DMR Contact Problems

[Nitnaros]

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Lots of folks have reported problems with their R8 or R9 and the DMR, and the need for cleaning the electrical contacts between the camera body and the DMR to fix problems.

 

While I am surprised how many electrical contacts in so many places exist between the DMR and my R9, I am not convinced whether it really is a lack of electrical contact that makes the camera "act up". After all, most people seem not to detach the DMR very often from the camera, so why should these well hidden contacts get so dirty that they need cleaning?

 

Here is what my camera started doing:

 

It starts making shutter cocking noises even when I only press the shutter button lightly to activate exposure reading. The camera "fires" once or twice, but no image is actually recorded. Full pressing of the shutter button leads either to no action at all, or recording of a black image, but no shutter firing or cocking sound.

 

Somehow it seems that the camera gets desynchronized with the DMR; the DMR (motor) seems not to be able to physically cock the shutter.

 

There is a mechanical coupling interface between the DMR and the camera, a silver cam, labeled part 1.35 in the DMR manual...

 

I am wondering if this mechanical connection between the camera body and the DMR could be the weak and sometimes failing link, which then does not allow the DMR to cock the shutter; consequently camera and DMR seem to get confused about each other's state they are in. Taking the DMR off and 'cleaning' contacts might just lead to somehow bringing the two silver cams better together so that the physical coupling works again...

 

Any thoughts whether the notion of 'contacts need cleaning to fix R9 or R8-DMR problems' is really correct?

 

Peter

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[rsolomon]

Peter,

your probably on to something because many times just dis-mantling the DMR and R8/9 seems to fix the problem at hand. i think the electrical contact aspect really came about from 2 things

 

1. The R9 has different contacts then the R8 - the R9 came with "dimples" for a better connection, and leica (to my knowledge) seemed to replace contact boards on R8's where there was a DMR issue. Perhaps later R8's came with the newer dimpled contacts. Having said that i also understand there are R8's with the "flat" contacts where all works well with the DMR.

 

2. The R8's (at some point) had electrical issues with the motor drive - not that the motor drive is directly related to the DMR, but they are simialr in that they use the same camera body contacts.

 

 

You are correct that there is a mechanical connnection between the camera and the DMR, and that fact which gets very little exposure when DMR issues are discussed

 

Rich

[Overgaard]

Apart from generalities about other peoples cameras (which you can't possibly have first-hand knowledge about) it seem important to make sure ones camera body is working and has finished its cycles: Meaning it's not in the midst of taking a picture or something but has been shot or rewinded.

 

Then clean contacts.

 

And correctly assembled with the DMR.

 

And the battery of the DMR fully loaded.

 

It's a touchy setup and when assembled correctly it works flawlessly. When not, or when "something happens" I have no clue why and gladly leave that to the guys in Solms. But taking the DMR and camera body apart, take out the battery of the DMR, clean contacts, shoot the camera a few times and then assemble and start on a fresh usually solves problems.

 

I had the issue few weeks ago that it suddenly only took one picture, then didn't record any more than that (even all functions worked flawless). Cleaning contacts handled that.

 

When I changed the DMR from my R9 to R8 the camera made funny machine-noises. Re-attaching it made it stop that (my R8 was updated to the motor some years ago).

 

My R8 DMR sometimes is slow or pausing in rewinding. The R9 isn't. I think the R8 just needs a CLA, but it works so I don't bother with it now.

 

Apart from that, it works perfectly and I don't spare it from bumps, rain, snow, dust or anything (which reminds me that it's been months since I had to clean the sensor for dust).

[robsteve]

Peter:

 

Other than contacts, it could be you have a weak battery.

 

When mating the motor unit to the camera, I make sure it is only tightened loosely, fire off a few shots to make sure the drive system is engaged well and then tighten it up. I think there is the possibility to have the drive on slightly out of align if you just mount it and tighten it up fully before firing a few shots so the mating cogs align.

 

Robert