New M-A, lens seating problem

[Matlock]

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13 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

Matlock, in the red circle !

One of the four springs is in red circle  " ͜    " .

Those springs are to push the four claws of M lens when mounted.

True but it is the mounting tab that holds the lens secure.

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[swordmanc]

50 minutes ago, a.noctilux said:

Matlock, in the red circle !

One of the four springs is in red circle  " ͜    " .

Those springs are to push the four claws of M lens when mounted.

Right! That's what I am talking about. The springs doesn't have enough downward force to create sufficient friction. As a result the lens can still move even when it's locked.

[a.noctilux]

Some years ago, one of my M4 ( after some years of use ) had that same "loose lens mount" , I pointed that to the tech when I put the M4 for maintenance.

After that, the M4 was fine again and smart enough, he showed me where to gently "bent a very small bit" those four springs.

So since then, once in a while, I did that when needed.

[swordmanc]

1 hour ago, a.noctilux said:

Some years ago, one of my M4 ( after some years of use ) had that same "loose lens mount" , I pointed that to the tech when I put the M4 for maintenance.

After that, the M4 was fine again and smart enough, he showed me where to gently "bent a very small bit" those four springs.

So since then, once in a while, I did that when needed.

Interesting, I didn't know you could bend the spring directly cuz it's so small and I was afraid my clumsy finger would slip and scratch the camera body.

I was looking up how to take off the top plate to do that but that's more involved, I'd rather give the job to the pro.

Thank you for the info a.noctilux !

[dkmoore]

On 7/11/2019 at 4:40 PM, lldd said:

Just received a new M-A today, mounted a 35 lux and there is some play between the lens and the camera.  When I twist the lens left and right while holding at the base, there is slight movement in the mount.  Tried my APO 50 cron, and got the same result, although a bit tighter fit.  These lenses mount rock solid on my M10.  Has anyone else seen this behavior on the M-A or other film camera?

Just went out for a day of shooting with my brand new MP film camera and guess what? I have the same issue as you. I tried all four of my current Leica lenses and all had the same issue.

I was looking forward to shooting with it today..

Very, very frustrating. Return it is.

Edited December 15, 2019 by dkmoore

[dkmoore]

On 7/30/2019 at 1:14 AM, Matlock said:

I don't think this is correct as the mount is exactly the same on Digital or Film Ms. The protrusion connected to the release button springs into the recess on the lens and is a precision fit. The only problem I have ever experienced was with a 7artisans lens on some bodies as the lens partially depressed the release button preventing the lock to operate.

Also I am a little puzzled by the comment by the OP that the 35 lux was "rock solid" on his M10 and then in his last post state that he "discovered that the 35 lux involved also fits less tightly on the M10 than the APO 50". You can't have it both ways. It looks to me that it is a lens problem rather than a camera mount problem. 

Actually, I am experiencing exactly the same circumstance as indergaard and the OP. The 35 Lux is far more loose on my MP than it is on the M10P or MM1. 

I am starting to think it has something to do with the 35 Lux mount in conjunction with the film body.

[dkmoore]

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On 12/1/2019 at 9:00 AM, Landiah said:

I had this same issue on my new MP I got last month from Leica. Currently getting repaired. I was told there was apparently a batch that made it out with this issue - I am guessing the same thing happened with the M-A.

The MP also had an air bubble in the leather wrapping near the battery compartment. Thankfully Leica took it back to have that replaced at the same time. A bit disappointing to have this issue on a new camera of this stature, but nothing can be perfect. At the least, in my experience, they stand behind their product.

have you gotten your camera back? I am about to send in mine. did it need to go to Germany?

 

[lldd]

I'm the OP for this thread, and while it's a bummer that I was not the only person to see this issue, it at least validates my original concern (not withstanding some of the dismissive comments here regarding the stated problem).  Has anyone who experienced the problem received their repaired cameras back - curious to see what, and how effective, the fix was.

Edited December 18, 2019 by lldd

[Landiah]

On 12/16/2019 at 10:04 AM, dkmoore said:

have you gotten your camera back? I am about to send in mine. did it need to go to Germany?

 

I got mine back after three weeks. Everything was done at the Tokyo store as far as I know. 

[swordmanc]

Hi guys,

Just reporting back that I got my M-A back from the leica service recently. Took over 4 month but the mount has been adjusted and the issue is totally gone. The lens now mounts steadily with just right amount of tightness, no more plays or what's so ever.

I am a happy man again!

Cheers,

[Yaakov]

If I had done my research before ordering my MP I’m sure I did just go for something else from the old school Leica, my MP arrived last week and it scratches everything film I put on it. 
Leica QC is just way to low, this cameras come with a very high price tag and it seams we are just paying for the brand, what a disappointment.

[a.noctilux]

I hope that Leica Camera may take better care before delivering film M cameras.

 

[Crem]

Can anyone describe what tool(s) and process they used to bend the lens mount springs? I'm debating if I want to attempt this fix myself on my MP. Similar to others in this thread the problem is only with my 35 Lux. No other lens seems to have this problem. My copy of the 35 Lux is fairly stiff to focus compared to the very light focus of my other lenses and I'm guessing that extra torque means I can slightly bend the springs and solve the problem.

[a.noctilux]

Hello Crem,

In your place, I'd ask your dealer first.

I had done that on older M4, but I would not do it with my M-A 🤒.

Sorry.

New spring load can be broken, so I don't want to give false hope.

Let's live with our time of specialisation ...

[CosmoM3]

I can confirm that my Lux 35 FLE feel a bit looser (relatively speaking) on my Leica film bodies vs. any of my Leica M10 bodies (currently my M10-D).

I don't see this as being an issue though.

[Crem]

9 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

Hello Crem,

In your place, I'd ask your dealer first.

I had done that on older M4, but I would not do it with my M-A 🤒.

Sorry.

New spring load can be broken, so I don't want to give false hope.

Let's live with our time of specialisation ...

@a.noctilux My gut tells me you are right on this repair. I like to DIY when I know the fix is relatively simple and safe. Example being, I just fixed the vertical alignment of my M10M using info from this forum. I'd rate that fix a 1 out of 10 on the difficultly scale. This spring adjustment sounds more like a 5 out of 10 with risk of actual damage. Thank you for convincing me.😀

[jakontil]

6 hours ago, Crem said:

@a.noctilux My gut tells me you are right on this repair. I like to DIY when I know the fix is relatively simple and safe. Example being, I just fixed the vertical alignment of my M10M using info from this forum. I'd rate that fix a 1 out of 10 on the difficultly scale. This spring adjustment sounds more like a 5 out of 10 with risk of actual damage. Thank you for convincing me.😀

Crem, if it is 1 out of 10, thats darn difficult to do? 

[Crem]

1 hour ago, jakontil said:

Crem, if it is 1 out of 10, thats darn difficult to do? 

1 out of 10 being easy. 10 out of 10 being difficult. Fixing vertical alignment on the m10m requires a hex key, a screwdriver, and a drop of acetone. It’s about a 10 minutes repair with very little risk of breaking things.

I still think I could bend the lens tension spring myself, but @a.noctilux convinced me to hold off. If I break that spring I think it would require a lot of work to repair the camera.  Plus the embarrassment of having to tell the repair person I broke it 🤣

Edited May 26, 2022 by Crem

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[250swb]

On 5/25/2022 at 1:03 AM, Crem said:

 My copy of the 35 Lux is fairly stiff to focus compared to the very light focus of my other lenses and I'm guessing that extra torque means I can slightly bend the springs and solve the problem.

How do lens mount springs effect the looseness or stiffness of lens focusing , they aren't connected? 

[TomB_tx]

6 hours ago, 250swb said:

How do lens mount springs effect the looseness or stiffness of lens focusing , they aren't connected? 

Depending on the lens body design, strong tension on the mounting lugs can slightly distort the nearby lens body, and if the focus helicoid is in that area it can slightly bind the focus. I have a 1955 M3 that is very tight to mount lenses, and a few lenses definitely increase focus effort on that body - but not on other bodies.

No too many years ago Leica recalled a new lens (maybe 21 Super Elmar?) and beefed up the body near the mount because of this issue. Some users never noticed a problem, as the mount tightness varies body to body.