MP film counter reset

[startover]

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I dusted off my MP after a few months of not using it.  Loaded a new roll.  I had to click 7-8 empty shots before the film counter got to zero.  I remember needing a couple of shots, but not as many as 7-8.  Do I need to reset the counter?  I thought it did that automatically?  Thanks for your input.

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[Doc Henry]

23 minutes ago, startover said:

I dusted off my MP after a few months of not using it.  Loaded a new roll.  I had to click 7-8 empty shots before the film counter got to zero.  I remember needing a couple of shots, but not as many as 7-8.  Do I need to reset the counter?  I thought it did that automatically?  Thanks for your input.

Hi, the counter automatically resets when you put a roll of film on an MP.

Best

Henry

[Doc Henry]

Just now, Doc Henry said:

Hi, the counter automatically resets when you put a new roll of film on an MP.

Best

Henry

 

[startover]

1 minute ago, Doc Henry said:

 

Thanks.  It is seemingly not doing that.

[Doc Henry]

6 minutes ago, startover said:

Thanks.  It is seemingly not doing that.

....   it's like my M7 which is going to leave for Wetzlar for a revision

Edited May 8, 2022 by Doc Henry

[Matlock]

This sort of thing can happen when a camera has been idle for some time. My M5 counter only returned to frame 6 or 7 but is slowly returning to normal.

[tfyl]

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Do you mean it does set to zero once taken out th film, but the counter does not count till you advanced 7-8 times

[Capuccino-Muffin]

Counter: the MP’s weakness. Plastic part.
 

mine failed, never resets.

[a.noctilux]

a link ...

 

[startover]

6 hours ago, tfyl said:

Do you mean it does set to zero once taken out th film, but the counter does not count till you advanced 7-8 times

It does not set to zero.  But the counter advances from whatever it shows.  I would just like to have an accurate counter display in a $5,000 camera. 

Meanwhile, that plastic ISO ring in the back was the first part to give ... thankfully it was under warranty then.

[malligator]

23 minutes ago, startover said:

It does not set to zero.  But the counter advances from whatever it shows.  I would just like to have an accurate counter display in a $5,000 camera. 

Meanwhile, that plastic ISO ring in the back was the first part to give ... thankfully it was under warranty then.

Does it keep counting from where it was? A properly working counter will stop advancing around 38 or so.

[malligator]

Meant to add...the counter doesn't need film in the camera to operate. It just needs the have the bottom plate in place so you can test without sacrificing film. Does the counter count up with each advance? Does it stop around frame 38? When you pull the bottom off do you hear it reset? Does it reset to 2 frames below zero?

[colint544]

I have an M4, and the counter these days is a bit sticky. It will return to any number it feels like, but usually never zero. It wasn't always that way. I suspect it needs a service, so the dial can spin freely. Possibly something similar with your MP - although seems surprising in such a recent camera? 

[startover]

14 minutes ago, malligator said:

Does it keep counting from where it was? A properly working counter will stop advancing around 38 or so.

Yes, I will try to give a more accurate description after I finish this roll of film (that effectively now only has 25-30 shots since I was wary about using the film until the counter got to 0).  

Leica fixed the ISO ring a few months ago, and I think that is when this new issue started.  Maybe I am covered under another warranty for a few more months since it has not been a year since that repair.

[Doc Henry]

...   if it is still under warranty I will send it back to Wetzlar

Best Henry

[logan2z]

1 hour ago, startover said:

I was wary about using the film until the counter got to 0). 

If the rewind knob is turning when you crank the film advance lever then your film is advancing properly, so I wouldn't worry about losing shots just because the counter is a bit out of whack.  But yeah, it's nice to have a working counter so I'd send the camera in to be repaired.

[adan]

Film Leica M frame counters work like this (except M2 (external, manual reset with fingers) and possibly M3 (never used one, it may detect removal of the take-up spool instead of the shaft mentioned below)).

When you load the film and replace the baseplate, the baseplate pushes up on a flat spring-loaded shaft or rail running vertically the height of the camera, to the wind-lever side of the rear trap-door, and against the back-inside of the camera. Which engages the counter-dial clutch (against spring pressure) up at the top of the camera.

The shaft/rail looks something like:

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Your shoot your film, rewind it, and then take off the baseplate.

Taking off the baseplate releases the vertical shaft and it drops a few mm due to its spring, and that releases the counter-dial, which spins back(wards) to zero, under its own spring pressure, with a faint click or ziiiip.

If the counter does not spring-return to zero, then there is some kind of junk (or possibly damage) jamming either the shaft or dial more firmly than the springs can overcome, and one or the other sticks and the reset fails - either at the point you finished shooting ("36" or whatever), or at some other random point between "36" and "0".

If it jams at "36" - then yes, the dial will have to move forward 37-38-39-40-0-x-x to get to "1" again. Seven wind-lever actuations. Or 5 to get to "0"

The shaft movement can be checked and tested with the baseplate off. Wiggling and pressing its lower tip with a fingertip may clear the jam, if that is what is jammed. (The spring is pretty stiff - expect a sore fingertip if trying to push it up )

Checking and fixing the dial functioning requires a major disassembly, although if the shaft is working, you'll know it is a dial problem (but can't do anything about it without the disassembly).

[TomB_tx]

5 hours ago, adan said:

(external, manual reset with fingers) and possibly M3 (never used one, it may detect removal of the take-up spool instead of the shaft mentioned below)).

Yes, the M3 has a similar ratchet - but the actuating lever goes through the wind-shaft and the spring-loaded part protrudes out the side of the shaft so the take-up spool holds it depressed. When you remove the spool it releases the ratchet and the dial snaps back by its own spring. Easy to see why Leitz simplified it on later models: both cheaper and because they had no take up spool.

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[maxfairclough]

My MP counter stopped working after a year and a bit of owning the camera. An authorised Leica repair shop in Melbourne were able to order a part from Wetzlar to be replaced in December and by mid January I had it working again. Counter would rotate between 30-36. Would never reset.

[colint544]

I check what the shot counter is indicating when I load the film. Then I write the number on the film packet and stick it in the cold shoe. In this instance I'll know exactly how many frames I have left until I pass 21 exposures. Hardly ideal, but better than having no clue at all.

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