dem331 Posted March 13, 2023 Share #1 Posted March 13, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) Today I took some pictures and uploaded them. There was gunge all over the pictures. I looked at the sensor and it was smeared with traces of some liquid. I also found two small ball bearings inside the camera. There do not appear to be anymore. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! The glass does not appear to be scratched, just smeared and dirty. It actually looks worse in the photo than in real life. I had a look at the lens I had been using (a 180mm Contax Sonnar) and I noticed it is rattling, so it is obvious that it has released some debris. Should I just go ahead and perform a standard sensor cleaning procedure with a swab, or is there something else I should be worried about. Obviously I won’t be using the lens anymore in its current state. Many thanks for your help. Enrique 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! The glass does not appear to be scratched, just smeared and dirty. It actually looks worse in the photo than in real life. I had a look at the lens I had been using (a 180mm Contax Sonnar) and I noticed it is rattling, so it is obvious that it has released some debris. Should I just go ahead and perform a standard sensor cleaning procedure with a swab, or is there something else I should be worried about. Obviously I won’t be using the lens anymore in its current state. Many thanks for your help. Enrique ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/372191-ball-bearings-and-gunge-on-the-sensor-help/?do=findComment&comment=4722403'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 13, 2023 Posted March 13, 2023 Hi dem331, Take a look here Ball bearings and gunge on the sensor. Help!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dem331 Posted March 13, 2023 Author Share #2 Posted March 13, 2023 Well, a quick trip to the camera store. They cleaned most of the mess of the sensor and took it in for a thorough clean. Another ball bearing popped out. They told me it was going to be ok. Looking back, the accident must have happened when I stopped the lens down to f22, there was a small “clack”, but everything seemed to work so I continued shooting. The lesson for me here is that when that happens you need to take the lens off immediately. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted March 13, 2023 Share #3 Posted March 13, 2023 The big question: where are the rest of the ball bearings???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 13, 2023 Author Share #4 Posted March 13, 2023 34 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said: The big question: where are the rest of the ball bearings???? Hopefully inside the lens, because the aperture ring still moves quite smoothly. But who knows… they are terribly small. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eclectic Man Posted March 15, 2023 Share #5 Posted March 15, 2023 May I suggest that you put the body cap on the camera, point the camera DOWN and give it a gentle shake. If it rattles, take it back to the repairer, keeping it pointed DOWN all the time to protect the sensor. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldwino Posted March 15, 2023 Share #6 Posted March 15, 2023 Another reason never to stop down to f22! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 17, 2023 Share #7 Posted March 17, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) On 3/15/2023 at 4:09 PM, Eclectic Man said: May I suggest that you put the body cap on the camera, point the camera DOWN and give it a gentle shake. If it rattles, take it back to the repairer, keeping it pointed DOWN all the time to protect the sensor. And do so without battery. You don’t want a short circuit. 1 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share #8 Posted March 21, 2023 Well, I got a call from the Leica repair specialist. The sensor is not damaged, but he says that there is a danger that there is a bearing inside the camera which could cause a short circuit that would be practically terminal for the camera, as @jaapv sagely stated . He recommends dismantling the camera and checking at a cost of €400. It took me about a millisecond to agree. The lens repair was about €200, which I declined. I was never particular impressed with this lens and in any case it’s going to bring back bad memories. I have to say I am going to think twice about using non-M manual lenses on my SL2 again, although the risk of this happening, again, is probably remote. looking at the bright side, I am enjoying using my M240p on a day-to-day basis again. Thank you, everyone for the suggestions! Enrique 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eclectic Man Posted March 22, 2023 Share #9 Posted March 22, 2023 On 3/21/2023 at 9:53 AM, dem331 said: I have to say I am going to think twice about using non-M manual lenses on my SL2 again, although the risk of this happening, again, is probably remote. I have a Zeiss 50mm f/2 macro lens (manual focus) Canon EF fit, which, with the Sigma adapter, works perfectly well on my SL2. One bad experience with a non-Leica MF lens is no reason to reject all of them, if they are in good condition. I wish you well with your future photography. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 22, 2023 Author Share #10 Posted March 22, 2023 12 minutes ago, Eclectic Man said: I have a Zeiss 50mm f/2 macro lens (manual focus) Canon EF fit, which, with the Sigma adapter, works perfectly well on my SL2. One bad experience with a non-Leica MF lens is no reason to reject all of them, if they are in good condition. I wish you well with your future photography. Of course you are right, and I have a few other Contax lenses I enjoy using. But it had never really entered my head that a lens could damage the camera in this way. IN the future I will be watching carefully for any signs of lens malfunction, such as a stiff aperture ring. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkCambridgeshire Posted March 23, 2023 Share #11 Posted March 23, 2023 Illuminated sensor loupe would be useful to 'see' into the camera interior .... as would a reasonably powerful magnet ... latter, held securely and used carefully will not damage the camera. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 23, 2023 Author Share #12 Posted March 23, 2023 2 hours ago, dkCambridgeshire said: Illuminated sensor loupe would be useful to 'see' into the camera interior .... as would a reasonably powerful magnet ... latter, held securely and used carefully will not damage the camera. Many thanks. Great advice, but I decided to get it looked at by a specialist. If there is a bearing per half stop click 14 bearings have to be identified. Four have been found, the rest, as @LocalHero1953 asks, are either in the lens or in the camera. I am not risking leaving some behind and frying the camera. I am just looking at my lenses and the M ones all have the aperture ring at the front whilst the Contax lenses have it at the back. I wonder if the M ballbearings would fall inside the camera if the aperture ring was faulty like the Contax ones did. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted March 31, 2023 Well I got the SL2 back. I paid €450 and received two ball bearings in a small plastic bag. They were in the IBIS mechanism. All in all I think I made the right choice. 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul2660 Posted March 31, 2023 Share #14 Posted March 31, 2023 Was the ball bearing from the IBIS of the camera? And was the camera no longer under base warranty. Glad they were able to fix it. Paul Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted March 31, 2023 Share #15 Posted March 31, 2023 (edited) . Edited March 31, 2023 by LocalHero1953 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 31, 2023 Author Share #16 Posted March 31, 2023 2 hours ago, Paul2660 said: Was the ball bearing from the IBIS of the camera? And was the camera no longer under base warranty. Glad they were able to fix it. Paul Thanks Paul. No, they fell from the lens (non-SL) when the aperture mechanism broke. So it would not be covered by warranty. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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