Blurry LEDs in an M10-P

[JoshuaR]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I just received a silver M10-P from KEH. I *really* like the camera—especially the shutter sound!—and I picked it up for what seems to me to be a steal—about $700-$1,200 less than I see M10-Ps going for online. I honestly thought it was almost a pricing error when I bought it.

The camera was advertised as Excellent +, and is in great cosmetic shape and working perfectly with one exception: the red LEDs in the viewfinder are blurry. The framelines and RF patch are in great shape, but the shutter speed and metering indicators are hard to make out unless I shift my eye toward the bottom edge of the viewfinder and move back a bit. Others have looked through the viewfinder and see the same thing. I’m guessing that something in the viewfinder assembly is misaligned. (Now I’m thinking that KEH made an error not in pricing but in labeling: perhaps the camera was priced as a “bargain” or “ugly” item but then mistakenly listed as “excellent.”)

In any case, my questions are: Has anyone gotten this particular fault repaired? How much did it cost? Is it indicative of larger problems to come?

I’m most likely to return the camera. But I’m unlikely to get such a good deal any time soon, and so I’m vaguely curious about the idea of keeping it. In fact, the blurriness doesn’t really bother me; there’s even a sense in which it makes the LEDs a bit less distracting, uncluttering the viewfinder somewhat and bringing the camera a bit closer to my M2. I’d probably only spring for a repair if I were to sell the camera or send it in for a CLA. 

As I say, I’m most likely to send it back. But I’m curious about any experience any others may have had with this issue.

Edited September 3, 2022 by JoshuaRothman

[Advertisement]

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

[Huss]

Ask them to fix it.  I think they have a service department.  If not get a refund.  I don’t find the leds distracting, I like to see at a glance the exposure readings.  For them to be blurry suggests the camera took a big whack.  Which I don’t find comforting.

The obvious question… it doesnt have a diopter screwed into the vf eyepiece does it?

[jakontil]

3 hours ago, Huss said:

Ask them to fix it.  I think they have a service department.  If not get a refund.  I don’t find the leds distracting, I like to see at a glance the exposure readings.  For them to be blurry suggests the camera took a big whack.  Which I don’t find comforting.

The obvious question… it doesnt have a diopter screwed into the vf eyepiece does it?

I dont think it has, otherwise focus patch wont be as clear

anyhow i would be worried too should it misaligned, probably due to hefty knocks

[JoshuaR]

7 hours ago, Huss said:

Ask them to fix it.  I think they have a service department.  If not get a refund.  I don’t find the leds distracting, I like to see at a glance the exposure readings.  For them to be blurry suggests the camera took a big whack.  Which I don’t find comforting.

The obvious question… it doesnt have a diopter screwed into the vf eyepiece does it?

Indeed, you are correct! About the service department, not the diopter. Not sure why that didn’t occur to me. Thank you!

Edited September 3, 2022 by JoshuaRothman

[charlesphoto99]

4 hours ago, JoshuaRothman said:

Indeed, you are correct! About the service department, not the diopter. Not sure why that didn’t occur to me. Thank you!

I seriously doubt KEH repair works on Leica M's to that level. Few independent repair places do, beyond the usual suspects, and then most of them work only on film M's or lenses.