Question for Mark Norton - M8 vertical adjustment

[doubice]

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Mark,

 

I have a following dilemma…… Leaving on holidays in a week and my M8’s RF is off vertically. I know that the access point is behind the Leica logo but, don’t want to risk the chance of scratching it or the body while attempting its removal.

 

In one of your posts there you mentioned that the top shell is held by two screws, which can be accessed below the baseplate. Is this indeed the case? Are there any springs or steel balls that might jump out at me to never be found again (I love the German expression for this - ‘Auf nimmer’wiedersehen..)? For me, this would be lot simpler way of accessing the adjustment screw. I have studied your M8 anatomy (my hat off to you!) and just want to make sure that the top shell removal would not bring any surprises.

 

As far as my mechanical ability is concerned - I have taken many screw mount and M bodies apart (and put them together again ..! ), adjusted rangefinders on Canon RF and Leica; have recently cemented optical components of a Leica 28mm finder together to a like new condition, have all the proper tools etc.

 

Any caveats I should watch for? Any and all advice appreciated!

 

Best,

 

Jan

[psquared]

Jan,

 

Obviously I'm not Mark and I can't answer your question. But, you probably saw Carsten's post on this subject. I followed his instructions, and the adjustment was pretty easy to make without any scratches or other problems with the body or the logo. In my case, I used an expired credit card, actually a couple of them, to twist the logo back and forth to loosen the adhesive. This worked pretty well for me.

 

GL,

Peter

[wlaidlaw]

Jan,

 

The following was posted on a German Nuclear Reactor - it might well apply to an M8:

 

ACHTUNG!!!!!!

Das Machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und poppencorken mit viel spitzensparken. Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren musten keepen das cotten-pickenen hands in das pockets - relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.

 

To paraphrase, if you are not willing to remove the red logo, I would not taken the top off. I believe that may upset the rest of the RF anyway.

 

Wilson

[doubice]

Jan,

 

ACHTUNG!!!!!!

Das Machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und poppencorken mit viel spitzensparken. Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren musten keepen das cotten-pickenen hands in das pockets - relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.

 

Wilson

 

:D

Exactly the same warning used to hang over the copy machine in my office in Vancouver. Didn't stop the Dummkopfen vom blowenfusen und spitzensparken.

 

Small world......

 

Actually, taking the top off will not disturb the rangefinder; I might try Peter's suggestion with the two hopefully expired credit cards.

 

Jan

[carstenw]

Lol!

[marknorton]

To take off the camera top, you need a p000 Philips screwdriver and a long P00 screwdriver.

 

1. Remove the baseplate, battery, SD Card.

2. Remove the 5 screws holding the plastic plate using a P000 screwdriver.

3. Look inside the battery housing for 3 screws at the top, remove the one nearest the end of the camera with the p00 screwdriver. The screw will come out.

4. At the the other end, look for a hole at the end of the camera through the shutter winding mechanism. Insert the P00 screwdriver and feel for the screw, Undo it, it's a captive screw and will not come out.

5. You can then ease the top off and release the single flex print between the top and the circuit board.

[gravastar]

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Jan,

 

The following was posted on a German Nuclear Reactor - it might well apply to an M8:

 

ACHTUNG!!!!!!

Das Machine is nicht fur gefingerpoken und mittengrabben. Ist easy schnappen der springenwerk, blowenfusen und poppencorken mit viel spitzensparken. Ist nicht fur gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren musten keepen das cotten-pickenen hands in das pockets - relaxen und watchen das blinkenlights.

 

To paraphrase, if you are not willing to remove the red logo, I would not taken the top off. I believe that may upset the rest of the RF anyway.

 

Wilson

We used to have exactly the same notice attached to an IBM 360 Computer (many years ago) at work. One day we saw a group of german vistors scratch their heads and then come over and ask if we could translate for them. How embarrassing! Even then they didn't understand - and with a shrug of their shoulders walked off.

 

Bob.

[marknorton]

Removing the top will not upset the rangefinder adjustment but it may not be something you want to do. If you do, avoid getting finder prints on the inside of the windows, difficult to clean off, so latex gloves are a good idea.

[doubice]

Removing the top will not upset the rangefinder adjustment but it may not be something you want to do. If you do, avoid getting finder prints on the inside of the windows, difficult to clean off, so latex gloves are a good idea.

 

Hi Mark,

 

Thanks for the info. I always try to keep my fingers away from rangefinder windows (inside or outside), even on the M's that I use. Foggy viewfinders drive me crazy......

 

My project came to a grinding halt, as I don't have a long cross point screwdriver to access that deep screw.....

 

Attempts to remove the round logo plate were also not successful. Maybe somebody at Leica reads this forum and is trying to make things for us tinkerers more difficult by using a specially formulated glue.....

 

Best,

 

Jan