to Peter at CRR or Ton Scherpenborg in the Nederlands for a full service and it will be good for another 20 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted December 14, 2014 Share #7 Posted December 14, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) One thing I would mention re the lightmeter in the SL, the little battery contact tab inside the battery compartment tends to get tired with age and loses it's springiness, so it doesn't make strong contact. I bought an SL a while back and the meter didn't work at all, but I took a small needle-nose tweezer and very gently, so as not to bend the tab too much so it breaks in case it's brittle from work-hardening inserted a tiny piece of 1.5mm thick rubber (cut from a mouse pad) underneath the tab. The meter came back to life and worked perfectly. Not saying that's going to fix this one, but it fixed mine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
topoxforddoc Posted December 14, 2014 Share #8 Posted December 14, 2014 I would send it to Peter Grisalfi at CRR in Luton. He has a waiting list, but gets on with the work very promptly, when it's your turn. Price Guide 2012/13 -Leica Repairs Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joop van Heijgen Posted December 14, 2014 Share #9 Posted December 14, 2014 "When I turn on the light meter the thin stick ( needle) does not drop down from the top of the screen to line up with the paper clip" The SL 2 is it worth to repair...To repair the meter must be not a big thing for a Leica repairman:) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 38 Posted December 15, 2014 Author Share #10 Posted December 15, 2014 I have spoken to Peter at CRR and and I will possibly send it t o him. He has done many repairs for me in the past and is jolly good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axiomat Posted February 19, 2015 Share #11 Posted February 19, 2015 I have a very fond relationship with Leicaflexes even after using, and selling the Leica M3 series to afford one. I would urge you to get the SL2 up to snuff just to ensure it's survival. There will come a time in your life when it will be advantageous to have it at your disposal if you're dedicated to film and it's finer points. They are lovely cameras, and I will never, ever sell another film Leica, just because I need the money. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lm_user Posted February 21, 2015 Share #12 Posted February 21, 2015 Meter in my Leicaflex does not work. I use a hand held meter - just like M3. You could just invest in a new meter and keep shooting.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted March 6, 2015 Share #13 Posted March 6, 2015 Fix it now while there are people who know how are still around. SL2 is a complicated repair. But if you believe film will go away, they the decision may be different. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveYork Posted March 14, 2015 Share #14 Posted March 14, 2015 1. I've repaired a few of the Leicaflex (all three versions) where the costs of repair probably equaled or exceeded the value of the camera, but I use these cameras a lot, just about every day, it's my main camera now (soon the SL to be the only camera model in the house), so for me, the costs was worth it. As many of you know, there's something unique (in a good way) about the Leicaflex that other mechanical cameras can't match. It's almost as fun taking the picture as getting the picture. 2. I don't think film (esp. B&W) will ever disappear. I remember back in the photo.net days, circa 2002, when all the digital heads were saying it would only be a matter of years. It's going to be here for the foreseeable future. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted March 14, 2015 Share #15 Posted March 14, 2015 I know it's easy for me to say, but I'm sure you'd get your reward in heaven for keeping another example of these wonderful cameras working on earth. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted March 15, 2015 Share #16 Posted March 15, 2015 I know it's easy for me to say, but I'm sure you'd get your reward in heaven for keeping another example of these wonderful cameras working on earth. I'm not sure, John. A fellow went to heaven and because he was a photographer he was given a Kodak Brownie, and when he protested he was told, "Sorry. In heaven only God has a Leica." . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
masjah Posted March 15, 2015 Share #17 Posted March 15, 2015 I'm not sure, John. A fellow went to heaven and because he was a photographer he was given a Kodak Brownie, and when he protested he was told, "Sorry. In heaven only God has a Leica.". :D:D Pico, in that case all the more reason to get it fixed in order to enjoy it while you can! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Davidson Posted November 12, 2018 Share #18 Posted November 12, 2018 There should be an article coming out in the winter 2018 issue of The Leica Society magazine covering some repairs on an SL2. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumprat Posted April 8, 2021 Share #19 Posted April 8, 2021 Hi Guys, I am a Leica Factory trained Technician. This lack of meter movement can be caused by several situations. However, I started to see this years ago. Caused by the material on the meter needle guide becoming tacky. Better to use a hand held meter than attempting repair. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted April 8, 2021 Share #20 Posted April 8, 2021 This is a thread from 2014. Unfortunately, in the meantime, virtually any repair on R cameras has become impossible due to lack of spare parts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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