Ivi Posted July 22, 2020 Share #1  Posted July 22, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I am new to this forum and would really appreciate your help. The light meter in my RE constantly shows the upper arrow on the top up the shutter speed column while also indicating low light with the icon on the bottom left.  When I point at the sky midday it still shows low light...I am using 400 ISO and nothing changes as I change aperture. And then sometimes it works perfectly. The camera has been out of use for at least 15 years. If this is fixable I would pursue using this camera with a 35mm lens, but I am also confused about the Cam I,II,III options involving the lenses. Wondering that that night be the issue? Thanks! Ivi Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 22, 2020 Posted July 22, 2020 Hi Ivi, Take a look here Leica RE light meter issue. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted July 22, 2020 Share #2 Â Posted July 22, 2020 I fear that if the camera is irreparable through lack of spare parts. It does indeed need three-cam or R-only lenses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith (M) Posted July 22, 2020 Share #3 Â Posted July 22, 2020 If it is only a meter problem, why not just put the camera in manual mode and use a hand-held meter? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted July 22, 2020 Share #4 Â Posted July 22, 2020 One of the best USA Leica technicians (Don Goldberg) said he will no longer work on the R model cameras, as he says they now have too many weaknesses and often develop other problems when you fix one. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 22, 2020 Share #5 Â Posted July 22, 2020 Are you sure you have fresh batteries? If yes, it might just be dirty contacts on the metering/shutter speed dial. Try the camera in manual mode - do the speeds seem correct? You could use it in manual mode (if the shutter works correctly) or ask a camera tech to clean the contacts, although it could be money down the drain......... the choice is yours. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivi Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share #6  Posted July 22, 2020 4 hours ago, Keith (M) said: If it is only a meter problem, why not just put the camera in manual mode and use a hand-held meter? I don't have a hand held meter and to be honest I need something easy to use for this project I am working on.  Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivi Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share #7  Posted July 22, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) 19 minutes ago, earleygallery said: Are you sure you have fresh batteries? If yes, it might just be dirty contacts on the metering/shutter speed dial. Try the camera in manual mode - do the speeds seem correct? You could use it in manual mode (if the shutter works correctly) or ask a camera tech to clean the contacts, although it could be money down the drain......... the choice is yours. I have my first roll of film in it, so I guess I will found out if the shutter works correctly once the film is developed. 100% fresh batteries. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivi Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share #8  Posted July 22, 2020 3 hours ago, TomB_tx said: One of the best USA Leica technicians (Don Goldberg) said he will no longer work on the R model cameras, as he says they now have too many weaknesses and often develop other problems when you fix one. Thanks that is really useful to know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivi Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share #9  Posted July 22, 2020 Overall thank you all so much for responding, you really helped me make a decision about perhaps letting this Leica go. I am working on writing and photographing a book so I need something a lot more reliable than my RE. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canonier Posted July 23, 2020 Share #10 Â Posted July 23, 2020 What about the issue with the right lens? Which lens(es) are you using currently? It is easy to find out if your lenses are the correct ones. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted July 23, 2020 Share #11  Posted July 23, 2020 28 minutes ago, Canonier said: What about the issue with the right lens? Which lens(es) are you using currently? It is easy to find out if your lenses are the correct ones. Good point! What lens are you using at the moment? If it's not the correct type it may be why the odd readings are coming up in the viewfinder. The RE was a simplified version of the R5 and they are generally reliable cameras (the earlier R4 and variants are more liable to electrical faults). Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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