Anyone servicing Leica R8?

[MariaBond]

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I am writing with regards to my Leica camera model R8.

While I am aware that the official Leica has stopped servicing this camera I hope to get an advice on potential repairs possibility somewhere in Europe (I am based in the Uk).
My camera has a digital back. It shows SD card error and the shutter release button won’t react to me pressing on it.

Is there anywhere I can fix the problem?

Many thanks in advance,

Maria

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[jaapv]

Welcome. Short answer - no, worldwide.

My DMR back was the last one that Leica serviced and that is years ago. Leica  was the only place that repaired DMRs.  There are no spare parts for Leica R cameras available either. There may be one or two DIY initiatives for the DMR of people cobbling up electronic parts to be found in Google, but not to be taken seriously. I am sorry, but I fear that your camera expired.

[jaapv]

One thing I just thought of. You didn’t try to use a modern SD card? 2 or 4 GB only. 

[robert_parker]

Some R8 models need a firmware update to take larger (4GB) cards and sometimes even to work with the DMR back at all, so that might be a source of the problem - if you can find any 2GB non-SDHC cards on eBay to test with, that may help.  If that doesn't work, it might be wise to try the back with another camera (preferably a R9 with firmware 1.3 and again a 2GB non-SDHC card) to see if the fault is replicated.

Edited July 3, 2023 by robert_parker

[jaapv]

Yes, that was the reason behind my question. It is certainly correct that the DMR went from 2 GB to 4GB through an update - not of the camera but through the DMR, there was no option to update the non-existent camera firmware. As for the DMR,  it was upgraded from 400 ISO max to 800 ISO as well.
The 2 GB cards are still in use in some appliances and are freely available, for instance through Amazon .

https://www.dpreview.com/articles/8945044643/leicafirmware

 

In the end it was even possible to use some 8 GB cards in the DMR - those were Chinese ones that consisted of two sandwiched 4 GB chips.

[SHenry]

Hi, maybe the gold contact pins and contact pads need cleaning and the rear door latch (latch may have a micro switch that is a little dirty or sticky).

I cleaned and re-cleaned with contact cleaner, over and over again, pushed down the "spring loaded" contacts repeatedly and finally the "rear cover display" started working correctly!!! 

I think it may have been the spring loaded contacts that needed much more aggressive cleaning and repeated pressing up and down against their spring loading, to clear out any oxidation underneath, and deeper inside the cover. 
 

I discovered that on both of my R8 & R9 bodies, after inserting a new film cart, the side cover door "unlocking button" may not have completely or fully 100% re-seated. 

 

1) So, originally I had though it was "only" the "rear door gold mating colored pins" that needed cleaning with contact cleaner. This did help to temporarily get the display to comeon again, but after inserting a new roll of film, the problem returned. 

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I discovered that on both of my R8 & R9 bodies, after inserting a new film cart, the side cover door "unlocking button" may not have completely or fully re-seat. 

This causes the rear display to not come on. 

2) The remedy, was while holding  the door tightly closed, (so the film did not get exposed), I firmly "pressed in" and "pressed down" (again) the rear door looking button (even though it was already in the locked position) .

Then the rear display starting working.

I could easily, reproduce the problem, after closing the door with new film and watching the rear display ( holding the door closed, as to not expose the film), I very slightly pressed (wiggled) on the "locking button" and I could cause the display to go "on & off".

Apparently there may be a "micro switch" that detects if the door lock button is fully engaged (fully down) or not. 

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[SHenry]

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Also, clean the contacts on the DMR module as well (the photo above shows the film door, but the DMR module has similar contacts as well).

My R8 and R9 after not being used for a long time, tend to find that many of the external buttons and switch’s become a little sticky and need a good amount of repeated pushing on/ off or wiggling, before the contacts start to reliably work/ function again ( maybe micro oxidation and/ or mechanical sticky parts).

[davidmknoble]

They are finicky.  SD card size is a good place to start - and if you get one card working, check to see if the firmware needs updating which could potentially fix other problems.

There are folks that make and update batteries and power systems still, but the electronics are the electronics….

D.