R9 optical shutter problem.

[D.Elk-C]

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I have 2 Leica Camera bodies and eight R lenses.  All the lenses work perfectly on the R6 at all aperture stops.
On the R9,   non of the lenses perform at all , all the aperture stops fail to operate on all my lenses, the apertures stay wide open.  However, when the pre focus lever is pushed down to test depth of field, after that process, the camera shutter is fired, then that chosen aperture  is operated . To carry out another repeat exposure with  the camera, there is no response to the lens aperture mechanism, the lens aperture stays fully open. I have tried all the lenses through all the aperture stops and camera speeds.

 Apart from this, the rest of the R9 camera is perfect. 

            I have a feeling that it is something mechanical rather than electronic.

         Has anyone had this sort of R9 problem

I would hate to know that this R9 is a dustbin job…Can this camera be fixed,  or can you recommend someone who carries out repairs on R9’s.    

I live in West London.

 

 

 

[masjah]

Are you saying that, in order to get the correct exposure,  you have to continue to hold down the DOF preview lever as you are firing the shutter, or do you press down and release it, and then fire the shutter? If the former, then it sounds as if the automatic stop down just before firing (part of the open aperture metering system, and presumably some sort of solenoid system) has failed, whereas a separate simple mechanical system associated with the preview lever is still working.  I have to say that this is just speculative guesswork on my part, so I may well be talking nonsense.

When my R9 has not been used for a while, I notice that the preview mechanism is sluggish to return, until it has been operated manually  few times. It might just be worthwhile operating it several times without a lens or lens cap, and watching the stop-down mechanism move. A variation of this theme also to try is to press the preview lever, hold the stop down mechanism in the up position, release the preview lever, and then release the stop down mechanism. Do this a few times.

I don't hold out a lot of hope though, because, as implied above, I suspect that stop down as part of the shutter firing process is a separate mechanism from stop down via the preview lever.

Good luck, and sorry not to be able to be more helpful.

 

[jaapv]

Repairs are very problematic as there are no spare parts, additionally, the R9 is an over-engineered design and the aperture mechanism is quite complicated, making any repair - if at all possible- economically unattractive. Leica won't touch the camera, you would have to find a willing third-party workshop.

[hamey]

It's so sad, mine also has problems, whenever it's in the spot meter mode it always locks up and the shutter cannot go up above 500/s.

However my R8 has been wonderful, still working however I have retired it, some years ago I switched to Nikon F's for my film work.

Leica won't touch the camera, (didn't they build the camera)  oh yes they got rid of all the spare parts to make way for another DUD and that's the S system.

Well D.ELK-C you can do what I have done with my R cameras, I have placed them in my glass cabinet, they are certainly lovely to look at.

So don't loose heart, M8 & M9 users are also having same problems with spare parts and I am sure other models will follow in time.

Good luck.

[D.Elk-C]

Thank you so much for this information. The preview mechanism seems to be sluggish and there is also another part which I feel is a sleep, the return spring is only partially operating, it is extremely weak or the whole system needs a service.. The good news. After a series of activations the R9 has begun to open and close lens apertures which has been a massive improvement from none operation.. The lesson here, do not leave ones camera unused for weeks or months. It looks as if the R9 needs a service and maybe a replacement spring.

To this end, I have discovered that all R camera repair and servicing have been transferred from Leica to another company" Deiter Paepke, Paepke Fototechnik, Rather Broich 57, Dusseldorf, if this information is correct,  it could be a saviour for all R users. I have just sent them an email to see if this information is true.    info@paepke-fototechnik.de                                 

[Charles Morgan]

Not all Rs - Paepke do R3-R7 as they have the parts, but not R8 or R9.

 

 

 

[Dsnoir]

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Surely the problem is that the lenses do not have the 3 cams required by the R8/9.

[dpitt]

2 hours ago, Dsnoir said:

Surely the problem is that the lenses do not have the 3 cams required by the R8/9.

Hopefully this is not the case because 1 or 2 cams could do damage to the R9:

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[dpitt]

@D.Elk-C If your R9 is faulty, maybe it is time to look at the digital R solution, namely the SL series. I have the R8+DMR and the SL(type 601) is the first one that feels like it is made for R lenses. The R-mount does not matter much, unless you want automatic EXIF data which only works with the expensive Leica R-L adapter and ROM lenses only.

IMO Leica could have called the SL(typ 601) R10 (or RL) in stead of SL. At least it would not cause confusion with the classic 70s SL series.

Edited December 23, 2023 by dpitt