Removing M11 top plate

[hmzimelka]

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From the Leica user manual...

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[jaapv]

Whatever else, I cannot find an IP rating. 

[pgk]

10 minutes ago, jaapv said:

Whatever else, I cannot find an IP rating. 

It is difficult on any camera with an unsealed lens bayonet to really have an IP rating (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_code) which would be marketable, as clearly this is an area of potential ingress which cannot be sealed. Canon L lens certainly have a sealing 'skirt' fitted around the bayonet but M lenses don't/can't, so I would suspect that an IP rating is potentially excluded because of this. Leica may well say that the body is 'sealed' to minimise moisture and dust ingress, and this may well be true, but I doubt that an IP rating is relevant because it would be low.

Edited January 10, 2024 by pgk

[ianforber]

On 1/10/2024 at 10:11 AM, hmzimelka said:

From the Leica user manual...

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My wife lends me her hair scrunchie to slip around the lens when I do long exposures. Works well. 
 

[hmzimelka]

7 hours ago, ianforber said:

My wife lends me her hair scrunchie to slip around the lens when I do long exposures. Works well. 
 

My camera's scrunchie is attached to my ND filter holder case... 😁

Edited January 12, 2024 by hmzimelka

[randykzc]

so does anyone manage to remove the top plate?

[darlesch]

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I’m still wondering the same thing. The swivel latch seems difficult without the proper spanner. I’m not keen on using the pointy side to try. Any tips?

[ivancook]

Would love to see photos if someone does this.

[randykzc]

i have only managed to remove this latch.. but after that i am not sure anymore how to remove the bottom plate.

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[darlesch]

2 hours ago, randykzc said:

i have only managed to remove this latch.. but after that i am not sure anymore how to remove the bottom plate.

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Could you share a picture of what it looks like underneath? Is there a screw?

[jakontil]

6 hours ago, randykzc said:

i have only managed to remove this latch.. but after that i am not sure anymore how to remove the bottom plate.

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Is the bottom plate even user removable? Anyway there is usually screw inside the battery compartment, attaching the top partially 

[randykzc]

52 minutes ago, jakontil said:

Is the bottom plate even user removable? Anyway there is usually screw inside the battery compartment, attaching the top partially 

of course its not user removable   yes, there is 2 screw holding the top plate like the m10 series. the only thing is i dont know how to remove the bottom plate. i only managed to remove the latch, and there is 2 very tiny screw near the usb-c port. From there, i have no idea how to further dissemble the thing. 

[Sjstudio]

Ok here is how you do it.

Alright, it's not rocket science. It's just Leica, one of if not the most serviceable camera out there. It's pretty easy to take it apart, much easier and cleaner than film Leica. Yes it's kinda expensive, but a camera is a camera.

M11 is also very serviceable, just one step more complicated than M10. You do need to remove the baseplate first, then you can access the screw to remove the top plate.

You just need a small + head screwdriver to remove bottom plate screws, a lens spanner for the battery release latch (or YOLO it with 2 sharp pointy things), and a very long TORX screwdrivers to remove the 2 screws that hold the top plates.

Step 1, remove the compliance sticker (don't damage it, unless you don't care)

Step 2, remove the small + screws, battery compartment side and compliance sticker side

Step 3, remove the battery release latch key.

Step 4, remove the bottom plate, not much force is needed now, though it can be slightly sticky the first time.

Step 5, unscrew the TORX screws that hold the top plate to the body, one in the battery compartment, one on the other side on the edge.

Step 6, loosen the top plate with two hands, like how you remove any M camera top plate, film or digital.

Step 7, carefully disconnect the wide electronic tape cables. Take pictures if necessary to remember where they connect to, and the orientation.

Step 8, top plate comes off. Rearrange the weather sealing gasket around and make sure they sit back down if they were displaced.

Step 9, Now you can clean your viewfinder, adjust rangefinder vertical calibration, etc. 

Do things slowly the first time. Do it gently. If something requires a lot of force, it's probably not right.

Take pictures to help you remember your steps so you can backtrack easily.

Again, it's just a camera. It was assembled by hand and can be disassembled the same.

**If you care about your warranty, just take it to Leica. 

**If you don't trust yourself, just take it to Leica.

**If you don't trust me, just take it to Leica. 

I hope this helps.

 

Disclaimer: I'm just a hobbyist who likes to tinker. I'm not certified in anything and I'm not affiliated to anything. If you break anything, well.... I won't pretend to care haha.