rick_dykstra Posted October 6, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 6, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello all. I was re-familiarising myself with my lightly used R6.2 the other day when I noticed that the matte black lining on the bottom of the mirror box and behind the reflector (under the mirror) was cracked. It looks like it has dried out and shrunk, though no pieces are missing. The camera appears to be perfectly useable but it isn't as pretty as it used to be (if you could ever call an R6.2 pretty). I live in a high & dry climate, so maybe sustained low humidity has done some damage. I can't think of any other reason. Has anyone seen this before, on an R4 to R7? I'm afraid to say it doesn't look like an easy fix. Pity. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 6, 2007 Posted October 6, 2007 Hi rick_dykstra, Take a look here R6.2 - mirror box lining cracked - clues?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rob_x2004 Posted October 6, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 6, 2007 Yes it is entirely normal and doesnt do any harm from what I can tell. Also your satin black on the outside is dimpling up and is no longer smooth. Leica have never been all that flash with paint coverings. For what it is worth Minolta I inherited doesnt display same deteriorations, so you cant blame the body shell materials. Shame it doesnt have the Leica bayonet huh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted October 6, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 6, 2007 (if you could ever call an R6.2 pretty) I cant belive you said that! Its a pretty little thing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_dykstra Posted October 6, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted October 6, 2007 I cant belive you said that! Its a pretty little thing. It's certainly little. I'll say it has character. In a clunky, clumsy, friendly sort of way. I like it. So has anyone ever sent one in to get this cracking repaired? I might not bother if it's not a problem, in terms of bits flaking off or light reflecting. Looks flaming unsightly though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted October 7, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 7, 2007 Interesting ... I've seen these, 3 or 4 cracks at the bottom of the mirror box on a R6.2 my dealer once showed me. He offered a price of little less than a grand to me but I really don't like seeing this so I've passed it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angora Posted October 7, 2007 Share #6 Posted October 7, 2007 I've just remarkerd that on mine while checking the mirror lock-up function. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_dykstra Posted October 7, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted October 7, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hmm, there seems to be a trend here, though it's hard to say what the cause is. Sdai, Angora - are you living in dry climates like I am? How would you be if you'd bought a special edition R6.2, all gold and exotic animal skin, never fired a shot in anger. Your showing it off to your buddy who's a Nikon shooter (coz their tough!) and you see this cracking!!! Be enough to make you puke. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted October 7, 2007 Share #8 Posted October 7, 2007 Mine has been in cold dry and hot moist, then Aus. Like I said the Minoltas I have seen dont display the same problem. I just chalked it up to Leica quality that most dont question or look too hard into. It costs a bomb it must be quality. I dont worry about the cracking, but find it amusing in perverse sort of way. And Rick, svelte is the word you are looking for:rolleyes:. Was just thinking, you could ring Adeal and find out if it was the sort of thing they could hand repair, or whether it is a return job or whether to ignore it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angora Posted October 7, 2007 Share #9 Posted October 7, 2007 Usually my 6.2 is out in a mild climate, though recently it's traveled in a humid one. I don't think it's the cause, since the cracks seem old. Would it be a "feature"? Gotta ask other users, as well as R3-R7 owners. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted October 7, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 7, 2007 Humidity in my area seems to be between 55% and 80% . Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_dykstra Posted October 7, 2007 Author Share #11 Posted October 7, 2007 Hi Rob. Adeal had a guy who was qualified for R6.2 repairs, but he's retired. Not sure what the story is now. To me it looks like a complete disassembly job, to remove the cracked lining and stick down new stuff. We've not seen anyone chime in with advice on getting this done. Let's hear from the R3 to R7 owners out there. Set the shutter dial to B, flip up the mirror and look at the mirror box linings for cracks. I discovered another 'feature' of my R6.2 last night. With the shutter speed on bulb, the self timer doesn't work. But it really is counting down in the background, though the light doesn't operate. If you turn the dial to 1 second shutter speed after 7 seconds have transpired, the countdown that started secretly on bulb continues from where it's up to. If you wait longer than 9 seconds, nothing happens. Now all I have to do is figure out an application for this feature. Maybe I can get mirror pre-release and self timer to work together this way. They normally don't. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ijporter Posted October 8, 2007 Share #12 Posted October 8, 2007 Hi Rob, My R6 had to have its shutter box replaced, but my problem with the lining wasn't cracking but its changing from a matt black to a silver/grey colour. I simply locked the shutter up, got a permanant marker and blackened the lining. Hovever, something in the shutter firing mechanism failed and I needed to have the whole shutter box replaced. Because Adeal needed to get the parts from Germany (and then more parts), the repair took 4 months and cost $850. Hovever they loaned me a R9 for six weeks to take away on holidays. Since receiving the repaired R6, I've only shot one roll of film with it, but the lining is now nice and black and the camera works properly again! I guess the solution is to ask Adeal for a quote for a new lining! With best wishes, Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rick_dykstra Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #13 Posted October 8, 2007 Thanks for chiming in Ian. May I ask, how happy were you overall with this significant repair job done by Adeal? We're talking about pulling the camera completely apart. Any scuffed screw heads, wobbly knobs, or looseness to speak of? How long ago was this? Thanks again - exactly the intelligence needed. Regards, Rick. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted October 8, 2007 Share #14 Posted October 8, 2007 Still reckon you need to determine whether you need the repair. Ian had other issues. If it is only the cracked paint I figure it isnt a problem unless you are getting scattered light reflecting or bits of black winding up on the back of lense or into the shutter. Will get mine out of the ceiling and post some images of the deterioration. Honestly Ive had nothing manifest in neg or print. Had an MP repair recently at Adeal and spoke to the tech who seemed to have a pretty solid understanding, and knowledge of history of issues with a number of bodies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rubidium Posted October 9, 2007 Share #15 Posted October 9, 2007 I checked my R4 (bought in 1984) last night and I don't have these cracks. It's been through hot and cold extremes for 23 years (including a few years of heavy use in the Mojave desert). Just lucky, I guess ... What I do have is gummy, nearly disintegrating, seals everywhere on the inside back panel, especially around the little window behind the film cannister. It's time to send it in for a CLA and get these seals replaced. Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M9reno Posted April 20, 2017 Share #16 Posted April 20, 2017 I just bought a used R6.2 in very good condition and noticed the same interior cracking described in this (very old) thread. Just wondering whether these cracks are, in the long-term, just a harmless feature of these cameras, or something to concern oneself about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glj38 Posted July 27, 2017 Share #17 Posted July 27, 2017 Hi, me too. I've just bought an R7, which is in perfect (stunning) condition, but has the same mirror box 'cracks'. I checked my R9 and it too has signs that it might end up with the same problem eventually. I'm even more worried now, as I've just bought a 6.2, which will be delivered soon. I've never experienced it with other makes, so it appears to be an obvious Leica problem? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
glj38 Posted July 31, 2017 Share #18 Posted July 31, 2017 6.2 arrived today and has the same issues. Checking online, there are quite a few images of 'cracked' mirror box R cameras for sale at fairly high secondhand prices Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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